Post job

Best chief investigator certifications

Chief investigator certifications allow job seekers to demonstrate their competency as an chief investigator to employers. However, not all chief investigator certifications provide the same value for job seekers.

The best certifications for a chief investigator are Certified Criminal Investigator, Professional Certified Investigator (PCI), and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).

Below is a list of the best chief investigator certifications. Obtaining an chief investigator certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.

3 best certifications for chief investigators

RankChief investigator certificationOrganization
1Certified Criminal InvestigatorACFEI, Cr.FA
2Professional Certified Investigator (PCI)ASIS
3Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)ACFE

3 best chief investigator certifications

1. Certified Criminal Investigator

The Certified Criminal Investigator program instructs, measures, and assesses knowledge and competency of investigators in both the public and private sectors. Providing a foundation of forensics basics, this course creates a measure of standardization in the field of investigation. As the National Academy of Sciences' report on the Forensic Sciences reflects, certification for investigators is more crucial than ever before to fill the gaps in the field.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? No
  • Renewal required? 

2. Professional Certified Investigator (PCI)

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
Certifying organization
ASIS International

3. Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)

The ACFE established and administers the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) designation. Globally preferred by employers, the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) designation denotes proven expertise in fraud prevention, detection, deterrence and investigation. Members with the CFE credential gain a professional advantage and quickly position themselves as leaders in the global anti-fraud community.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
Certifying website
Certified Fraud Examiner
Certifying organization
Association of Certified Fraud...

What is the best certification for a chief investigator?

The best chief investigator certification is Certified Criminal Investigator. The Certified Criminal Investigator is awarded by the American College of Forensic Examiners. This certification is great to have as it shows an improvement in your competency to perform your role. You can earn this certification at the beginning of your career, as it often doesn't require a minimum education level and work experience.

Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this chief investigator certification:

  • To become a certified Certified Criminal Investigator, you don't need to pass the exam.
  • This certificate requires more than two years of work experience.
  • Renew certification every year.
Best certifications

The most common combination of chief investigator certifications include: Certified Criminal Investigator, Professional Certified Investigator (PCI), and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).

Online courses for chief investigators to earn certifications

Advertising disclosure

1. International Law In Action: Investigating and Prosecuting International Crimes

coursera

‘Investigating and Prosecuting International Crimes’ is the second course in Leiden University’s new series on International Law in Action. The first course covered international courts and tribunals in The Hague in general. This second course provides an insider perspective into the work of international criminal courts and tribunals. You will learn about the investigation and prosecution of international crimes in The Hague. Atrocities produce unspeakable forms of violence. We will explore...

2. Introduction to International Criminal Law

coursera

-- About the Course -- From the Nuremberg trial to the case against Saddam Hussein, from the prosecution of Al-Qaeda terrorists to the trial of Somali pirates – no area of law is as important to world peace and security as international criminal law. Taught by one of the world’s leading experts in the field, this course will educate students about the fundamentals of international criminal law and policy. We will explore the contours of international crimes such as genocide, war crimes,...

3. Criminology and Criminal Psychology Certified CSI+ Course

udemy
4.2
(339)

Learn Criminal Law and Start your career with certification of Criminal Law and Criminal Psychology, Learn Criminology...

4. Criminal Law in 120 Minutes: A Fast Track Course

udemy
4.6
(414)

A 2 hour fast track summary of Criminal Law, targeting all common law LL.B examinations!...

5. Hot Topics in Criminal Justice

coursera

The American criminal justice system is in need of reform. We incarcerate too many people. We pay insufficient attention to scientific advances that can help separate out the most and least culpable and dangerous. We grant the police far too much power to use force and technological surveillance. As a way of thinking about dealing with these problems, this course examines two over-arching issues: What should we do with people who have committed crime, and how should we identify who they are? On...

6. International Law in Action: A Guide to the International Courts and Tribunals in The Hague

coursera

International Law in Action explains the functions of each international court and tribunal present in The Hague, and it looks at how these institutions address contemporary problems. On the basis of selected cases, and through interviews with judges and lawyers, you will explore the role of these courts and tribunals and their potential to contribute to global justice. The first module of the course will investigate how judicial settlement is different from other more political forms of...

7. Introduction to Criminal Psychology

udemy
4.3
(846)

Understand the Forensic Psychology of the Criminal Mind...

8. Psychology of Criminal Behaviour & Criminology - ACCREDITED

udemy
4.4
(516)

Personality Disorders, Violence, Sex Offence, Murder, and other types of crime...

9. An Introduction to American Law

coursera

This course will give you a glimpse into six different areas of American law: Tort Law, Contract Law, Property, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, and Civil Procedure. You will gain insight into the complexities and dilemmas that arise from the application of law in different settings, and what is distinctive about American approaches...

10. Forensic Psychology: Criminal Profiling Certificate

udemy
4.4
(980)

Criminology Crash Course...

11. IFCI Expert Cybercrime Investigator's Course

udemy
4.6
(649)

Protect your network - Put cybercriminals in jail. Learn computer forensics, malware analysis and hacker investigations...

12. Forensic accounting, fraud investigation and fraud analytics

udemy
4.3
(657)

The 14 hour course(50casestudies) helps to understand fraud examination, forensic audit,financial crime, data analytics...

13. Cyber Crime Analyst Part 1

udemy
4
(250)

Types of Cyber Crime...

14. Digital Forensics and Cyber-Crime Investigation

udemy
4.2
(255)

Computer Forensics...

15. Forensic Psychology - ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE

udemy
4.6
(3,931)

Become a specialist in criminal investigations and forensic profiling, start your career and add certificate to resume!...

16. Digital Forensics Masterclass: Forensic Science 2023 DFMC+

udemy
4.1
(943)

Learn digital forensics and be computer forensics investigator / Certificate after completing course / DFMC+ / DFIR 2023...

17. Introduction to Criminology: Explaining Crime

udemy
4.5
(2,043)

Learn to Speak About Criminal Psychology and the Sociology of Crime Like an Expert...

18. AML Case Investigation Skills

udemy
4.5
(1,289)

A guide to conducting AML case investigations, writing quality case narratives and the submission of STRs (STR filing)...

19. Investigative Journalism

udemy
4.4
(379)

How to find hidden sources. How to look for documents and people...

20. CYBER CRIME & CYBER LAW - DR. PAVAN DUGGAL - CYBERLAW UNIV.

udemy
4
(262)

The most crucial paradigms in our digital lives today...

Browse protective service jobs