Private investigation?

This field interests me as a possible career, and I did a little reading and found that you can do short courses on becoming a private investigator/ private detective and a degree is desirable. I plan to go to uni, but I'd like to learn more about this career. I understand it's not like the kind of thing on TV, and it can be unsuccessful and low pay. I found out that there's a private investigator in my local area and there's an email address I can contact him on, is it worth contacting him about maybe talking to him about it, maybe even getting a little part time work or observing him at work etc.? And what should I say?