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Reviewed by:
Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University
Reviewed: 6/17/24
If you’re considering a career as a detective and want to know more about what to expect, this guide has got you covered!
We’ve all seen the detective trope multiple times in the media: the stoic, cynical investigator in a trench coat and top hat called out of town to work on a tough case. They visit the crime scene once, only to find the missing piece of the puzzle that the other seemingly incompetent personnel overlooked.
As exciting as the media makes it out to be, detective work is far more extensive. It requires a lot of paperwork and is much slower-paced. To learn more about how to become a police detective, what their realistic day-to-day duties involve, their career outlook, and more, read on!
Becoming a detective involves three years of patrol experience before taking the detective exam. Detectives have varying levels of education and experience, so it’s difficult to set a specific timeline to join this profession. However, it typically takes around eight years.
To help explain this large range, here are the steps most detectives take to join the field:
The minimum educational requirement to join law enforcement is a GED or high school diploma. While some states do not require detectives to have a formal college education, they all require a high school diploma at a minimum.
Some states will require you to have a higher education to pursue detective work. Regardless, a bachelor’s degree will make you a more competitive applicant and increase your qualifications.
Aspiring detectives generally pursue majors in criminal justice or a related field. These programs take four years to complete. Students who opt for two-year associate’s degrees instead will still have an advantage over students without higher education experience, but bachelor's degrees are strongly preferred.
Some of the best schools in the USA for criminology include the University of Maryland--College Park, the University of Pennsylvania, and UC Irvine.
While it’s suggested you have either a bachelor’s or police academy training, having both will strengthen your application.
Your undergrad will equip you with crucial technical knowledge to be an effective detective, whereas police academy training will equip you with the physical skills and practical experience needed to succeed as a law enforcer.
These programs typically take five to eight months to complete and are known to be rigorous!
You won’t become a police detective as soon as you enter the law enforcement field. Detective work requires a high level of expertise and experience. To gain this experience, you must first become a police officer.
Most detective positions will require at least two to five years of police experience. In order to become a police officer, you will need to complete training and pass a certification exam called the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) exam.
You will also be required to pass a physical and psychological test to ensure you’re prepared for a career as a police officer.
The majority of detective positions require you to have at least two to five years of experience as a police officer. Do your best to gain investigation experience, even if you’re just observing investigations with senior officers or detectives.
Since most police departments promote detectives from within their own force, ensure you build strong connections with your peers and mentors. Work hard to build a good reputation for yourself so that you’re seen as knowledgeable, reliable, and hardworking!
Express your career desires to your supervisors, so they know your goals and can help you achieve them.
As you prepare for your career as a detective, you’ll have to write the National Detective/Investigative Test (NDIT), a promotional exam that assesses police officers’ readiness to conduct detective work.
If you need help throughout your detective journey, consider speaking with one of our counselors. They can provide expert insight with every step in your detective career path.
Amy had an incredible experience with our counselors. Here’s what she had to say.
“I had an amazing experience working with Juris. We spent significant time going over items such as realistic career goals to crafting my life story that we could then leverage for my applications. At times when I was slacking on my applications, Juris got me back on track by having weekly calls with me to think through what was stumping me. When it came time to interview, they provided a theatre coach to help me come across in my best light and connected me with other consultants at Juros to have mock interviews with.”
Becoming a detective typically takes five to eight years. The process includes completing education (high school diploma minimum, though many departments prefer a two to four-year criminal justice degree), attending a police academy (five to eight months), serving as a patrol officer (three to five years minimum), and then applying for detective promotion. The most accelerated path would take approximately four years, while competitive positions in major departments may require eight or more years of experience and education.
After learning the process of becoming a detective, the next aspect of this profession to discuss is the tasks detectives perform.
While detectives’ responsibilities vary depending on the cases they work on, they mainly gather evidence and build criminal cases. To do so, they perform the following duties:
While movies may show detectives conducting lab research or aiding in the forensic analysis process, these professionals rarely enter forensic labs except to deliver evidence for testing.
Detective requirements are varied, but the most competitive detectives have an impressive skill set. Many police officers enter the field in hopes of eventually leading investigations and having a more hands-on role in solving criminal cases. To ensure you stand out as an applicant and become the best detective possible, hone the following skills:
As a detective, you can expect to investigate crimes you’ll never forget. Depending on the specialty you pursue, you may handle homicides, robberies, or gang violence cases that are emotionally draining and traumatizing.
You must be able to handle these types of crimes and should have the right support and resources available to continue investigating these tough cases.
Considering there are so many types of crimes committed, detectives often focus on one of the following specialties:
The ultimate goal of detectives is to find the guilty parties, have them prosecuted, and prevent similar crimes from reoccurring.
General detectives earn an average annual salary of $40,459, ranging between $32,707 and $58,051. Police detectives specifically earn a lower average of $35,394 per year, with most making between $32,713 and $58,057.
Specialized detectives earn significantly more. Homicide detectives have a salary range from $60,158 to $79,944 annually, while criminal investigators earn an average of $79,232 per year, with typical salaries ranging from $59,167 to $87,066.
For any remaining questions about becoming a detective, read on to find your answers.
Yes, detective positions are highly competitive! Police departments often hire from within their own divisions, meaning you may have limited job opportunities if you’re seeking employment outside of your department.
The minimum educational requirement to become a detective in the US is a high school diploma or GED. This is the base requirement for entry into law enforcement across most departments.
Detectives are paid the most in Alaska, Hawaii, and California.
No, students do not need to obtain a JD to become detectives; it is considered a non-lawyer legal career. At most, they will need a bachelor’s degree in a law-related subject.
Criminal justice is the most useful major for detectives. These programs not only teach students about the nature and causes of crime but also give insight into how criminals behave and think, which can prove useful during interrogations.
If you pursue this profession, ensure you’re in it for the long haul! Becoming a detective will take several years of education and experience, but it will be well worth the hard work.
While your career as a detective might not be as glamorous or fast-paced as it’s portrayed in the media, you’ll still be making a positive impact on the lives of victims and their families.
Reviewed by:
Former Head of Northeastern University's Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University
