About Us
Michelle Riley, Certified Trainer
Michelle has been training adults throughout the State of Alabama since 2013. Her qualifications include:
- Certified Trainer, Alabama Private Investigation Board (9/2/2019 - 9/2/2021)
- Licensed Private Investigator - #584
- Civil Process Server
- Judgment Enforcement Specialist
- Licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Agent
- Owner of Alabama Notary & Process Server
- Commissioned Notary Public
- B.A. degree in Communications, UAHuntsville
First-Rate Classes
We offer a number of educational courses and seminars that can benefit a variety of legal and support professionals: process servers, private investigators, paralegals and legal assistants.
Classes are offered online via live webinar We also host classroom (in-person) training in Huntsville and, occasionally, in Birmingham. We make sure that course material is accurate, easy to read and complies with current laws and best practice. You can register and pay online. You also have the option of calling or emailing us and we'll send you an invoice.
Some courses/seminars are state-specific and others provide beneficial information to students individuals in every state.
Beginning September 2, 2019, a number of our courses pertaining to private investigation qualify for continuing education credits for Alabama Licensed Private Investigators. See below for more information.
Mentoring and Networking
Only a certain amount of learning can take place in the classroom. We expect our students will have questions (lots of questions) once they get in the field and are hands on. When that happens, we'll be there to provide mentoring and support through social media (Facebook Groups), by telephone and email.
We have a free Facebook Group that supports our students. Consider joining one as another way to learn from others and reinforce what you learn in training.
Facebook Process Server Training
We encourage our students to join local and national trade associations like: National Association of Professional Process Servers, Alabama Private Investigators Association, and Serve-Now. All of these provide additional opportunities for our students to learn and network with others in the industry
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I become an Private Investigator?
Familiarize yourself with the eligibility requirements by going to the APIB (Alabama Private Investigation Board) website.
If you believe you meet the requirements then you'll need to:
- Complete an Application
- Provide proof of US Citizenship
- Submit a current photo.
- Get fingerprinted
- Undergo State & Federal background checks.
- Provide a ton of personal information.
- Get your signature notarized.
- Pay applicable fees.
This may not be a complete list. The APIB website provides a checklist for you to follow.
What's all this going to cost me?
Becoming an Alabama Private Investigator isn't cheap. You should expect to pay between $400 - $500, excluding the PI License Fee.
After you've received your approval letter from APIB, the actual license fee is $300. It's good for two years.
Do I need a Surety Bond?
There are 67 counties in Alabama and each one can have it's own requirement.
The following counties currently require Detectives/Private Investigators to purchase a Surety Bond:
- Dothan County - $2,000
- Montgomery County - $25,000
- Selma County - $10,000
- Tuscaloosa County - Amount Varies
The remaining counties do not require Private Investigators to purchase a Surety Bond.
To purchase a Surety Bond, contact The Bond Lady, for a quote. Michelle L. Riley is a licensed insurance agent in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas,
Do I need to take an exam?
Yes. You must successfully pass an online exam that is administered by PSI. The exam is timed. You have one hour to answer fifty questions. You will be notified immediately if you passed or failed the exam.
How much can Private Investigators charge?
In Alabama, Private Investigators are able to set their own fees but they should be reasonable.
How do I get trained?
There are no mandatory training requirements to get started as an Alabama PI; but you must pass the state exam in order to receive a license.
After you receive your license, you are required to complete 16 CEUs (continuing education units) every two years. You can register for classes offered here on TrainAlabama.com, or you locate another approved training organization.
getting started as an alabama pi
Preparing for the Alabama State Exam
It's now a requirement that all wanna-be Alabama Private Investigators sit for and pass an examination as part of the approval process for licensing. You can prepare for the exam on your own or you can get assistance by attending our PI Exam Prep class.
Alabama's state exam contains thirty-four (34) questions from Practical Knowledge taken from The Complete Idiot's Guide to Private Investigating, and sixteen (16) questions from APIB's Laws & Rules.
PI Exam Prep
Get ready for the 1-hour state exam by attending our four (4) hour class, taught online by an APIB Certified Trainer and licensed AL PI:
- APIB Administrative Code - 1 .5 hrs
- The Complete Idiot's Guide Private Investigating - 1.5 hrs
- Practice Quiz, and Open Mic Q&A - 1 hrs
You'll participate in an overview and discussion of Alabama Private Investigator Laws and Rules (Administrative Code), and The Complete Idiot's Guide. Continuing education credits are not awarded to unlicensed students.
Before registering for this exam prep class or scheduling the state exam, make sure that you satisfy all prerequisites. Since the requirements can change at anytime, we recommend you go directly to APIB 's website to get the most up to date information.
