How long does it take to become a criminal investigator

The term “detective” may summon images of the fast-moving, smartly dressed characters of James “Sonny” Crockett (Don Johnson) and Ricardo “Rico” Thomas (Philip Michael Thomas) from Miami Vice or the supernaturally adept Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) from the eponymous TV show.

The truth is that real detective work is far removed from the glamorous media portrayals, requiring incredible patience, investigative rigor, and ironclad ethics. In addition to being exposed to potentially dangerous individuals and situations, the process of solving cases can take months or even years, much of it spent poring over documents, photographs, and files. Despite the challenges, however, becoming a detective can be a rewarding profession, providing the deep personal satisfaction that comes from solving crimes and bringing resolution to victims.

First, there’s a difference between police detectives and private investigators (PIs), although the two fields have overlapping competencies. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2022), police detectives typically garner investigative experience through their work in law enforcement and have become detectives as a promotion through the agency.

On the job, they may conduct interviews with witnesses or suspects; examine records; collect and carefully document evidence; prepare reports; observe the activity of subjects; secure scenes of crimes; get arrest warrants; participate in the apprehension of criminals; and serve as expert witnesses in court.

By contrast, PIs are citizens who typically need state licensure and cut their teeth gathering legal, financial, and personal information for clients by conducting surveillance; performing background checks; tracking missing people; searching records for clues; and interviewing people of interest. Detectives may choose to specialize in homicide (police detectives only), computer forensics, corporate malpractice, insurance fraud, and other fields.

Read on to discover the typical salary detectives earn, as well as the required personality, education, and credentials necessary to join this exciting profession.

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Detective Salary Guide – How Much Do Detectives and PIs Earn?

As mentioned above, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS May 2021) differentiates between private investigators (PIs) and police detectives.

First, the 28,860 private detectives and PIs across the US reported the following salary ranges:

• Annual mean wage: $60,970
• 10th percentile: $32,130
• 25th percentile: $40,290
• 50th percentile (median): $59,380
• 75th percentile: $77,540
• 90th percentile: $98,070

By contrast, police detectives and criminal investigators reported substantially higher salary ranges (BLS May 2021):

• Employment: 107,890
• Annual mean wage: $90,370
• 10th percentile: $48,040
• 25th percentile: $61,600
• 50th percentile (median): $83,640
• 75th percentile: $106,540
• 90th percentile: $146,830

Also, good news for those interested in becoming federal agents across the United States: the top-paying states for detectives and criminal investigators are spread out among coastal states (BLS May 2021):

• Alaska: $126,810 annual average salary
• District of Columbia: $123,760
• Maryland: $115,660
• Hawaii: $111,130
• Washington: $108,550

It’s important to note that four of the top-paying states are also states with the highest cost of living in the US. As proof of point, the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC 2022) found that Alaska, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Hawaii, and Washington are among the top fifteen most expensive states. By contrast, the five most affordable states were Mississippi, Oklahoma, Kansas, Alabama, and Iowa.

Finally, both PIs and police detectives are expected to have similar growth rates in job openings during the coming decade. For illustration, the BLS (2022) anticipates that between 2021 and 2031, openings for PIs will grow 6 percent and 3 percent for police detectives (BLS 2022), which is nearly equal to the average growth projected for all occupations during that time (5 percent).

Skills & Personality Traits of the Successful Detective

Most successful detectives are curious, attentive to detail, and hard-working. Additionally, perseverance may also be important, as crime-solving doesn’t always happen linearly or quickly. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, important skills for successful detectives include:

• Communication skills: Detectives must listen carefully when interviewing witnesses, victims, and potential criminals, asking the right kind of questions and staying aware of nonverbal communication cues.
• Decision-making skills: Detectives must be able to think quickly and act calmly, particularly if someone’s life could be at risk or if quick action can uncover clues to solving a crime.
• Inquisitiveness: Seasoned detectives are natural-born problem solvers who possess the ability to think about possible motives for a crime and how to ascertain how crimes were committed.
• Patience: As previously stated, crime-solving can take months or years. Sometimes crimes go without resolutions—thus becoming cold cases—which can be picked up years later, especially with advances in forensic technologies such as DNA analyses.
• Resourcefulness: Detectives must think on their feet and follow procedures at all times, but they must also be able to use the resources at hand and intuition to help solve a crime.

Detective Specializations

As previously mentioned, police detectives may be able to select a specialization within their detective division, which will vary by county and state. In addition, there may be continuous training that is necessary due to advances in technology and compliance regulations. Some departments may also regularly research, develop, and implement improvement strategies to enhance the quality of investigation procedures and techniques.

