Comparison
Minnesota's 12-Hour Test, Learning Shop USA vs Investigative Academy
Minnesota PPD comparisons should begin with the required 12-hour course type and completion evidence, then apply each provider’s dated published terms.
By Sharon DeCet, Founder · Updated 2 Sept 2026
Learning Shop USA
Minnesota PI pre-assignment course listed as 12 hours, self-paced and online-only.
Best for: Comparing a self-paced course with a published emailed-certificate process and phone, email and fax instructor assistance.
$185, published course price, 2026
National Investigative Training Academy (NITA)
Minnesota PI pre-assignment course listed as 12 hours, 100% online and on-demand.
Best for: Comparing NITA’s published on-demand delivery, weekday support hours and immediate online completion evidence.
$170, per NITA’s published course price, 2026
The short answer
Minnesota Department of Public Safety guidance requires a 12-hour PPD course for private-detective employees and a different PPA course for protective-agent employees. Learning Shop USA and NITA each publish a 12-hour Minnesota PI course, so the useful comparison is the exact course terms and completion evidence, not a quality verdict.
Which should you choose?
Choose Learning Shop USA if
- Learning Shop USA publishes a 12-hour, self-paced, online-only Minnesota PI pre-assignment course and says its Certificate of Completion is emailed within seconds after completion.
- Learning Shop USA’s Minnesota course page lists instructor assistance by phone, email and fax.
Choose National Investigative Training Academy (NITA) if
- NITA publishes a 12-hour Minnesota PI pre-assignment course at $170, compared with Learning Shop USA’s published $185 price.
- NITA publishes a 75% passing threshold, immediately printable diploma access and weekday support hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST.
Learning Shop USA vs National Investigative Training Academy (NITA), point by point
A check marks the stronger side on that point. Points without a check are even, or depend on what you need.
| What matters | Learning Shop USA | National Investigative Training Academy (NITA) |
|---|---|---|
| Listed Minnesota course role | Minnesota Pre-Assignment Course for Private Detectives/Investigators. | Minnesota Private Detective Pre Assignment Training. |
| Listed course hours | 12 hours. | 12 hours. |
| Published delivery format | Self-paced and online-only. | 100% online and on-demand, per NITA’s published course description. |
| Published course price | $185, 2026 course listing. | Stronger here$170, per NITA’s published course listing, 2026. |
| Published completion evidence | Certificate of Completion emailed within seconds after course completion, per the course listing. | NITA says a 75% passing score provides a printable diploma and certificates are available online immediately. |
| Published support terms | Instructor assistance via phone, email and fax. General support hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST. | NITA publishes Monday through Friday support from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST and says messages are returned within 24 hours. |
Listed Minnesota course role
- Learning Shop USA
- Minnesota Pre-Assignment Course for Private Detectives/Investigators.
- National Investigative Training Academy (NITA)
- Minnesota Private Detective Pre Assignment Training.
Listed course hours
- Learning Shop USA
- 12 hours.
- National Investigative Training Academy (NITA)
- 12 hours.
Published delivery format
- Learning Shop USA
- Self-paced and online-only.
- National Investigative Training Academy (NITA)
- 100% online and on-demand, per NITA’s published course description.
Published course price
- Learning Shop USA
- $185, 2026 course listing.
- National Investigative Training Academy (NITA)Stronger here
- $170, per NITA’s published course listing, 2026.
Published completion evidence
- Learning Shop USA
- Certificate of Completion emailed within seconds after course completion, per the course listing.
- National Investigative Training Academy (NITA)
- NITA says a 75% passing score provides a printable diploma and certificates are available online immediately.
Published support terms
- Learning Shop USA
- Instructor assistance via phone, email and fax. General support hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST.
- National Investigative Training Academy (NITA)
- NITA publishes Monday through Friday support from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST and says messages are returned within 24 hours.
Where each is stronger
Approval is not an endorsement
Minnesota Department of Public Safety says course approval checks statutory and rule requirements, not provider quality.
The certificate needs specific details
Minnesota requires completion evidence to show covered subject areas and completed hours.
Begin with the state’s course type
Minnesota distinguishes a 12-hour Pre-assignment Private Detective course, or PPD, from a 12-hour Pre-assignment Protective Agent course, or PPA. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety training guidance says a private-detective employee needs PPD, while a protective-agent employee needs PPA. The same guidance says pre-assignment training must be completed within 21 days of hire.
Minnesota’s board says course approval checks course content and instructors against statutes and rules. It does not endorse a provider or guarantee course quality. This page therefore reports published terms, as of September 2026, rather than assessing either provider.
Completion evidence is part of the comparison
Minnesota’s Rule 7506.2600 requires evidence of completion to show the course subject areas and completed hours. Learning Shop USA’s Minnesota listing says it emails a Certificate of Completion within seconds after course completion. NITA says a student who passes with 75% or higher receives an immediately printable diploma and that certificates are available online immediately.
For the state requirement itself, see Minnesota PI pre-assignment training. For provider-specific support and course-fit checks, see Learning Shop USA reviews and course fit.
Our verdict
The published records support a course-term comparison for Minnesota PPD training. They do not establish a quality difference between Learning Shop USA and NITA.