What is the NCIT Basic Program?
Over 19,000 regulatory discipline and compliance professionals have benefited from this three-day, hands-on training and certification program in investigation and inspection techniques and procedures. The program takes the attendee through every step in the investigative process: from planning the investigation to writing the report. Even if you are an experienced investigator, you are certain to gain new skills and knowledge from this course. Teaching methodologies include lectures, role playing, group activities and video presentations.
Printable program information sheet

Who should attend?
The course is general enough to apply to investigators and inspectors working in wide range of professions. The course is also useful for board executives responsible for analyzing complaints and board attorneys who wish to gain a greater appreciation of the skill level and work involved in investigations and inspections.

What subject matter is covered?
The Basic Program consists of the following units of instruction:

Day One
Introduction and Welcome (0.5 hours)

Professional Conduct: explains how to develop professional attitudes, conduct and relationships with other regulatory and law enforcement agencies. Includes discussion of the public's expectation of investigators, human relations skills that will enhance the investigator's ability to deal with people, and the common characteristics of regulatory enforcement personnel
(1.5 hours)

Principles of Administrative Law and the Regulatory Process: provides the basic guidelines to understanding administrative law and procedure and the regulatory process. Identifies the sources of administrative law, the most accepted "standard of proof" used in administrative proceedings, the areas most often challenged in administrative hearings, the criteria courts use to ensure an administrative action is legal when a challenge or appeal is made, and the differences between centralized, independent and semi-autonomous boards (2 hours)

Investigative Process: teaches a basic understanding of the investigative process including the intake of complaints, investigative planning and the execution of an investigative plan. Identifies the elements of the complaint process, the "standards of acceptance," the methods for receiving and reviewing complaint information, investigative tools used to conduct administrative investigations, sources for obtaining information used to implement an investigative plan and investigator safety
(4 hours)    

Day Two
Principles of Evidence: reviews the sources of evidence law; the classification, types and forms of evidence; and the rules of evidence and their use in administrative proceedings
(2 hours)

Evidence Collection, Tagging and Storage: furnishes the student with the basic guidelines for gathering evidence, including proper techniques for the custody and storage of evidence. Reviews the investigator's role of identifying, documenting, collecting and managing evidence
(2 hours)

Interviewing Techniques: emphasizes techniques for obtaining complete and accurate verbal information. Explains the proper method of interviewing, how to establish rapport with persons being interviewed, and proper and improper questioning techniques
(4 hours)    

Day Three
Report Writing: teaches students ways to improve factual, investigative reports. Learn how to write a factual report that is accurate, logical, clear, concise and complete
(3 hours)

Overview of Inspections and Inspection Procedures: explains the inspector's role and the specific steps in an inspection--planning the inspection, conducting the inspection and writing the formal report. Includes the fundamental elements of inspections, the importance of planning and proper documentation, and the establishment and maintenance of rapport with licensees being inspected
(1 hour)

Testifying in Administrative and Criminal Proceedings: provides students with an understanding of the roles of the prosecutor, as well as the mental and physical preparation necessary for testifying on the witness stand
(2 hours)

Question and Answer Session: provides students with the opportunity to ask any questions that may have gone unanswered during the course of the training
(1 hour)

Examination: a multiple choice exam that tests students' learning. If the student obtains a score of 70% or better, he or she is eligible to receive CLEAR certification and to enroll in advanced NCIT offerings
(1 hour)

Can I receive certification for this course?
Anyone who completes the Basic curriculum, achieves a minimum of 70% on the course examination and meets the one-year employment requirement as a regulatory investigator or inspector may apply for CLEAR certification.

How do I bring the NCIT Basic Program to my city?
Sponsoring an NCIT Basic Program may be easier than you think. CLEAR requires its sponsors to guarantee a minimum of 60 attendees (several agencies may come together to guarantee 60 attendees collectively). CLEAR staff does the rest--from arranging for meeting space to providing instructors and training materials. For more information about attending or sponsoring an NCIT Basic Program, contact the training division at (859) 269-1601.