Read on to get a step-by-step guide on becoming a forensic investigator.
Step 1: Complete a bachelor’s degree (four years).
After graduating from high school, aspiring lead detectives typically earn a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. Criminal justice and forensic investigation are majors that can prepare a graduate for a wide variety of positions. Students who intend to specialize later in their career—for example, in biological sciences, cybercrime, financial crime, or digital forensics—may choose to orient their undergraduate education in that direction.
Outside of the standard curriculum, many students choose to get an internship while completing their degree. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) all offer opportunities for students to get a head start with some real-world experience.
Step 2: Gain real-world experience (one to five years).
No one’s putting a rookie in charge of much more than picking up donuts and coffee. To earn the role of lead detective, young detectives will need to gain a lot of experience first. For those with a degree in criminal justice, the next step could be working up through the ranks of a municipal or state police department towards the role of detective. Those who work at any public sector agency will often be put through rigorous hands-on training.
Those who completed a specialized degree can find roles in the private sector. Jobs in finance and IT, for example, can provide critical experience in actual investigations. Law enforcement agencies, especially at the federal level, take such hands-on knowledge into account when hiring from outside for positions in their cybercrime or financial crime departments, for example.
No matter which path one chooses, this step of gaining experience is critical in the pursuit of becoming a lead detective.
Step 3: Earn a master’s degree (optional, two years).