Professional Certified Investigator
Investigate. Establish the facts. Present the case.
ASIS International's board certification for investigators who manage cases, apply investigative techniques and present findings.
About PCI®
At a glance
- Certification: Professional Certified Investigator (PCI®)
- Awarded by: ASIS International
- Exam: multiple choice, 125 + 15 scored + pretest questions, 2.5 hours
- Passing standard: a scaled score of at least 650
- Recertification: every three years
What the exam covers
- Professional Responsibility28%
- Investigative Techniques and Procedures52%
- Case Presentation20%
Is PCI® right for you?
Who should take it
- Corporate and private investigatorsRunning internal and external inquiries.
- Fraud and loss-prevention professionalsInvestigating losses and misconduct.
- Law-enforcement and military investigatorsMoving into the private sector.
- Security managersOverseeing investigations within their programs.
- Compliance and ethics officersHandling allegations and reports.
- ConsultantsProviding investigative support to clients.
Benefits
- Specialist standingRecognizes a specific skill: managing investigations from start to presentation.
- Case-focused contentHalf of the exam weight sits in investigative techniques and procedures.
- Professional credibilityIndependent recognition of your investigative practice.
- Ethics at the coreThe exam covers professional responsibility as well as technique.
- Continuing growthRecertification every three years keeps your knowledge current.
Do you qualify?
ASIS sets the requirements. Years of experience needed, by education level:
| Education | Experience needed | If you hold the APP® |
|---|---|---|
| No higher education | 5 years | 4 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or international equivalent | 4 years | 3 years |
| Master’s degree or international equivalent | 3 years | 3 years |
Investigations experience, with at least 2 years in case management: coordinating and directing an investigation across disciplines and resources to establish the facts of the investigation as a whole. General requirements: full-time security-related employment (current employment is not required; up to one year of relevant internship counts), no felony conviction that would reflect negatively on the profession, and agreement to the ASIS Code of Professional Responsibility. Source: ASIS Certification Handbook, updated 4 August 2026.
Five stages to exam readiness
- 1Onboarding & Baseline Assessment
- 2Domain-by-Domain Learning
- 3Consolidation & Overall Assessment
- 4Final Revision & Exam Readiness
- 5Certification & Application Support
Test your knowledge
Ten questions on PCI®, from easy to tough. It scores itself and shows the right answers. Nothing is saved and there is no sign-up.
Frequently asked
Who can sit the PCI® exam?
Candidates who meet the ASIS requirements for education and experience, hold full-time security-related employment (current employment is not required), have no felony conviction that would reflect negatively on the profession, and agree to the ASIS Code of Professional Responsibility. Use the eligibility check above for the experience requirement.
How long does preparation take with Citadel?
Your dedicated LMS access runs 4 months. The five-stage journey is paced to your exam window, with mentor interaction at each stage.
How do I apply to ASIS?
You apply online with ASIS. The application is reviewed, you receive an authorization to test, and you then schedule the exam with the testing provider. Citadel supports you through each step in stage five.
Does Citadel award the certification?
No. PCI® is awarded by ASIS International. Citadel provides independent professional mentoring to help you prepare.
I do not meet the requirements yet. What now?
Use the eligibility check to see how much experience you still need. You can begin structured study while you build experience, and we can talk through a plan.
PCI® is an ASIS International board certification. Citadel Security Consultancy provides independent professional mentoring and does not award the certification.