Education · 1 of 4

The path

Hired first, trained second, promoted years later. Almost nobody starts here.

1. 1

   High school diploma or equivalent

   Grade 12

   That is the legal minimum in most states. Keep your record clean: the background investigation looks at everything, including school discipline.

2. 2

   College, optional but useful

   0 to 4 years

   Not required by most city departments. Effectively required by federal agencies, which usually want a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience. Criminal justice, accounting, computer science and languages all pay off later.

3. 3

   Get hired and pass the academy

   1 to 2 years including hiring

   Written test, physical test, background investigation, medical and psychological screening, then a state-certified academy. Expect roughly six months of academy plus months of field training.

4. 4

   Patrol

   3 to 5 years

   Three to five years answering calls. This is where you learn to talk to people, write reports that stand up, and handle a scene. Detectives who skipped it are obvious.

5. 5

   Promote or transfer to investigations

   Ongoing

   By examination, interview or assignment, depending on the department. Then specialist training in your unit: property, robbery, homicide, financial crime, digital forensics.