Ready to register? Check the calendar for the next date/time for PI Exam Prep. Then click on SHOP or the shopping basket to register and pay.
continuing education requirements
Renewing your Alabama Private Investigator License
Alabama Licensed Private Investigators need 16 hours of continuing education credit accrued during the current licensure period. Of these required (16) hours, two (2) hours in Ethics will be required over the two year licensure period .
We offer classes that are interesting, informative and convenient to attend (classroom and live online webinar) You can satisfy all or part of your continuing education requirements through us. You'll receive a Certificate of Completion within 24 hours of completing the class.
- Applied Ethics for Private Investigators 101 (2 CEU's)
- New Business Opportunities for PI's: Process Server (2 CEU's)
- New Business Opportunities for PI's: Judgement Enforcement (2 CEU's)
- Process Server 101 - Alabama (8 CEU's)
- Proofs of Service: Foreign and Domestic (2 CEU's)
You can find out more about each class by reading the course description in the "Classes" section of our web site.
frequently asked questions
Who can be a Process Server in Alabama?
- Minimum Age - 19 years of age.
- Not related to the individuals that you serve.
- Not a party to the legal case.
How do I become a Process Server in Alabama?
There is no licensing requirement. However, you must know Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure. It outlines Service of Process procedures that must be followed.
We encourage you to register for our informative, live webinar, "So...You Wanna Become a Process Server?" It provides you with a realistic overview of life as a process server. It lasts one hour and gives you a chance to ask questions and get answers.
How do I get trained?
There are no mandatory training requirements for Alabama Process Servers. However, it's imperative that you know the laws that govern your activities.
We recommend that you complete (at minimum) state-specific process server training.
TrainAlabama offers classroom and online training, and 8-hour Course: Process Server 101. Eight hours is a long time so we spread the class over two days.
You decide if you want register for live, online training (Zoom); or if you want be in a classroom environment.
I hate tests. Do I have to past an exam?
No. There is no exam.
I prefer live training. Where are classes held?
In 2019, live training classes will be held in Huntsville, Alabama. In 2020, we hope to offer live classes in Birmingham, Montgomery, and Mobile.
How much can Process Servers charge?
Alabama Process Servers can set their own fees.
Related Websites
Alabama Notary/Process Server
f/k/a Huntsville Mobile Notary and Process Server. Michelle has been providing notary services, and serving legal documents throughout the State of Alabama since 2006. If she can't help you, she can put you in touch with someone who can.
Notaries for Alabama
Looking for someone to notarize your signature? We can put you in touch with an experienced notary located near you. Interested in becoming a commissioned notary? No problem! We'll help you every step of the way. We offer online and classroom training.
The Bond Lady
Michelle L. Riley, aka The Bond Lady, is a licensed insurance agent, authorized to sell a variety of surety bonds, E & O insurance in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas. Request a quote today.
organizations
Alabama Private Investigation Board (APIB)
Let's start with the purpose of APIB. Our purpose is very clearly defined by State law: "To regulate and license the practice of private investigation for the purpose of public protection." Other goals and objectives may not supersede public protection. A licensure board carries out this purpose by ensuring that the public is served by establishing minimum standards of proficiency in the regulated profession. When one serves on a regulatory board, the focus shifts from professional advocacy to the protection of the public. The APIB currently has 515 Licensed Private Investigators in Alabama. The state statute is the mandate for the APIB to follow in all its actions and requirements for licensing and regulation of private investigators in Alabama (this statute is found in its' entirety on the APIB web site at http://www.apib.alabama.gov/PDF/law/CHAPTER_25B.pdf).
Alabama Private Investigator Association (APIA)
Alabama Private Investigators Association (APIA) is the professional advocate for the private investigator industry. The APIA is comprised of a very diverse group of professional investigators from “general practitioners” to specialized investigators. We seek to recruit investigators from every imaginable discipline. Among our members, you will find specialists in Fire, Insurance SIU, Surveillance, Service of Process, Domestic Relations, Cyber Forensics, and other disciplines represented. Our professional development program includes quarterly meetings and an annual conference that provides continuing education (CE Credits) across the spectrum of professional investigations.
National Association of Professional Process Servers (NAPPS)
The National Association of Professional Process Servers (NAPPS) is a Worldwide Organization of the largest community of professional process servers and the first resource for credible information regarding the profession. Founded in 1982 in Las Vegas NV, NAPPS today has well over 2,000 members representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, seven Canadian provinces and nearly two dozen foreign countries. It is headquartered in Portland, Oregon.
NAPPS members assure a citizen’s right to due process and access to the legal system. To this end, a NAPPS member is committed to being accountable, reliable and valuable to their legal clients, the courts, and the parties and witnesses they serve. Membership is on an individual basis, and each member is expected to adhere to high ethical standards and have a thorough understanding of the NAPPS code of conduct on which NAPPS prides itself.