How to Become a Ghost Hunter

Study the subject. Read everything you can on ghost sightings, spirits, orbs and apparitions to get an idea of what these phenomena are and how ghost hunters go about investigating them.

Join a local ghost hunting group. The best way to become a ghost hunter is to just get out there and do it. Check out the Ghosts and Hauntings website or the Ghostvillage website for information on groups in your area. Contact these groups (who you gonna call?) to see how you can go about becoming a new member.

Consider taking a class. While formal training isn't required to become a ghost hunter, the information that can be gleamed from an organized class with a knowledgeable instructor is invaluable. Several organizations, such as Flamel College and the International Ghost Hunters Society, offer online courses that you can complete at your own pace and in your own time.

Buy some ghost hunting equipment. If you don't have these already, invest in a digital camera, a notebook and pens, a tape recorder and a flashlight. As you gain knowledge and experience, you may also want to consider purchasing an EMF detector-a device commonly used by ghost hunters to detect disturbances in electric and magnetic fields.

Start hunting. Research local sites that are rumored to be haunted or where ghostly activity has been witnessed or recorded. Use the techniques you learned from your fellow ghost hunters or from your own studies to conduct an investigation. Be sure to record your findings for the benefit of other ghost hunters.