USAPI, an Association for Professional Investigators

In June, the United States Association of Professional Investigators (USAPI) was born. The association is led by Warren Sonne, a retired NYPD detective with more than 30 years’ experience in private-sector investigations and law enforcement. The USAPI provides training, education and certification for various specialties within the investigative field, such as investigative law and ethics, computer forensics, and Internet and security.

Sonne created the USAPI to standardize education and accreditation for investigative professionals.

The association has established the Board Certified Professional Investigator (BCPI), which Sonne hopes will become the premier certification in the field.

In order to take the tests for BCPI certification, members must meet a variety of stringent prerequisites, including at least three years’ experience in any one of 10 established core tracks, including criminal investigation, terrorism and intelligence, and security. The USAPI also offers three specialty or expert certificates, which members may test for at any time. Seminars and online training courses are also in the works.