What is the difference between an FBI agent and a Detective?

Question

I know they have jurisdictional differences (FBI are in charge of federal cases whereas detectives are in charge of cases within the city). But are FBI agents supposed to be smarter than Detectives?

Answer 1

They ought to be, but no, they are not.

Answer 2

It depends on the local police department. Most local detectives came up through the ranks and earned some college credits on top of whatever the police require as basics. Some have taken specific courses, including being sent by their departments.
The FBI starts with a college degree in a related field, usually law or accounting, as a requirement and builds on that.
Smarter vs. Better Educated/Trained.

Answer 3

The standard for FBI agents is they are university and graduate school graduates, CPAs or Attorneys before they become federal detectives. You can be a city police detective with a high school diploma and years of experience but many are college grads.

Answer 4

FBI agents are federal police officerswho work for the U.S. government and enforece federal laws. Detective can work for the police department, or for themselves as PI's.Those who are employed by the city and state enfore state and local laws. PI's work for individuals or companies.

Answer 5

you are right about the jurisdition differences, but as far as smarter, that is on an individual basis.

The FBI however gets more funding and thus has more resources to get the answers they need. So this gives them the advantage

Answer 6

FBI agent is book smart but knows nothing about the streets

Detectives are salty veterans who are street wise and smart, even if they didn't graduate from Harvard

Answer 7

I would hope so.