The following list outlines some of these specializations or divisions that are generally led by commanders, captains, or lieutenants:

• Homicide and Robbery – Detectives in this unit will focus on cases that involve murders, suspicious deaths, kidnappings, and robberies.
• Forensic – This division includes analysis of various types of physical evidence and digital media found at crime scenes.
• Juvenile – Investigators deal with child abuse, exploitation investigations, and any other juvenile cases.
• Gangs and Narcotics – These detectives are responsible for violent street gangs and the use and sale of illegal drugs and firearms.
• Commercial – Commercial crimes include auto theft, and may also include fraud and forgery cases.
• Technical Investigation – This department of investigation includes financial crimes and web-based crimes against children.
• Detective Support and Vice – This department handles hate crimes, missing persons, animal cruelty, human trafficking, and pornography.
• Special Victims Unit (SVU) – These detectives investigate crimes against children, domestic violence, sexual assault, and other violent crimes against adults.

How Long Does it Take To Become a Detective?

While the path towards becoming a police detective may vary, generally, after obtaining a high school diploma or GED, it can take anywhere from five to eight years to be promoted from a police officer to a detective.

In fact, according to the BLS (2022), prospective detectives will need to graduate high school (or obtain their GED), and most will complete an associate’s (two-year) or bachelor’s (four-year) degree in criminal justice, psychology, criminology, sociology, or a related field.

In addition, to be a competitive applicant for the police department, prospective officers will have to pass physical exams, background checks, and other requirements. In some cases, once hired as a police officer, candidates will attend a police academy for further training. The length of academies varies by department, city, and state. In Portland, OR, basic police training lasts 16 weeks, whereas, in San Jose, CA, training lasts 26 weeks.

Additionally, after graduating from a police academy, aspiring detectives will need to continue developing an experience for a minimum of three years as a police officer before being promoted to detective. To be promoted, officers must complete an exam, and/or they will be evaluated based on their service within the police department.

Steps to Becoming a Detective

There are varied paths to becoming a private investigator (PI) or detective, although all paths require a steady combination of didactic instruction and on-the-job investigative experience. Here is one possible path to becoming a detective:

Step 1: Graduate from high school (four years). At this stage, aspiring detectives are encouraged to foster skills such as critical thinking, deductive reasoning, and inductive reasoning.

Some students may choose to seek out volunteer opportunities through their local police departments, civic organizations, or federal agencies to get hands-on training in the field. For example, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) offers the weeklong Future Agents in Training (FAIT) program to interested high school students. Similarly, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) provides the Pathways Internship Program to qualified high school and college students. Students are encouraged to contact local agencies for available opportunities.

Step 2: Get a degree in criminal justice, criminology, sociology, or a related discipline (two to four years). Some prospective police detectives may be eligible to enroll directly in a police academy, but many police academies require at least some college to qualify. By illustration, Eileen Carlin—a 20-year veteran in law enforcement and state coordinator with Rasmussen College’s School of Justice Studies—reports that most departments want detectives with two- to four-year college degrees.

Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania State University offers an online associate in science (AS) degree in criminal justice, which is delivered through a partnership between the Penn State Harrisburg School of Public Affairs and Penn State World Campus. Students in this program will gain the skills and knowledge needed for entering or advancing in a wide range of careers in social services and criminal justice.

Made up of 64 credits, the program includes courses such as criminology; introduction to criminal justice; policing in America; courts and the prosecution process; corrections in America; introduction to ethics; race, ethnicity, and culture; statistical analysis for the social sciences; and research methods in criminal justice.

Graduates of this program will have the knowledge and skills needed for serving both private and public interests in law and corrections, protective services, security management, crime prevention, social services, court administration, and other related professions.

• Location: University Park, PA
• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
• Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
• Estimated Tuition: $590 to $632 per credit

John Jay College of Criminal Justice

The John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York (CUNY) provides several reputable undergraduate degrees with majors in criminology, criminal justice, and criminal justice management. In its bachelor of science (BS) in criminal justice program, students focus on institutional theory and practice with specialized training in law and politics of race relations; police and community relations; and constitutional law.

Comprising 120 credits, the program includes courses such as introduction to the American criminal justice system; research methods and statistics for criminal justice; introduction to corrections; introduction to police studies; criminology; police and urban communities; community-based approaches to justice; and drugs, crime, and law in Latin America.

• Location: New York, NY
• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• Expected Time to Completion: 48 months
• Estimated Tuition: NY state Resident ($305 per credit); non-NY state resident ($620 per credit)

California State University

Additionally, California State University in San Bernardino (CSUSB) provides a bachelor of arts (BA) in criminal justice, combining valuable research and internship opportunities with structured coursework in criminal law, statistics in criminal justice, and correctional counseling. Graduates of this program will have a detailed understanding of the criminal justice system and its operation as well as the impact of law enforcement and laws on society.

