Private Investigator
Do you want to become a certified private investigator? In four class days you prepare for the SVPB diploma Private Investigator. You attend the program live online or in person, with personal guidance and targeted exam training.
✓ SVPB-accredited diploma · CRKBO-registered · in person or live online
About the program
Your route to the accredited SVPB diploma
Since our founding in 2013 we have provided the Private Investigator program, which consistently achieves high pass rates. Today we train more than a third of all private investigators in the Netherlands.
The traditional image of the private detective does not do the profession justice. The profession of private investigator is a serious and legally regulated one. In addition, a growing number of organizations and government bodies consider the diploma a requirement. At a time when demand for skilled private investigators is steadily increasing, the diploma is increasingly seen as an important foundation for both new and experienced investigators.
The SVPB Private Investigator diploma is not only a requirement for certain roles, it also offers career opportunities across a wide range of sectors. It is valuable for people working in or aspiring to a career in a fraud department, at a municipality, insurance company or housing association. It also provides an important foundation for loss adjusters, independent private investigators or professionals who conduct investigations in other ways as part of their work.
Practice-oriented and prepared for the exam
Our unique training program is designed to enable you to pass the national exams quickly and successfully, allowing you to start working in the field immediately. The program consists of four interactive class days in which theory is combined with practical case studies. These lessons take place at our excellent training location in Gilze-Rijen, with free parking including charging points and just a few minutes' walk from Gilze-Rijen station. You can also take part in the lessons interactively and live online. This way you can choose the course format that best suits your situation.
To maximize your chances of success, we offer access to our exclusive IACA learning platform. Here you will find a wealth of exercises, exam questions and exam training to help you prepare optimally for the exam. Through this private platform you can also put your questions directly to the instructors.
Instructors from professional practice
Our instructors are qualified private investigators with over 30 years of experience. They have worked on a wide range of investigations at home and abroad for private organizations, insurers, financial institutions and government bodies. Because they are still involved in current investigations, they can continually connect the theory to real situations from professional practice. By choosing our Private Investigator program, you benefit from our years of expertise and thoroughly developed teaching methods. Because of our extensive knowledge and experience, we also contribute to the development of the nationally used teaching materials.
The program is therefore not only aimed at passing the exam. You also develop knowledge and skills you can apply in practice, both when you are starting out and when you are already working as an investigator.
4 class days
Interactive, theory combined with practical case studies · in person or live online
IACA learning platform
Exercises and exam training, with direct contact with the instructors
National exams
At the SVPB
SVPB diploma
Accredited Private Investigator diploma
After the program
Instructors remain available; advice on licensing and starting your own firm
Program
Overview of components
Across twelve interrelated components, the program covers the legal frameworks and the tactical, technical and digital investigative skills you need as a private investigator.
Legal frameworks
Civil Code
Judicial Organisation Act
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
Criminal law
Civil law
Administrative law
Criminal Procedure
Basic knowledge of private investigators
Tactical and technical investigation
Digital investigation
Observation techniques and the use of technical resources
SVPB
The exam: two parts
Examination institute SVPB has thoroughly revised the exam requirements. Since January 2026 the SVPB Private Investigator exam consists of two parts; our course material and learning platform are fully aligned with these current exam components.
Law & Regulations PO
20 multiple-choice questions and 10 open questions.
Conducting Investigations PO
Open exam, approximately four weeks after the first exam.
To prepare you for these exams we offer an intensive four-day program. Between the class days you receive assignments and mock exams from your instructor.
After completing all theory lessons you can register for the first exam, Law & Regulations PO. Immediately after receiving the final result of this exam you can register for the second exam, Conducting Investigations PO, which consists of open questions. There is usually a period of about four weeks between the first and the second exam.
You can use this interval to prepare optimally for the second exam by working through various written cases. You can complete and review these cases at home. Of course, your instructor remains available for support throughout this period, right up to your exam.
Personal approach
Guidance during and after the program
During the lessons we provide personal and professional preparation for the national exams. Alongside the course material there is room to discuss your plans in a calm setting and to receive advice on them.
If you work within an organization, there is room during the lessons to discuss questions from your own working practice with our instructors, who work in the field themselves every day.
If you are considering starting out on your own as a private investigator, other questions often come up. Think of applying for a POB permit and the identification document, also known as the yellow pass, but also of finding assignments, building a network and developing a website for your own investigation firm.
