How many years does it take to become a homicide detective

Table of Contents Show

References
About This Article
Reader Success Stories
Did this article help you?

Detectives are police officers who have gained the experience and training necessary to investigate crimes. Their responsibilities include interviewing suspects and witnesses, collecting evidence, conducting surveillance, finding and arresting suspects, writing reports, and testifying at trials.

Detectives may specialize in different types of crime and investigation, including narcotics, internal affairs, traffic accidents, or homicide. More experienced detectives may also supervise and train other police officers.

What kind of training is required to become a detective?

Becoming a detective requires both experience and training. The promotional ladder in police departments is strictly defined, and new police officers must be promoted within their own rank before they can try to become detectives. Most police departments require officers to gain four or five years of experience and pass a written exam before they can move on to a detective position. Some police departments also require prospective detectives to complete a certain number of hours of college coursework.

New detectives may attend a detective or investigator training program through their police department to learn how to interview witnesses, collect evidence, gather intelligence, and work with informants.

Are there any certification or licensure requirements?

Police officers who are becoming detectives should already hold a law enforcement certification from their state. In many states, that original certification is valid throughout an officer’s career as long as it is maintained properly. Other states have certification grades that depend on education and experience, and some offer special investigator certifications.

How long does it take to become a detective?

Becoming a police officer requires about six months of training, and officers must typically gain four or five years or experience before they can take a promotional exam to become a detective. Some police departments allow officers to substitute a college degree for a year of experience.

What does a detective earn?

The median yearly pay for detectives and criminal investigators in the United States was $74,300 in 2012.

What are the job prospects?

Employment growth for police and detectives is not expected to be strong over the next several years, but because of the promotional process that police departments use, officers must already hold a job to become detectives.

Detectives who want to transfer to other police departments should have better prospects the more training and experience they have.

What are the long term career prospects for detectives?

New detectives can, with additional experience, gain promotions within their rank. Higher-rank detectives can supervise other detectives and police officers, review the work of other police officers, and lead investigations on important cases.

Detectives can also earn promotions to the rank of lieutenant, captain, commander, and deputy chief. Each successive promotion brings with it greater management responsibilities in the police department. Detectives may, after promotion, lead patrol divisions or specialty units like the homicide, narcotics, or sexual assault unit.

How can I find a job as a detective?

You can become a police detective only if you are currently working for a police department. If you are a detective looking for a new job, contact other police departments to find out what their requirements are for lateral transfer. Most police departments accept transfers only from officers who have a certain amount of recent working experience.

Transferring within your own state may be easier, as you will already hold the required certification for your state. If you transfer to a police department in another state, you will most likely have to complete some extra training and meet that state’s certification requirements.

How can I learn more about becoming a detective?

Many police departments publish information about their promotional ladder and promotional requirements on their websites.

Police departments are often very committed to community outreach, so you may be able to meet with detectives and learn about their daily responsibilities and the challenges of their job.

Download Article

Living the life of a homicide detective is not as easy as it looks in your favorite crime drama. Being a good detective requires an extreme intellect, excellent communication, and a variety of other skills. Homicide detectives deal with deaths under a variety of circumstances including murder, suicide, manslaughter, and officer involved shootings. For many law enforcement professionals, it takes years of hard work to achieve the position. Luckily, if you want to become a homicide detective, you can accomplish your goal by putting in the work and getting the right education and experience.

1
Graduate high school. Most precincts require you to be a uniformed officer before becoming a detective. A high school diploma or GED is required to begin working as a uniformed officer.[1] Some precincts will even expect additional education or specialized police training on top of your high school education. Check with the precinct that you want to work for to see their education requirements.
2
Graduate from the police academy. In some jurisdictions, you'll complete a police course at a local community college or state-sponsored police class before applying for a job as an officer. In other precincts, you'll apply to become an officer first and then get sponsored by the district to complete academy training. Call the precinct or do a search online to see what the procedure is in your area and apply to the academy.
- The average police academy course is 18 weeks long.[2]
- At the police academy, you'll learn things like arresting and booking procedures, firearm use, stress management, communication tactics, information on laws, and police strategies.[3]
Advertisement
3
Complete a four-year degree in a related subject. While being a uniformed officer may only require a high school diploma or equivalent degree, to become a homicide detective it's likely you'll have to complete a four-year bachelor's degree.[4] Choose a major in a related field of study such as criminal justice, criminal administration, law enforcement, criminology, police science, forensics, or crime scene investigation.
- Other useful courses include law classes, computer classes, and police studies classes.[5]
- Some of the best universities for criminal justice include the University of Pennsylvania, the Northeastern University School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, the University of California at Irvine, and the CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice.[6]
- Federal agencies like the FBI and DEA require a four-year degree.[7]
4
Continue your police education as you work as an officer. Education is a career-long endeavor for most law enforcement officers and is a requirement in many police districts.[8] Classes in new technical systems will provide you with additional knowledge that you may need to solve a homicide. Also, understanding of new and cutting edge forensic technology will aid you in your job.
- You can take additional classes in communication, cultural diversity, technical studies, legal studies, and skill development.[9]
5
Pass the detective exam. The most critical part of being promoted as a field officer to detective is passing the detective exam. While the test will differ depending on the precinct, tests like The National Detective/Investigator Test is used by many different police precincts across the country.[10]
- Typically a detective exam will include questions in areas such as criminal investigations, interviewing techniques, and relevant case law.
- Your district sometimes provides a study guide or preparation courses.

