CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE CAREERS

There are a variety of careers in criminal investigation at the state and federal level which do not require applicants to first work as a uniformed patrol or police officer. Such positions are offered by a multitude of state and federal agencies which are not primarily law enforcement agencies, but which have units or divisions that handle criminal matters in the agencies' area of responsibility. Most federal departments, such as the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, Interior, Government Services Administration (GSA) etc., have units responsible for criminal investigation. At the federal level, criminal investigators can usually be found within agency offices of inspector general. All such criminal investigative positions come under the GS 1811 designation, which is the nearly universal designation for federal criminal investigators. Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Customs, INS, Criminal or Special Investigation Departments of the military services, etc., are all in the GS 1811 classification.

Sample position announcements for Criminal Investigators (GS 1811) at various ranks/pay levels listing minimum requirements and hiring process. Also other related positions

Government Services Administration (GSA)
US Air Force Office of Special Investigations
There is also the GS 1810 classification, but it is for General Investigators who do not have power of arrest or carry firearms. These general investigators conduct background investigations on agency applicants or for security clearances. The fact that GS 1810 investigators are not LAW ENFORCEMENT, means that applicants do not have to meet the same stringent physical requirements or age limitations as the 1811 series, which require applicants not to have reached their 37th birthday at time of hire. NOTE: Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation are not classified as government civil service, do not come under the GS 1811 series, and the maximum age CAN be waived based on need and at the discretion of the director. (Something not usually publicized)

Minimum Requirements for Criminal Investigator (Federal):

Positions generally require experience in criminal investigations or in a function similar to the one applying for. Experience can be waived or substituted based on a college degree. A masters degree usually fully qualifies a person without any experience.

Entry Requirements for FBI Special Agent

Special Agent Selection Process Application Booklet (SASPAB) (In pdf format)

OKLAHOMA:
AGRICULTURE SERVICES SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS OFFICER