- CPCI
- DoD COOL
- Missouri DHE
- POST Approved for CLEE
- NICCS aligned
Certified Professional Criminal Investigator (CPCI)
Manage Criminal Investigations from Initial Allegation Through Defensible Case Completion.
The Certified Professional Criminal Investigator program prepares investigators and law-enforcement professionals to initiate cases, develop leads, interview involved parties, collect and document evidence, coordinate specialized investigative activity, and produce complete investigative case files.
- 100
- Hours
- 100
- 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
Complex investigations break down when leads, evidence, interviews, legal requirements, and case documentation are managed as separate tasks.
Criminal investigations rarely follow a clean sequence. New facts emerge, witness accounts conflict, evidence must be preserved, digital information may change the direction of the case, and every investigative decision must be documented clearly enough for supervisors, prosecutors, courts, and other stakeholders to review. CPCI is designed for professionals who need a structured framework for managing the full investigative lifecycle—from initial complaint and case planning through evidence development, interviews, specialized investigative activity, analysis, documentation, and case completion.
Critical leads are lost when case planning, follow-up activity, interviews, and evidence collection are not coordinated.
Cases weaken when investigative actions, decisions, sources, and evidentiary handling are not documented as the work progresses.
Investigations become fragmented when traditional casework, digital evidence, specialized crimes, legal standards, and partner-agency responsibilities are treated separately.
CPCI provides a comprehensive framework for case initiation, investigative planning, evidence handling, interviews, documentation, specialized investigations, digital forensics, legal considerations, interagency coordination, and professional case reporting.
What sets this program apart
Full Investigative Lifecycle
Covers case initiation, planning, lead development, interviews, evidence, analysis, follow-up investigation, documentation, and case completion within one integrated program.
Broad Investigative Exposure
Examines property crime, crimes against persons, sex crimes, homicide, workplace violence, organized retail crime, human trafficking, corruption, cyber investigations, and other specialized case types.
Traditional and Digital Evidence
Connects core investigative methods with computer forensics, mobile forensics, cyber investigations, legal fundamentals, and evidence-informed reporting.
Professional Certification Assessment
Certification requires completion of the applicable training, research assignment, eligibility requirements, assessments, and proctored final examination. 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
Joshua A. McAfee · Founder & CEO, McAfee Institute
15 years building credentials for the professionals who actually do the work. CPCI was developed alongside practitioners from federal, state, and corporate investigation teams.
Built for professionals responsible for conducting and managing criminal investigations
CPCI is designed for professionals whose work involves criminal investigations, evidence development, interviews, case management, specialized investigative assignments, digital evidence, legal process, or interagency coordination.
This course is perfect for
Police Officers (Patrol)
Detectives / Investigators
Specialized Unit Investigators
Task Force Officers
Military Law Enforcement
This course may not be for you if
You are seeking a brief introduction to criminal investigations rather than an extensive professional certification.
Your role does not involve investigations, evidence, interviews, case support, fraud, security, compliance, criminal justice, or related analytical responsibilities.
You want training limited to one specialized crime type rather than a broad criminal-investigation framework.
You are looking for forensic-laboratory, clinical, legal-practice, or tactical training outside the scope of professional investigations.
You are unwilling to document investigative decisions, preserve evidence, follow legal and ethical standards, and critically review the strength and limitations of a case.
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. The program is extensive and professionally oriented, but it begins with foundational investigative concepts before progressing into specialized casework.
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 + 2 years experience
Path B Associate's degree + 3 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 CPCI curriculum progresses from investigative foundations, ethics, case management, documentation, and core crime categories into cyber investigations, workplace violence, organized retail crime, homicide, death investigations, human trafficking, corruption, informant development, investigative interviews, computer and mobile forensics, legal fundamentals, and law-enforcement partnerships. Across 28 modules and 100 hours of instruction, learners examine how complex investigations are planned, developed, documented, and brought to professional completion.
About this Course
Comprehensive criminal investigation certification covering crime scene investigation, evidence collection, interview techniques, and case management. Essential training for law enforcement and private investigators.
The Certified Professional Criminal Investigator (CPCI™) program by McAfee Institute offers advanced training across multiple investigative domains, including cybercrime, terrorism, fraud, and homicide. This credential provides law enforcement, security professionals, and corporate investigators with the essential skills to conduct comprehensive investigations, gather critical evidence, and handle complex cases.
Our video-based tutorials, interactive labs, and mentorship by seasoned professionals equip graduates with the knowledge to manage cases end-to-end and uphold the highest standards in criminal investigations. By completing this program, you position yourself as an industry-recognized expert in criminal investigations.
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)
- 100+ hours of instruction
- Mobile & desktop access
- Board certification (digital + physical)
- 100 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 range to manage complex criminal investigations with structure, discipline, and defensible documentation.
Complete the CPCI certification process and document specialized education and assessment in case management, evidence development, investigative interviewing, specialized crimes, digital forensics, legal fundamentals, interagency coordination, and professional case reporting.