$85,000 is the average salary for a detective that has been working for around 6 years. Typically, it takes 2-4 years to complete your education, 2 years to be hired by a police department, 2-5 years to earn experience as an officer, and 1-3 years to train as a detective. Other common specializations include due diligence detectives, insurance claim detectives, missing property detectives, and SVU detectives.
Getting an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree will also make it likely for you to earn a higher starting salary. Consider an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree in a field like criminal justice, criminal law, criminology, human relations, judicial function, forensic science, political science, or criminal procedure. Find a degree program that includes an internship component, which will give you more real-life experience. Learn a language that’s useful for your community, like Spanish. Being fluent in another language is a major asset for many urban departments and federal agencies.
Some agencies will accept you as a candidate if you will meet their age requirement at the time of your graduation. Louisiana has no minimum age requirement. If you’re 19, Maine will consider you as a candidate once you’ve earned 40 college credits. If you aren’t able to meet the age requirement yet, use your time to focus on training to become a detective and getting a higher level of education.
Each police department will have its own obstacle course for the job simulation method. To prepare for the fitness method, check out the Copper Institute’s fitness standards, which most agencies use to measure your level of health and physical abilities. The standards for the fitness method are based on your gender and age.
Not only will you need a driver’s license to be a detective, but you’ll also need a clean driving record. Even speeding tickets will be enough to disqualify you as a detective.
The ability to multi-task. Though you may be focusing on one case at a time, you will always have multiple tasks and lots of paperwork that needs to get done in a short amount of time. Excellent communication skills. In order to interview anyone you meet and get the best information possible, you’ll need to earn people’s trust. Not only will you need to make them comfortable, but you’ll also have to establish authority so they provide all the details you’re looking for. Strong writing skills. Being a detective isn’t all about going out into the field, having high-speed chases, and following exciting leads. There will be lots of writing involved, and you’ll need to know how to describe incidents in a way that all your colleagues can understand. Patience. If you want to be a good detective, then you can’t obsess over solving a case immediately; it can take months, or even years, to follow a lead, and some of your detective work may even lead to dead ends. Perceptiveness. When you take in all of the details of a crime scene, try to connect all the dots and create a story based on what you see. You’ll be one step closer to finding an answer if you think about information in an original way.
Training academy programs involve classroom study that will include self-defense, traffic control, and first aid. To apply for a training academy program, go to the department you’d like to work for once you have your college degree and ask if there are any available opportunities. [8] X Research source Make sure you don’t have any felonies, misdemeanors, dishonorable discharges, or gang-related activity in your past, as any of these factors will disqualify you from entering the police force. [9] X Research source If you join the military and gain experience as a military police officer, you might be accepted into municipal police work once you’ve completed your military duties. [10] X Research source
Brush up on the latest techniques and technologies. Study computer forensics to learn how to battle cyber crime. Taking night college courses can help build your experience. Continue to exercise regularly, do aerobic and strength training, and remain physically fit so that you’re able to handle the grueling nature of your job. Write detailed reports about crime scenes and accidents. Your superiors will see how observant you are and are more likely to consider you an asset to the team.
Even if a detective position isn’t available, take the NDIT and inform your department if you pass it. Your superiors will likely appreciate your initiative and keep you in mind for future opportunities. In addition to taking the NDIT, get certifications for both a police detective and a private investigation to give yourself an extra advantage. [13] X Research source
Also, you’ll receive training in other areas that include how to use firearms, self-defense, first aid, and emergency response. As one training option, enter the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy, which provides training for municipal detectives. [15] X Research source
As long as you explain how your previous job is relevant to detective work, you’re more likely to be seen as an ideal candidate. For example, if you searched for security threats when you were in IT, you can relate this to fighting cyber crime for a police department.
If you’re a computer forensic investigator, then your state may require you to be licensed as a private investigator as well. Even if it’s not required, the license will help you follow up on investigative work by allowing you to access and retrieve data.
Additional certifications, like one issued by the ACFE to work as a Certified Fraud Examiner, can help you take on more niche cases because you’ll be specially qualified. [19] X Research source
Most of these agencies are small, without much room for advancement. Still, you’ll be able to gain a few years of experience at a private agency before you start your own practice.
While a private detective agency offers a wider range of cases, a corporation or legal firm will offer you a more narrowed down set of tasks. For example, you might be assigned cases that only relate to medical malpractice.
It’s likely that you’ll take on a lot of domestic cases, such as custody disputes, because local clients will reach out to the private firm that’s closest to them. Be prepared for start-up costs, like surety bonds, liability insurance, and general business licenses. Write a business plan to make sure you can make your PI firm profitable.
