- CHTI
- DoD COOL
- Missouri DHE
- POST Approved for CLEE
- NICCS aligned
Certified Human Trafficking Investigator (CHTI)
Build Victim-Centered Human Trafficking Investigations from Identification Through Case Development.
The Certified Human Trafficking Investigator program prepares investigators, analysts, and public-safety professionals to recognize trafficking indicators, develop intelligence, document evidence, coordinate resources, and support defensible investigative outcomes.
- 31
- Hours
- 31
- CPE credits
- Lifetime
- Access
- 1 Year
- Exam License
- FBI
- DHS
- FedEx
- Citi
- Mossberg
- DEA
- DoD
- 3-Day Money-Back Guarantee
- Full Lifetime Access
- 1 Year Exam License
- Official Study Manual
- Official Online Training
- Official Prep Review Quizzes
or pay over time with Affirm · Sezzle
Military / Gov COOL and TA eligible
Human trafficking cases are often missed because the indicators appear fragmented, victims may not self-identify, and evidence is scattered across people, places, platforms, and jurisdictions.
Effective trafficking investigations require more than recognizing a single warning sign. Professionals must evaluate patterns, understand victim dynamics, develop corroborating information, preserve digital and physical evidence, coordinate across agencies, and document the case without losing sight of victim safety and legal requirements. CHTI is designed for professionals who need a structured, victim-centered framework for identifying trafficking activity, developing investigative leads, supporting victims, and building cases that can be reviewed, coordinated, and acted upon.
Trafficking activity is overlooked when warning signs are evaluated individually instead of as part of a broader pattern.
Victims may be misidentified, unsupported, or lost to the process when trauma, coercion, dependency, and fear are not understood.
Cases weaken when intelligence, interviews, digital evidence, legal requirements, and interagency responsibilities are not documented and coordinated.
CHTI provides a structured approach to recognizing trafficking indicators, developing intelligence, supporting victims, collecting evidence, applying legal frameworks, and coordinating investigative activity across agencies and jurisdictions.
What sets this program apart
Victim-Centered Investigative Framework
Integrates victim dynamics, trauma awareness, legal assistance, available resources, and investigative responsibilities throughout the case-development process.
Intelligence and Evidence Development
Combines open-source research, deep-web awareness, indicator recognition, evidence collection, documentation, and report writing to support trafficking investigations.
Interagency and Legal Coordination
Examines federal law, visa provisions, victim support, and collaboration among federal, state, and local partners involved in trafficking cases.
Applied Certification Assessment
Certification requires completion of the applicable training, eligibility, assessment, and proctored examination requirements. Access to the program alone does not result in certification.
Choose your enrollment path
Self-pay, military/government funding, or employer sponsorship — we'll take you to the right option.
A board-issued credential, recognized where it counts
- DoD COOL
- Missouri DHE
- POST Approved for CLEE
- NICCS aligned
Board certification programs: Students must submit all course quizzes, score 70% or better on all sections of the course and obtain a 70% or better on the final online examination, and submit proof eligibility up completion of your exam application. All fees must be paid in full. Upon successful completion of your program, the McAfee Institute will issue your board certification. Students who successfully complete the program before meeting the eligibility will be put into a holding pattern until the eligibility is met at which time the credentials will be issued.
Completion of training does not guarantee employment, promotion, security clearance eligibility, or acceptance by any agency or third party.
Eligible for military & government credentialing assistance
Select certification programs may be eligible for use with military and government credentialing or tuition assistance benefits, subject to agency and individual eligibility requirements. Participation does not imply endorsement by any agency.
State & Federal Regulatory Approvals
Missouri DHEWD
State-certified to operate under 6 CSR 10-5.010
Dept. of Higher Education and Workforce Development
NICCS Education & Training Catalog
Listed training provider, NICCS Education & Training Catalog
Mapped to NIST NICE framework · operated by CISA
Missouri POST
31 CLEE hours approved · Control #14972
13 legal studies · 2 interpersonal perspectives · 16 technical studies
Officers should confirm acceptance with their licensing agency.
Joshua A. McAfee · Founder & CEO, McAfee Institute
15 years building credentials for the professionals who actually do the work. CHTI was developed alongside practitioners from federal, state, and corporate investigation teams.
Built for professionals at the front line
The certification is designed for the working roles below. Eligibility is reviewed at enrollment.
This course is perfect for
Police Officers, Detectives, and Federal Agents seeking advanced training in identifying, investigating, and disrupting human trafficking operations.
Special Victims Unit (SVU) personnel, task force members, and criminal investigators responsible for handling trafficking, exploitation, and victim-based crimes.
Intelligence and cybercrime analysts focused on uncovering trafficking networks across digital platforms and illicit marketplaces with the U.S. Military.
Command staff and agency leaders aiming to standardize investigative practices and enhance organizational response to trafficking cases.
This course may not be for you if
You are seeking general awareness training rather than professional investigative preparation.
Your role does not involve investigations, intelligence, victim identification, case support, exploitation, compliance, public safety, or multidisciplinary trafficking response.
You are looking only for victim-advocacy or community-awareness training without an investigative or case-development focus.
