What Degree is Needed To Become a Fraud Investigator?

Fraud InvestigatorThose interested in working in fraud investigation fields often want to know the type of degree needed to become a fraud investigator. As the men and women working in this field talk with doctors and medical professionals every day, many people think that those workers have some type of advanced degree. You might find it surprising that many of those workers only have a high school diploma.

Do You Need a College Degree?

Finishing your high school studies is the only thing you need to work as a fraud investigator. Many of the top companies in the world care more that you have a good work ethic and some experience in the medical profession. If you have the chance to take medical classes at a vocational school, you can gain the experience that the career demands. Even if you didn’t finish high school, you still qualify for a job in investigation with a GED, which is the equivalent of a high school diploma. Take the time to check with employers as to whether they require a college degree needed to become a fraud investigator.

Which Degrees are the Best?

If an employer does require a degree needed to become a fraud investigator, there are a few topics worth studying. Even if the employer doesn’t require a degree, going to college gives you a better understanding of the medical field and some of the terminology that you might use on the job. One of the best types of college degrees is a degree in criminal justice. You’ll learn how the criminal justice system operates and what happens before a case goes to trial. Other students will find it more helpful to study legal studies, nursing or another medical field.

Registering for Certification Exams

According to the National Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, those working in the field must register for, take and pass the Certified Fraud Examiners examination. The NACFE offers a wide range of materials that can help you prepare for that test. It offers many practice tests that cover the material you’ll see on the test and some of the same questions. You can also take a review course or test preparation course that can help you pass the test with a high score or improve the last score you received on that examination.

Before You Take the Test

Though you do not need a college degree to take the test, you do need to submit evidence that you attended high school or college in the past when you apply to take the certification test. This usually means that you need to send the NACFE a copy of your high school diploma or your college transcripts. Your transcripts will show every class that you took in college, the grades you received in those courses and whether you finished your degree. If you went through any professional training programs or earned certificates from a college, you need to show proof of that education as well.

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Fraud investigators have an important job. They are the ones who prevent fraudulent cases from taking away money from those who are more deserving. While most people will find that there is no degree needed to become a fraud investigator, others will find that they can make more money and find access to better jobs with a degree in criminal justice, law or medicine.