1
Complete field training after the academy. While the police academy will teach you the basic foundations of being a law enforcement officer, it's not enough to teach you the skills you'll need on the job day-to-day. Field training is a crucial part of becoming a police officer and detective.[11]
- In field training you'll usually shadow a police officer and act as their apprentice.
- Field training typically lasts about eight weeks.[12]
2
Get experience as a patrol or beat officer. Most precincts get their homicide detectives by promoting within, so getting experience as a uniformed officer is a must in most circumstances.[13] Also, the experience that you're able to get on the street will help with your communication and intuition.
3
Investigate other types of crime. Since homicide is such a heinous crime, usually the best detectives fill the position. You'll have a much better chance of getting a promotion to homicide detective if you've worked in a related investigative field such as auto theft, robbery, and larceny. Before applying to the homicide unit, consider becoming an investigator in one of these units.
4
Show enthusiasm to pursue investigative work to your superiors. To achieve the promotion to detective or investigator, it's required that you're professional, smart, and have a proven track record.[14] While some officers thrive in public settings, others seem to be more inclined to investigative work. Always take opportunities to investigate and solve crimes in your precinct.
- Promotion to detective will also require references from your superiors, so make sure that you show your enthusiasm and willingness to be a homicide detective.
5
Apply for a promotion to the homicide unit. If you've passed the detective test and meet the physical and mental requirements to become a detective, you can apply for a promotion to investigator or detective. Many precincts will require that you have a couple of years of experience before applying to the position. Go to your commanding officer and talk to them about officially applying for a promotion. They can provide you with the paperwork and have a conversation about the likelihood of you getting the job.
- The Sacramento, California Police Department requires an 18-month probation period, followed by at least two years of service before you can apply for a promotion to detective.
- In Washington D.C. officers need at least two years of service and must undergo specialized training.

1
Have excellent communication skills. Interpersonal communication skills are one of the most important tools for a successful homicide detective. Much of your job is spent talking to people, whether it be the families of a victim, a murder suspect, or other law enforcement officers. Effective communication combines many skills including the ability to completely listen to details, asserting yourself, and recognizing the emotions of the person you're talking to. To become a better communicator, pay closer attention to what the person is saying both verbally and non-verbally, and stay in control of your emotions. In addition, be concise and complete with directions you give, and become better at being insightful to other people's feelings and emotions.[15]
- Work on your communication skills by talking to a diverse group of people, and continually practice as a uniformed officer.
- You may have to talk to grieving family members or an uncooperative murder suspect and have the ability to do both effectively.
- Other than communicating, you'll have to be good at understanding people's motivations and perspectives.
2
Possess good intuition and problem-solving skills. As a homicide investigator, you'll have to make inferences and create leads based on evidence from a crime scene. The more experience you have, the more you'll understand the basic principles of categorically different murders.[16]
- As a detective you'll have to ascertain the truth from clues. These can include a knocked over chair, a broken window, the position of the victim, or other forensic evidence.
- You must also have the ability to pay close attention to detail.
3
Maintain good organization. Create checklists for things that you need to do, or loose ends that you need to look into.[17] Having notes to reference back to and having your documents and evidence neatly organized will save you precious time.
- Create different folders for new evidence and documents on your hard drive for each case.
4
Remain motivated, energetic, and prepare to put in long hours. While most homicide detectives have set hours like any other job, most are also on call 24/7. As a homicide detective, you'll be expected to arrive at a crime scene at any time day or night.[18] Be prepared to change your sleeping schedule especially and prepare family or friends for your erratic schedule.
- Always remember the importance of your role and the closure that you give grieving families.
- Make sure to allocate time with family and friends, so you don't get burned out.

Add New Question

Question
How long does it take to become a homicide detective?

It varies from person to person and place to place, but will typically take many years to achieve. Homicide detectives are viewed as having the most important investigative role, so it's not unlikely that senior investigators with 15-20 years of experience will have the job.
Question
What degree should a homicide detective go for? A bachelor's degree or associates degree?

A four-year bachelor's degree in criminal justice or a related field will give you the best chance of becoming a homicide detective.
Question
What is a homicide detective's salary?

It depends on where you work, but the average salary for a homicide detective in the United States is $65,860.

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

References

About This Article

Article SummaryX

To become a homicide detective, work on improving your communication skills by paying close attention to what people are saying both verbally and non-verbally. Listen carefully to details and be concise and assertive when giving direction. Learn to identify the emotions of the people that you’re talking to and observe them closely to discover their motivations and perspectives. Additionally, use your intuition while you’re looking for clues to ascertain the truth. For more advice, including how to get the right education and experience to become a homicide detective, read on!

Did this summary help you?

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 184,892 times.