How do you become a Paranormal investigator and what qualifications are needed?

Question

How do you become a Paranormal investigator and what qualifications are needed?

Answer 1

Becoming a paranormal investigator takes a lot of time and effort. You may quickly find yourself spending several hours a week on activities related to the study of the paranormal.

The first step is finding a reputable group to join. Once you join the group you will go through intensive training which will include time in the field, reading, research, workshops, etc.

I suppose the best way to start the process is to look for groups in your area. You can do this by going on paranormal search engines (such as www.paraseek.com) or using google. Several groups are using Yahoo! to host their websites, so you'll probably be able to search within the Yahoo! Web Directory also.

I also recommend the following books to get you started (mind you that there are literally hundreds of books out there on the subject):

The Ghost Hunters Guidebook by Troy Taylor

* Confessions of a Ghost Hunter by Troy Taylor

* Ghost Tech by Vince Wilson

* The Encyclopedia of Ghosts and Spirits by Rosemary Ellen Guiley

* Spook by Mary Roach (a very entertaining read written by an investigative reporter that explores several aspects of ghosts and hauntings)

* Ghost by Katherine Ramsland (who is also an investigative reporter)

One final piece of advice - network with other paranormal investigators around the country by joining message boards and message groups. Make sure to include investigators who specialize in other paranormal areas as well (such as UFOs, cryptozoology, psychic ability, etc).

http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltgui...

http://www.paranormalreview.com/Default....

Answer 2

I think you just need to get kicked out of a really good university, and then buy an old firehouse in a busy city crawling with paranormal activity. Oh, and photon beams are a huge plus.

Answer 3

don't think there are any certifications or requirements for that.

If it's truly your passion just start doing it, the way you get business is by having a great reputation.

Answer 4

Learn as much about everything paranormal.   The rest is up to you, network with investigators, and start off with well known haunted places.  Try to find a group near you to join.  It doesn't hurt to be paranormally gifted, seeing ghost or psychic perception are a big plus.

Answer 5

None at all, just declare yourself a "paranormal investigator".

You won't get much business, but good luck!

I'm an Easter Bunny investigator myself.

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Answer 6

Just declare yourself as a paranormal investigator. You do not need any other training besides that also but if you do then you will make more business.

Answer 7

A paranormal investigator is just like a police investigator, which means that there are certain agencies that run it. You go to a nearby police headquarters and make some inquiries on which paranormal investigation agency they hire for services. If you're lucky you can be referred to such agency. Make inquiries there on what requirements do they need for an application. The qualifications? You have to be an expert on a particular branch of the paranormal that can handle unsolved crimes. Or perhaps during an interview they will determine if you are qualified or not.

Answer 8

All you have to do is declare yourself a paranormal investigator.  A good investigator can investigate anything, so it's more important to concentrate in this area rather than waste your time studying what other people speculate about the immeasurable (i.e. ghosts and spirits).  You need no fancy equipment, just a healthy dose of curiosity and a strong desire to make objective observations.

Answer 9

Basically answer number 1 is correct. Check into all the Paranormal teams and you find that they decided to become a paranormal investigator and then they learned from books or websites one website is  http://www.ghostweb.com/.

If you start attending workshops and read everything you can get your hands onto you will find that each website, author etc has their own methods and theroies in which they teach. Nothing wrong with this unless they claim to be the authority on the subject and the final word.

You will also find that your theories are just as legit and valid as theirs, the only difference is they know how to market themselves. If you want to be affiliated with one or more of the already established groups, that is fine and if you know nothing, they will teach you their way.

Paranormal investigating is a fun hobby, and that is all that it is  a hobby. It is not a real science  and I know of no police agencies who would use any paranormal investigating team and if anyone knows please post news articles or websites that will reveal such. Now I do know that some agencies will use psychics from time to time, but even then those are few and far between.

Paranormal investigators are usually a group of people who have jobs to support them ranging from fire fighters, Printers, janitors, fast food workers, office workers etc but get together, buy tools and have fun going to public haunted places and investigating. It is nothing more than a social club. Like any other club.

One real good book I recommend is Trent Brandon's Ghost Hunters Bible.http://www.zerotime.com/storefront/

Answer 10

If you want to get paid, you need a business license, and a business plan, pay your taxes, insurance, and stuff like that.  As a hobby, a brain would help, but sometimes even that is optional.  

Tools for keeping records are needed.  Cameras, microphones and recorders, measuring instruments, GPS location gadget is a plus.  Paperwork and a procedure for investigating.  

Education.  Classes in ordinary private investigation is a neat idea.  Classes in logic, statistics, geology, physics, electronics, quantum theory, psychology are good as well.

Most of all, a big mouth to let everybody know who you are and what you do.  Social skills that make you a nice friendly person when you are invited to someone's home to look for phenomenae.

Answer 11

There are many different types of paranormal investigators.  Specialties include personal sensing (people who are mediums, clairvoyants, teleaudiants, psychometrists, etc.), technical specialists (paranormal photographers/videographers,  trace aural field measurement specialists, etc.) and coordinators specially trained to know what specialists are needed for a given job.  Becoming a paranormal investigator requires finding a team (most teams are located in large population areas) that needs your particular talent or ability or free-lancing by networking with people with various abilities to form temporary teams for a specific job or only working jobs that suit your own attributes.  Formal qualifications for the technical specialists vary.  Simple demonstrated ability is the only qualification for the personal sensors but the ability to work well with people is always a plus.  If you do decide on paranormal investigation you will probably be treated as a contractor for tax purposes and will not have a formal pension plan.  Check into SEP IRAs (for self-employed people) and make sure you save enough to retire when the time comes.