Even after successfully completing the exams and earning the accredited SVPB Private Investigator diploma, you can fall back on our instructors and staff. They remain available to think along about cases from your day-to-day practice.
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Target group
Who is this program developed for?
Our private investigator program provides you with the expertise to work in a variety of roles as an investigator or fraud expert. Participants include claims handlers, loss adjusters, fraud management coordinators and underwriters from the insurance sector, as well as internal fraud investigators at companies and (semi-)government bodies.
During this program we prepare you for the accredited SVPB diploma. With this diploma a range of career opportunities is open to you, including:
Conducting fraud investigations at insurance companies.
Working as a fraud investigator at national or international investigation agencies.
Carrying out fraud investigations for multinational companies.
Performing investigative tasks for government and semi-government bodies.
Conducting internal investigations.
Carrying out investigations as a loss adjuster.
Starting your own investigation agency.
Working at a financial institution in FEC, CDD, AML or sanctions investigation.
The recognized and well-regarded diploma offers good career opportunities at investigation agencies, financial institutions, insurers, government bodies and other organizations that carry out investigations.
Certification & accreditation
A recognized, registered diploma
Our training institute has been assessed and registered with the CRKBO, the Central Register for Short Vocational Education. After successfully completing the national exams at the SVPB, you receive the accredited SVPB diploma:
- ✓SVPB diploma Private Investigator
NIVRE awards 6 PE points to Fraud Management Coordinators upon completion of this program. As an Incident Investigator, your PE application is assessed individually by NIVRE.
Additional programs
After completing the program you can deepen your knowledge further with one of the following courses:
- Practical Diploma Private Investigator (Post-MBO)
- Interrogation, Interview Techniques and Body Language
- Observation Technique
- Digital investigation (OSINT Module 1)
- Applied Criminal Intelligence Analysis
International Anti Crime Academy is a training partner of the UWV.
Our programs and diplomas are widely recognized and highly regarded by various government agencies and a wide range of international organizations. Whether you already work for such an organization or are pursuing a position with one of these employers, our programs are a valuable addition to your CV.
Course formats
Open, private or customized
While this program is usually offered as an open program, we understand that you may need a private setting given the nature of your work. With at least twelve participants, we can provide a private training session at our location. We also offer tailored programs based on parts of this program. We are happy to put together a suitable proposal.
All private programs can be offered in Dutch or English.
All our instructors are screened and have signed non-disclosure agreements with various government agencies. A specific non-disclosure agreement for your organization or service is also possible.
Enrollment
Start dates & availability
You have the choice to attend the program in person or live online. Open courses are taught in Dutch by default, unless the program is explicitly listed as being taught in English.
Reviews
What participants say
Reviews from participants in the Private Investigator program. These reviews were originally written in Dutch and translated into English.
Frequently asked questions
Private Investigator: your questions answered
Not every claims investigation falls under the Dutch Private Security Organizations and Investigation Agencies Act (Wpbr). A technical investigation into, for example, the cause, extent or repair costs of a loss is in principle focused on the loss itself.
That may change when the investigation focuses on a natural person and their conduct, statements or activities. Think, for example, of investigations into possible fraud, verifying statements, interviews, surveillance, neighborhood inquiries or research in public sources and social media.
When the investigation thereby takes on the character of investigative work and the other criteria of the Wpbr are also met, the investigation may fall under the Wpbr. Specific legal requirements apply to organizations and employees who carry out such investigative work.
That depends on the work you carry out. For purely technical expertise or determining the cause and extent of a loss, the Private Investigator diploma is not automatically required.
That may be different when you conduct commissioned investigations into natural persons and in doing so carry out investigative work that falls under the Wpbr. In that case, requirements apply to both the investigation agency and the investigator who carries out the work.
The SVPB diploma Private Investigator is therefore not only relevant to employees of investigation agencies. The Private Investigator program can also be of importance to loss adjusters, incident investigators, claims handlers and fraud officers when their work wholly or partly has the character of private investigation.
Read more in IACA's article in Schade Magazine (in Dutch): Claims investigation and the Wpbr: when does loss adjusting become private investigation?
Ready to start?
Become an accredited private investigator
Enroll in the Private Investigator program or request information without obligation. We are happy to discuss open, private or customized tracks.