Re-certification

Maintaining Your Certification:

After an Investigator has met the requirements to become a Board Accredited Investigator (BAI) and has been officially notified that he or she has qualified to use the BAI title, the Investigator must comply with the requirements for re-certification to maintain the BAI certification.

All BAIs must pursue professional development and continuing education to maintain their certification. Recertification requires earning a specified number of Continuing Education Unit (CEU) and Re-certification points* each year.

• A recertification period is every three (3) years from the date of certification.
• A total of 60 CEU points** is required every three (3) years.
• By submission of the re-certification request, the applicant certifies that he or she has read and agrees to abide by the BAI Professional Code of Conduct.

*A point is defined as “one unit” or the equivalent of one Continuous Education Unit (CEU)
**The 60 points every 3 years maximum may be waived under certain conditions such as deployment to United States Military, a medical condition, other condition(s) or situation(s) that has a significant effect on the Investigator. In any of these instances, it is the responsibility of the Investigator to contact the BAI Program Director as soon as possible and explain the circumstances. The Program Director can review the totality of the circumstances concerning the BAI re-certification requirements and allow an additional 120 days for the Investigator to meet the standards.

The recertification term shall be every 3 years for each certification. Investigators are encouraged to attain a minimum of one point per year for participation in an Ethics class/program. Investigators must certify that they have accumulated the required points each year and maintain documentation of their points in their personal files. The documentation is subject to audit by the BAI Committee and BAI’s are required to submit the documentation upon request if selected for audit. A certain number of BAI’s will be selected randomly each year for audit. Unless selected for audit, no documentation is submitted at the time of re-certification.

Documentation Submission Upon Request

Investigators who are selected for audit and required to submit documented proof of their eligibility for re-certification. Proof of having acquired the minimum points for re-certification may include certificates of membership or attendance at educational events or other documentation of meeting the requirements. If requested, the investigator will submit the required documentation needed to verify the points within 30 days of the request.

Program Integrity

The integrity of the BAI Program is the responsibility of every certified BAI Investigator and, ultimately, the BAI Program Director. The BAI Program Director shall ensure all certified BAI investigators are briefed annually on the requirements for re-certification. If necessary, the BAI Program Director shall appoint an independent qualified Investigator to initiate an inquiry into any allegation of impropriety regarding Program Integrity. The Inquiring Investigator shall return a detailed written report of the inquiry only and present the results of such an inquiry, without recommendations, directly to the BAI Program Director for whatever action is deemed necessary.

Methods of Earning Points

Investigators may earn points for re-certification by various means, such as membership in a professional investigative association, educational points, instructor points, author points, volunteer service, certification service points, public service points, and other accomplishments. Each of these categories is further defined below.

1. Membership Points
An investigator may claim a maximum total of 8 points per year, 2 points per association.

2. Education Points
Continuing education credits are determined by the hosting seminar/workshop or conference; the minimum number of educational points allowed each year is 10 points. This means an investigator must have at least 10 hours of attendance or as an instructor at an approved educational event each year.

A certificate or letter of completion, along with the agenda that includes the hours of classroom time, is required for the following:

a. Seminars/Conferences: Single and multiple day seminars.

b. Web-Based Programs: Educational programs must have a formal speaker or facilitator and relate directly to the competencies (domains) of the applicable certifications.

c. Correspondence and Self Study Courses: Preparation through an institution that requires a final examination and course sponsor issues a certificate of completion listing instructional hours attained.

d. Accredited College Courses: Investigative and/or management-related* accredited college courses may be claimed and computed at the rate of seven points for each semester hour completed. This includes internet/distance learning and CD ROM or other self-study program that results in accredited college or university credit. A copy of the certificate listing the course title and the name of the educational institution is required.

e. Exhibits-Only and Exhibitor’s Participation: two points may be awarded for participation at investigative-related exhibits. Documentation detailing the type of exhibit, location, and date are required.

Note: The term “investigative” (used throughout this directive) is all inclusive of the various specialties within the investigative profession and includes but is not limited to investigations, computer, executive protection, security specialties, and the like.

3. Instructor Points
The topics of any courses taught must be relevant to the practice of investigations and management; i.e., the domains for each certification examination as defined and the total maximum number of points are listed in the left column of the graphic below.

4. Author Points
The topics must be relevant to the practice of investigations, security, or management; i.e., the domains for each certification examination as defined and the total maximum number of points is listed in the left column of the graphic below:

Number of Points Activity – Total number of Points per year for participation in any of the below:

5. Volunteer Service, Points Per Term
A maximum of 5 points may be accrued from volunteer service.

Number of Points Activity – Total number of Points per year for participation in any of the below:

6. Other Accomplishments
At the discretion of the BAI Program Director, special activities related to security or business management fields as described in the domains of each examination may be eligible for credits. The CEU points to be awarded are based on scope of activity and other relevant factors.

PROFESSIONAL CODE OF CONDUCT

All BAIs and applicants for certification & re-certification must adhere to the Professional Code of Conduct, agreeing to:

• Perform professional duties in accordance with the law and the highest moral principles.
• Noncompliance includes any acts or omissions amounting to unprofessional conduct and deemed prejudicial to the certification.
• Observe the precepts of truthfulness, honesty, and integrity.
• Be faithful, competent, and diligent in discharging their professional duties.
• Safeguard confidential and privileged information and exercise due care to prevent its improper disclosure.
• Not maliciously injure the professional reputation or practice of colleagues, clients, or employees.

Any act deemed prejudicial to the certification may result in denial of approval for certification or re-certification as a BAI and up to and including revocation of certification. Such acts may include, but are not limited to:

Providing false or misleading statements or information when applying to take the certification examination or to recertify.

• Any act or omission that violates the provisions of the BAI’s Code of Conduct.
• Any act that violates the criminal or civil laws of any jurisdiction.
• Any act that is the proper basis for suspension or revocation of a professional license.
• Any act or omission that violates the Rules and Procedures.

RE-CERTIFICATION SUMMARY

Re-certification
All BAIs must pursue professional development and continuing education to maintain their certification. Re-certification requires earning a specified number of Continuing Education Unit (CEU) points.

Report Your CEU Activities
Re-certification activity reports must be submitted every three (3) years for accredited BAI Investigators. Individuals must maintain their point reporting form(s) and documentation and submit the documentation if selected for audit.

Certification Lapse Policy
If an individual’s certification has lapsed either due to lack of required CEU points, they may submit a written request within 12 months from the date they received notification that their BAI certification lapsed, requesting to be re-instated and explaining the circumstances which lead to the BAI certification not being re-certified as required. They must also show proof that they have obtained the required CEU point documentation. The BAI committee will then consider the request and notify the investigator of their decision.

Re-certification after a lapse of 12 months or more requires completing the entire BAI application and examination process.

If a BAI has not recertified within 6 months of the recertification date, the individual is also required to stop using the BAI certification designation and the BAI logo shall be removed from business cards, stationery, and any other business materials until individual’s designation is reinstated.

Other
Any member experiencing financial, or a personal hardship is encouraged to contact the BAI Program Director and discuss the individual’s situation if the possibility of de-certification may result from an issue. Any matter or issue not specifically covered in this directive regarding re-certification shall be referred to the BAI Program Director.