Now enrolling for the updated 2026 SFJ Awards course — no final exam required when you train with UKPITA. We’re the only UK provider offering the latest syllabus.
Now enrolling for the updated 2026 SFJ Awards course — no final exam required when you train with UKPITA. We’re the only UK provider offering the latest syllabus.
From course content to payment plans, here are the answers to our most common questions. If you still need help, just get in touch.
The UKPITA course runs over four consecutive days — Monday to Thursday — and takes place at Premier Inn Cribbs Causeway, near Bristol.
The course includes:
36 Guided Learning Hours (GLH), in line with SFJ Awards accreditation requirements
A copy of So You Want to Be a Private Investigator
A Surveillance Care Pack (thermos flask, mug, solar power bank with adapters, notebook and pen)
Buffet lunch each day of the course
Free on-site parking
Access to the UKPITA alumni WhatsApp group for networking and peer support
Delivery based on the newly revised 2026 curriculum (final syllabus publication expected December 2025)
Training takes place at Premier Inn Cribbs Causeway, Bristol, which offers a comfortable learning environment, free on-site parking, and convenient local amenities.
Accommodation is not included in the course fee. However, UKPITA students can access discounted rates at Premier Inn Cribbs Causeway, and there are several alternative options nearby.
You’ll receive the SFJ Awards Level 3 Certificate for Professional Investigators: a nationally recognised qualification aligned with the expected licensing requirements of the Security Industry Authority (SIA).
The course is delivered by retired UK police officers and trainers who meet the high standards required by our accrediting body.
Yes — UKPITA is a registered ELCAS-approved provider, making the course accessible to current and former members of the UK Armed Forces through the Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme.
Yes — this is the newly revised 2026 course, replacing older content. Please note that the final syllabus is expected to be formally published in December 2025, so minor adjustments may be made.
The course is focused on delivering the accredited SFJ Awards Level 3 content through structured, tutor-led sessions. While there are no hands-on exercises, you’ll gain a solid theoretical understanding of the core principles required to work as a professional investigator.
Our WhatsApp group is an active support network for course graduates — a space for mentoring, sharing tasks, getting advice, and staying connected to other trained professionals across the UK and beyond.
The following additional course dates are scheduled for 2026:
These dates are not available to book online.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact us, we’ll be happy to help.
We’re happy to answer your questions or talk through your next steps. Just send us a quick message and we’ll get back to you.
