This program provides you with the essential knowledge and skills required for modern intelligence work and advanced roles as a private investigator.

The PIO course stands out for its comprehensive scope, intensity, and career opportunities, offering a top-tier training program in the global market. It is not just another private investigator training; it is a professional education comparable to intelligence agency training. Especially in practical "fieldcraft" and intelligence tactics, we are a leading provider in the field of private intelligence services.

"Intelligence" means "intelligence findings," essentially "information." In the information age (and knowledge IS truly power), information naturally plays a fundamental role across politics, diplomacy, and especially the corporate world.

Learn what private intelligence agencies do and explore how governments, corporations, associations, political parties, and even the Vatican engage in "intelligence activities," including Competitive Intelligence and Corporate Intelligence.

Master the tactics and techniques of espionage, counter-espionage, and security operations. Key areas of study include industrial espionage, corporate espionage, counter-intelligence, military intelligence, information security, market analysis, data security, data recovery, IT security, cryptography, encryption, and decryption, among many others.

Of course, focusing solely on computer research, Google searches, and databases is not sufficient. Anyone can do that. True work as a private intelligence expert or "intelligence engineer" involves far more than online searches and data matching.

Our PIO course includes all aspects of computer and database research. While some institutions now offer training in "Competitive Intelligence," these are often just basic private investigator courses.

What these programs lack is the core element: intensive hands-on training for intelligence work, which can only be acquired through personal instruction and practical exercises with real intelligence professionals. Intelligence work demands ongoing and extensive training across numerous areas. The PIO course provides the depth and breadth you need, along with a guaranteed opportunity for direct employment upon completion, including continued education and training.

Many insights cannot be obtained through databases or online searches but require real-world intelligence methods. Only the PIO course offers all of this and more. Terms like Competitive Intelligence and Market Intelligence are often overused, but private intelligence inherently encompasses all these fields. The PIO curriculum covers every aspect of private intelligence work—it’s not just theory; it’s the complete package.

Through the PIO program, you’ll gain deep insights into global intelligence services and learn, through practical application, how to gather and analyze information. Real intelligence work goes far beyond computers and requires undercover operations, agent recruitment and management, risk analysis, vulnerability detection, and the use of advanced electronic tools. No security area is more critical than the collection, analysis, and protection of information.

The comprehensive program, led by active and former intelligence professionals from around the world, includes courses in history, criminology, psychology, self-defense, weapons training, languages, investigation, surveillance, and more.

In the future, the importance of intelligence will grow significantly—even wars are now fought through data control and manipulation. PIOs are becoming essential components of every security strategy, making this a career with excellent prospects.

The value of this profession for corporate security and intelligence services is often underestimated. Some security personnel even dismiss the idea of a "private intelligence service." Ironically, these are often the same individuals who apply for private security roles with limited military experience and little else to offer for modern, international corporate security.

Simply having served in the military is no longer enough as a career foundation. The job market is oversaturated with similar candidates, and the result is a constant struggle to find new opportunities.

Underestimating the PIO course means missing a unique career opportunity in a specialized field where capable professionals are in high demand. The work of a PIO is highly versatile, exciting, and involves tactical skills, survival training, weapons handling, and hand-to-hand combat. Instead of guarding buildings, a PIO can take on international missions that are as thrilling as convoy escorts, close protection, or asset security.

The field of private intelligence services is essential and cannot be underestimated. Industries like corporate espionage are everyday realities in international business, where extreme measures, including murder, are not unheard of (see Russia, Africa, China).

The corporate intelligence sector requires skilled professionals with top-tier training to handle tasks that ordinary security personnel or private detectives cannot manage due to a lack of expertise.

This profession cannot be learned from books alone. You must work in the field with experienced intelligence professionals to gain the practical skills needed for success. The PIO program offers the complete package, combining theory with hands-on training.

Free: Request the new "Introduction to a Career as a PIO" brochure (please explicitly request this brochure if you’re interested!)

As a new specialized program, the BSA now offers an exclusive PIO "Air Surveillance" course. This program includes the standard PIO curriculum plus training for an ultralight aircraft license, paragliding, parachuting, and drone operation for aerial intelligence gathering.

This globally unique program equips operators to infiltrate remote areas undetected, gather information, and conduct aerial surveillance using paragliders, drones, or ultralight aircraft.

Other relevant tactical courses include SpecOps or Tactical Close Protection Training. Get more information here.

After successfully completing the course, graduates can conduct valuable intelligence missions for Brillstein Security Group and its clients, analyzing and providing critical data.

We guarantee full-time employment to every PIO graduate upon successful course completion. Each year, we admit only as many new participants as we plan to hire in the following year, ensuring job placement for all graduates!

Program Duration: Approximately 22 months for BSA Certificate Level 2, including about 4 weeks of training camps, practical assignments, and internships. Participants may also engage in paid assignments during their studies (starting around the second semester, depending on performance).

The program’s duration is flexible, based on the participant’s learning pace. Additional modules include parachuting, paragliding, ultralight flying, and drone operation, which require on-site training camps lasting approximately two weeks.

Requirements: Normal health, age 21+, high school diploma or equivalent with at least two years of professional experience. Daily learning commitment of at least two hours, computer literacy, and English proficiency required. A clean criminal record and good health are mandatory.

Total Program Cost: €7,500 for the "PIO" program, including all seminars, workshops, theory and practice exercises, self-defense, fitness, training materials, interim and final examinations, licensing, and guaranteed employment opportunities. Payment plans are available.

Total cost for the PIO with "Air Surveillance" specialization: €10,950, including additional modules such as flight hours, paragliding, and drone training.

The program is primarily conducted in German, but at least basic English proficiency is essential, as some course materials, including flight training and communication, are in English. Practical training camps are held in locations such as Israel, South Africa, the USA, France, and the UK.

For participants from Germany, some seminars are also held locally. The PIO theory portion is delivered through distance learning, supported by online resources, forums, and individual tutors. Practical seminars reinforce and apply the theoretical knowledge. PIO graduates interested in working for Paladin Risk or BSG are eligible for additional free or discounted training programs.

Successful graduates have access to international career opportunities through BSG—full-time employment is guaranteed to all PIO graduates! The information services sector is one of the most critical areas in global security and intelligence services.