The investigation of crime is a key component at every level of policing. From misdemeanors to the most serious of felonies, there is an expectation that our state and local law enforcement agencies will have the capability to effectively conduct thorough criminal investigations. Professional competence to carry out criminal investigations is essential to every law enforcement agency.
To better prepare law enforcement officers to meet the many legal and civil challenges they face as they investigate the multitude of crimes they are empowered to enforce, GPSTC offers a Criminal Investigator Certification training program. This program thoroughly prepares its graduates to perform investigations that can withstand legal challenges as well as added scrutiny from judges, juries and the public. This specialized certification gives the officer and the agency greater credibility in court.
Completion of the Criminal Investigator program leads to certification as a criminal investigator through the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council.
Eligibility & Pre-requisites
Candidates seeking to enroll in GPSTC’s Criminal Investigator program, which leads to POST certification as a criminal investigator, must meet the following requirements:
- Have at least three years of experience as a sworn law enforcement officer
- Have a least one year of experience as a full-time criminal investigator
- Must be currently assigned to a criminal investigative division
Curriculum
Candidates must complete the following courses to become eligible to apply for certification as a Criminal Investigator:
- Criminal Investigation Fundamentals (40 hr)
- Child Victim Investigation Fundamentals (24 hr)
- Concealed Carry Handgun (24 hr)
- Criminal Investigative Analysis (36 hr)
- Equivalency: Crime Analysis (36 hr) (ABM28G)
- Criminal Procedure (40 hr)
- Equivalency: Criminal Procedure (24 hr) (CAA02G)
- Domestic Violence: The Law Enforcement Response (40 hr)
- Equivalency: Family Violence Investigations (40 hr) (ABI25G)
- Effective Public Safety Report Writing (4 hr)
- Equivalency: Advanced Report Writing (8 hr) (DAL01G)
- Evidence Presentation (16 hr)
- Financial Investigation Fundamentals (24 hr)
- Homicide Investigations (40 hr)
- High Risk Warrant Service & Arrest Tactics (40 hr)
- Interviews and Interrogations (24 hr)
- Introduction to Cybercrime Investigations (40 hr)
- Professional Ethics Training (16 hr)
- Equivalency: Ethics and Professionalism (2 hr) (DGK02G)
- Search and Seizure for Law Enforcement (40 hr)
- Sexual Assault Investigations (40 hr)
Criminal Investigator Certification Test
Students who have completed all courses or their equivalent will be able to make application to the Georgia Police Academy to take the final certification exam. The exam will consist of a cognitive test and performance test that will measure the applicant’s level of competence in each topic area. Applicants must attain a final score of 80% on both the cognitive and performance test for each topic area to receive certification.
Applicants who show deficiency in a particular topic area must successfully complete a course of instruction in that topic area before the final certification exam.