You want a brief introductory seminar rather than a structured certification program with formal assessment requirements.
You are unwilling to work within victim-centered, legally compliant, evidence-based, and interagency investigative practices.
Is this program right for you?
Program-fit questions candidates ask before they enroll.
Enrollment and certification eligibility are governed by the published education and experience requirements. Applicants should review those standards before enrolling, and the admissions team can help determine whether their background meets the applicable pathway.
Eligibility & requirements
McAfee Institute trains military, law enforcement, and investigative professionals. Eligibility reflects that. Verification is the reason the credential carries weight in the field.
Education & experience
Any one of the qualifying paths below. Experience must be in investigations, law enforcement, criminal justice, military, or similar fields with direct criminal investigation or intelligence responsibilities.
Path A Bachelor's or higher + 1 year experience
Path B Associate's degree + 2 years experience
Path C HS diploma or equivalent + 4 years experience
Relevant fields include investigations, law enforcement, criminal justice, military, and/or another similar field with direct criminal investigation and/or intelligence responsibilities.
Conduct requirements
Applicants are not eligible with any felony conviction or pending felony charge, or any conviction or pending charge involving violence, dishonesty or breach of trust, or crimes against persons, or other disqualifying offenses. Criminal history must be disclosed at enrollment and may be verified.
International enrollment
McAfee Institute is a U.S.-based institution serving a primarily U.S. professional audience. International enrollments may be subject to additional review, identity verification, professional affiliation verification, and compliance screening. Applicants located in certain countries or regions, or associated with restricted persons or entities under U.S. law, may be ineligible for enrollment.
- 3-Day Money-Back Guarantee
- Full Lifetime Access
- 1 Year Exam License
- Official Study Manual
- Official Online Training
- Official Prep Review Quizzes
or pay over time with Affirm · Sezzle
Military / Gov COOL and TA eligible
Read the full eligibility and conduct policyDisclosure & verification
Applicants must disclose criminal history as requested during enrollment. McAfee Institute may verify eligibility through documentation and/or a background check when required by a program component, partner environment, exam vendor, or when reasonably necessary to protect program integrity. Disclosures are required to the extent permitted by applicable law.
False information
Any material falsification or omission is grounds for denial of admission, removal from the program, and/or denial of certification.
No guarantee of outcome
Completion of training does not guarantee employment, promotion, security clearance eligibility, or acceptance by any agency or third party.
The CHTI curriculum progresses from trafficking definitions, dynamics, and indicators into investigative methods, open-source research, deep-web awareness, victim support, federal law, interagency coordination, evidence development, and professional reporting. Across 13 modules and 31 hours of instruction, learners examine how to identify trafficking activity and support victim-centered case development.
About this Course
Specialized training in human trafficking investigations, victim identification, and trafficking network analysis. Learn investigative techniques, victim-centered approaches, and how to build effective cases against trafficking organizations.
The Certified Human Trafficking Investigator (CHTI®) program by McAfee Institute provides specialized training in human trafficking investigations, intelligence gathering, and digital evidence collection. This credential equips law enforcement and investigative professionals with the critical skills needed to combat human trafficking, navigate complex case dynamics, and provide essential support to victims.
With video tutorials, how-to modules, and mentorship from industry leaders, the CHTI® certification builds your expertise in human trafficking investigations. Graduates emerge as skilled professionals, capable of making a significant impact in this vital field.
Everything you need to certify
One enrollment includes the full course library, the official manual, the proctored exam license, and your board credential on completion.
- Official study manual
- Prep review quizzes
- Online training program
- Exam license (1 year)
- 31+ hours of instruction
- Mobile & desktop access
- Board certification (digital + physical)
- 31 CPE / CEU credits
- Closed captions
More Than Just Certifications
Join a comprehensive professional development platform designed exclusively for law enforcement, intelligence, and investigation professionals.
Active Community
Engage with verified professionals in law enforcement and intelligence
Exclusive Jobs
Access career opportunities not listed elsewhere
CPE Tracking
Automatic continuing professional education credit management
Expert Network
Connect with federal agents and industry leaders
Communities
Join private discussion groups with peers
Resources
Articles, whitepapers, tools and more
Three ways to fund your certification.
Self-pay · Military / Gov COOL · Employer-funded
Pay once. Lifetime access included.
3-day money-back guarantee
Interest-free via Affirm or Sezzle. 6–12 month plans available.
Military / Gov COOL eligible? Use DoD/Navy/Army/Coast Guard/Air Force COOL or TA funding — switch to the tab for the invoice request flow.
Need financial help? — available for self-paying students demonstrating financial need.
Enrollment, examination, and policy FAQs
- Our certifications are trusted by more than 4,500 employers, including government agencies, law enforcement departments, intelligence units, and private-sector organizations. Programs are recognized by POST (various states), DoD COOL & CA, NICCS, and the Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development.
Not sure if this is the right credential?
Talk to an advisor about eligibility, fit, and funding paths.
Develop the investigative judgment to recognize trafficking, support victims, and build stronger cases.
Complete the CHTI certification process and document specialized education and assessment in trafficking indicators, victim dynamics, intelligence development, evidence collection, legal frameworks, interagency coordination, and professional case reporting.