Consisting of 120 credits, the program includes courses such as introduction to the criminal justice system; criminal law; research methods in criminal justice; statistics in criminal justice; theories of crime and delinquency; correctional theory and institutions; police and police systems; integrative studies in criminal justice; and criminal investigations, among others.

• Location: San Bernardino, CA
• Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
• Expected Time to Completion: 48 months
• Estimated Tuition: 0-6 units ($1,665); 6.1+ units ($2,871)

Step 3: For prospective police detectives: Enroll in a police academy and get investigative experience (one to three years). For those looking to become police detectives—an option that can be more lucrative than becoming a private investigator (PI)—enrolling in a police academy is the next step.

Although requirements vary by department and region, to qualify for a police academy, candidates must be US citizens; be at least 18 years old; possess a driver’s license; have no felony convictions; and have some college experience.

Please note that state and federal agencies typically require at least four years of undergraduate education. Police academy programs generally last six to eight months with specialized training in firearm use, patrol procedures, ethics, self-defense, report-writing, CPR and first aid, physical fitness, and emergency response.

After the academy, aspiring detectives are urged to take on advanced training and responsibilities in investigative units to build their resumes. There are various branches of investigation, including homicide, surveillance, fraud, computer crimes, financial crimes, and missing people.

Step 4a: Prospective private investigators (PIs) should pursue on-the-job investigative experience and state licensure (timeline varies). For civilian PIs, requirements vary by state, but many require licensure.

For example, California’s Bureau of Security & Investigative Services (2022) reports that to qualify for licensure, PIs must be at least 18 years old; undergo a criminal background check; and have proof of experience in one of three capacities. They either must have 6,000 hours of paid investigative work, a law degree plus 4,000 hours of experience, or an associate degree and 5,000 hours of experience.

Additionally, candidates must pass a two-hour multiple-choice test on laws & regulations, terminology, evidence handling, undercover investigations, and other cornerstones of the field.

Pursuit Magazine (2022), an online resource for investigators, reports that licensure is necessary for practice in 46 states (in addition to some cities) and provides a convenient table of PI licensure policies by state.

Step 4b: Take the police detective test or get professionally certified (timeline varies). There is a wealth of certifications available for both police detectives and private investigators.

Those with several years of investigative experience in law enforcement may qualify to take the National Detective/Investigative Test (NDIT) which measures a police officer’s readiness to become a detective or investigator. This 75-question exam measures candidates’ knowledge in criminal investigations, major court cases, and investigative interviewing.

Similarly, the Police Detective (PDET) 200 Series provides a 100-question test gauging law enforcement professionals’ knowledge of police investigative procedures, laws related to police work, and how to complete reports. There are also professional certifications available to detectives and PIs outside of police forces.

For investigators who specialize in negligence or criminal defense investigation, the National Association of Legal Investigators (NALI) offers the certified legal investigator (CLI) certification. CLI candidates must have at least five years of full-time experience (or qualifying academic coursework); complete a 1,000-word research paper on investigations; and pass an examination with a score of at least 70 percent. To maintain the certification, CLIs must complete 50 hours of continuing education (CE) every three years.

For investigators who specialize in security, ASIS International offers the professional certified investigator (PCI) certification. To qualify, candidates must have a high school diploma and five years of investigative experience (with two years in case management). The 140-question exam tests people’s knowledge in case management, investigative techniques & procedures, and case presentation.

Step 5: Fulfill local credentialing requirements (timeline varies). Requirements to become a detective can vary by state. Since most states have different requirements to become a police officer, the steps to join the state’s detective division may also vary.

Overall, some police departments require prospective detectives to hold only a high school diploma or GED, while others require some college courses or a two- to a four-year college degree.

• For example, to join the Los Angeles Police Department Detective Bureau, one must have a high school diploma or GED, and detective or sergeant is the first promotion available to those who have trained as officers.
• However, to join the New York Police Department, applicants must have 60 college credits or have served two years in the military to be successful candidates.
• In Dallas, TX, applicants who are between the ages of 21 and 44 must have 45 semester-credits (college-level) and a 2.0 GPA.
• Whereas, in Miami, Florida, applicants will need to pass a law enforcement exam (FBAT – Florida Basic Abilities Test), in addition to earning a GED or high school diploma.

In short, the requirements to become a detective vary widely by state. Aspiring candidates are encouraged to reach out to their local government offices to find out about eligibility.