What is a federal investigator and how to become one

Key steps to become a federal investigator

1. Explore federal investigator education requirements

   Most common federal investigator degrees

   Bachelor's

   64.2 %

   Master's

   15.9 %

   Associate

   10.8 %

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2. Start to develop specific federal investigator skills

   Skills	Percentages
   Background Investigations	10.28%
   Law Enforcement Agencies	9.11%
   Litigation	8.46%
   Federal Agencies	7.81%
   Security Clearance	6.50%

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3. Complete relevant federal investigator training and internships

   Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New federal investigators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a federal investigator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real federal investigator resumes.

4. Research federal investigator duties and responsibilities

   • Investigate and open cases on customers and non-customers who have potentially engage in activity which goes against federally mandate BSA/AML regulations.
   • Handle and safeguard sensitive and confidential information, including personal identifiable information (PII).

5. Apply for federal investigator jobs

   Now it's time to start searching for a federal investigator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

   1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
   2. Consult your professional network
   3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
   4. Watch out for job scams