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Narcotics investigator education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Usually, narcotics investigators don't need a college education. The most common degree for narcotics investigators is bachelor's degree with 52% graduates, with only 24% narcotics investigator graduates earning associate degree. Narcotics investigators who decided to graduate from college often finish University of Phoenix or Columbia Southern University. Some good skills to have in this position include patrol, evidence collection and conduct surveillance.

What education do you need to become a narcotics investigator?

What degree do you need to be a narcotics investigator?

The most common degree for narcotics investigators is bachelor's degree, with 52% of narcotics investigators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 24% and associate degree degree at 9%.
  • Bachelor's, 52%
  • Associate, 24%
  • High School Diploma, 9%
  • Master's, 8%
  • Other Degrees, 7%

What should I major in to become a narcotics investigator?

You should major in criminal justice to become a narcotics investigator. 52% of narcotics investigators major in criminal justice. Other common majors for a narcotics investigator include law enforcement and business.

Best majors for narcotics investigators

RankMajorPercentages
1Criminal Justice52.1%
2Law Enforcement10.7%
3Business7.2%
4Law4.8%
5Management3.4%

20 best online courses for narcotics investigators

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

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‘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

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-- 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

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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

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

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

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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...

6. Hot Topics in Criminal Justice

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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...

7. IFCI Expert Cybercrime Investigator's Course

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

8. Digital Forensics Masterclass: Forensic Science 2023 DFMC+

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

9. Threat Investigation

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If you are an associate-level cybersecurity analyst who is working in security operation centers, this course will help you understand how threat-centric SOC must prepare for analyzing new and emerging threats by implementing robust security investigation procedures • By the end of the course, you will be able to: • Understand cyber-threat hunting concepts • Describe the five hunting maturity levels (HM0–HM4) • Describe the hunting cycle four-stage loop• Describe the use of the Common...

10. An Introduction to American Law

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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...

11. Investigative Journalism

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

12. Introduction to Criminal Psychology

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Understand the Forensic Psychology of the Criminal Mind...

13. Investigating Epidemics like COVID-19: An Analyst's Guide

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Do you want to learn how to detect, identify the cause, and decrease the morbidity and mortality from outbreaks or pandemics like COVID-19? Are you considering a career in public health practice, but aren’t sure how health departments collect and use outbreak data? Are you working in public health, but interested in moving into analytical and/or technical roles or curious how health departments investigate outbreaks? If so, this course is for you. After taking this course you be able to define...

14. Forensic accounting, fraud investigation and fraud analytics

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

15. Forensic Psychology - ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE

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

16. Digital Forensics and Cyber-Crime Investigation

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17. Psychology of Criminal Behaviour & Criminology - ACCREDITED

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

18. Effective Legal Office Administration

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19. AML Case Investigation Skills

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

20. Forensic Psychology: Criminal Profiling Certificate

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Criminology Crash Course...

Average narcotics investigator salary by education level

Narcotics investigators with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $58,822 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, narcotics investigators earn a median annual income of $56,069 compared to $46,122 for narcotics investigators with an Associate degree.
Narcotics investigator education levelNarcotics investigator salary
Master's Degree$58,822
High School Diploma or Less$42,123
Bachelor's Degree$56,069
Some College/ Associate Degree$46,122

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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