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How to Become a Detective
Detectives are involved in investigating and solving a variety of legal cases. This may involve thefts, murders, violent activities, and organized crimes, and many others. Because of the important nature of the job, it takes quite a bit of training and experience to become a detective. If this sounds like a job you would enjoy, now is a great time to go back to college and start getting the necessary training for how to become a detective.
Education and training
The first step in how to become a detective is to complete at least two years of education in criminal justice. If you want to work for the state or federal government, you will need to complete a four-year degree program. Many colleges and universities offer online courses and may even offer an online degree that will be appropriate for this career path. Depending on your degree, you can expect to study cyber crime, forensics, security, crime scene investigation, criminal law, and many other justice and legal courses. To give yourself an advantage, you will also need to complete physical education training, research and statistics, and a variety of liberal arts coursework.
The next step in how to become a detective is to join the police force. Before you can join the police force, many departments require you to attend and pass a police academy training program. The length of these programs varies and they provide a great deal of training in actual law enforcement skills.
Next steps in how to become a detective
Most areas require you to complete a set amount of experience as a beat cop before you are eligible to apply for a position as detective. This can vary from 6 months to 5 years of on-the-job experience in matters such as interacting with the public, critical thinking, negotiating skills, social perceptiveness, active listening, judgment and decision making, and more.
To get your license and become a detective, you will also be required to complete additional classroom and weapons training and submit to a criminal background check. You may then take the certification test. The test includes your knowledge of the law, police procedure and protocol, and analytical reasoning and deduction. You may also be required to pass a physical fitness assessment. After you pass the exam, you will become a licensed detective and will be able to start working in your new career.
By completing the steps of how to become detective, you are entering in a career that pays an average of $70,000 a year with potential salaries as high as $120,000 a year. You are also entering a profession that will provide daily excitement and challenges and guarantees to never be boring. If you would like to work in this great career where you can help solve mysteries and keep the wheels of justice turning, check into a degree program and get started with your training now. Within a few years, you can be working as a fully licensed detective.
