Just finished interviewing Barry Fitzgerald

Teresa and I just got off the phone with Barry Fitzgerald of Ghost Hunters International, and wow, what a great interview. Barry, we want to say thanks again for your time. For those of you in the paranormal investigative world, Barry had something to say about tools and techniques that 99% of us are using and may be COSTING us the chance to capture photographic or video evidence of the paranormal. Tune in tomorrow night @ 7pm EST USA on 95.7 FM in Cincinnati, or stream online live from www.wvqc.org to find out what he said. You can also logon to www.insideparanormal.com and chat with Teresa and I about the interview if you'd like.

Barry also let us in on a little behind the scenes at GHI, and gave some hints about what's not-yet-seen on the show that scared him. He also talked about visiting sites in Peru that were reported to be frequented by UFO's, and he indicated that what he saw even amazed him. 

Ghost Hunting Certification - Who decides what qualifies?

So what exactly is a certified ghost hunter? Who decides what constitutes certified? Hell, I haven't even died yet, and have never seen a ghost directly in the 11 + years I've been involved in the paranormal world. So since I can't talk with factual knowledge (as a ghost myself) or with the direct experience that is incontrovertible, how in the world is someone certifying people to document and validate their experience?

There are several "courses" that you can take to become certified. You have online and home-based CD Rom courses you can use. There are a few courses that you take with a live instructor as a part of a larger class. The International Ghost Hunting Society has their CD Rom based IGHS ghost researcher course. Patti Starr has her Certified Ghost Hunter course (a live, instructor-led class).

So are these classes and courses legitimate, or just another form of paranormal money grabbing? Well, to say something like this is legitimate as a certification is a stretch. If they titled their courses as a ghost hunting investigation training course, I might be able to swallow it a little easier. Of course, these people don't have to prove anything to me, because I'm never going to pay to take the courses anyway. But, they do have to answer to the paranormal society as a whole. They only look to those who are new to the field, and have an interest in the genre from watching TV or in some cases their own personal experiences. But eventually, with time and effort, these people that pay to take these classes are going to learn they never had to pay to take these classes anyway. At that point, how do these "certification bodies" answer to their own clients?

So as you look to become a certified ghost hunter, or certified anything in life, take a look at the "body" that certifies the course and issues your certification. What is their expertise and qualification to state that method is the best and most recognized. If you look at the courses offered by any of these groups or individuals, are you sure the methods they teach are the most commonly used, and widely accepted, as being the best and top method of doing things? If you think so, then you should sign up and take these courses. If you don't think so, you should maybe think twice about spending the money.

How many "certified ghost hunters" have you seen on TV, heard on the radio, or met in person that has a better methodology or better way of doing things than the investigators who don't hold those certifications?