What must an investigator provide before advertising a certification designation?

An investigator must provide the certificate and certification number before advertising a certification designation. The certification number is a unique identifier that verifies the investigator's credentials and confirms their standing with the certifying agency. This allows potential clients or the public to validate the authenticity of the certification through official channels.

In advertisements, having a certification number enhances transparency and trust, ensuring that the investigator is recognized formally by a legitimate body for the skills or knowledge claimed by the certification. This is crucial, particularly in a field where trust and credibility are paramount.

The other components, such as the certifying agency name, date of certification, and state of issuance, while potentially useful, are not required to be displayed in advertisements in the same way that the certification number is. Therefore, these factors serve different purposes and may not provide the same level of verification and assurance as the certification number.