Q&A for How to Become a Detective

Being a police officer requires 6 months of training, and most typically gain 4 or 5 years of experience before they take a promotional exam to become a detective. Some police departments allow officers to substitute a college degree for a year of experience.

Basic GCSE subjects should include English, Math, and Science. A good grade in Science would be very beneficial toward becoming a detective.

Yes. It is an asset if you investigate into those fields. They are not prerequisites, but yet certainly a good way to build your portfolio when it comes to career development.

Because becoming familiar with seeing crime scenes, talking to people, and making arrests are skills needed to be a detective and only being an officer will give you that experience.

You might or might not need science as a detective, depending on what sort of mysteries you solve.

It depends on how well you do your job, your qualifications/ education, and what location you are in. Each department has different yet specific requirements for a police officer to be promoted to a detective.

I wouldn't say there are many, but if you're determined enough, you could become one!

Spanish is a good language to learn since it has become very common in the US.

Yes, in the US, you must be a police officer before becoming a detective.

You should apply to a police officer position first and then apply to a detective position when you get a chance.

You may become a private detective without first being a police officer.

Yes, especially if you decide to study forensic science, or something else that may wind up relevant later on.

No, but they can help to compile evidence to help the police department solve crimes.

Unfortunately, you have to be 21 years old or older in order to qualify for any type of police work.

There are lots of ways to educate your child as a detective, but one of the main ways to do is to make him/her actually do detective work. Give him/her tasks, like find missing things, buy him/her gear, such as notebooks, and spy gear. Then, later on, he/she will have natural agility, stamina, and ability to do detective work.

You need at least a High School Diploma or a GED. That is for your police officer training. Then you'll need two years in Criminal Justice (or a related topic). In some forces you may be able to get higher levels of education as part of your work.

To become a private investigator you don't work with the police. Being a private investigator is by yourself, and you accept cases, not the law telling you to. All you need to do is get a license for a concealed weapon, and a few more requirements. You also need to build trust in your clients so you get hired for jobs, so having some qualifications in justice or law would help, along with having an office space and clean background checks.

In the US it's required to have two years of college to become a detective. However, you can still become a police officer.

Yes, but be aware that you may be hindered from partaking in specific tasks that require a healthy body.

Of course, it does not really matter whether or not you wear glasses. As long as you are able to see while wearing them, and have the right training and knowledge, It's likely you can be a detective.

The average NYC police officer gains about $53900 a year. However, there are additional benefit factors for certain experienced workers and training qualifications.