- What the Eleven Domains Are (and Are Not)
- Exam Format, Fees and Eligibility at a Glance
- Foundation Domains: Definitions, Dynamics and Indicators
- Investigative Domains: Methods, Open-Source Research and Deep Web
- Victim Support and Federal Law
- Interagency Coordination, Evidence and Reporting
- Sequencing the Domains in Your Preparation
- Where These Domains Show Up on the Job
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Certified Human Trafficking Investigator (CHTI) is issued by McAfee Institute; this guide groups its curriculum into 11 unweighted preparation domains.
- The 11 domains are an editorial grouping, not an official blueprint; the issuer does not publish domain weights.
- The final exam is three hours, online-proctored, and carries a published 70% passing threshold.
- Exam-only costs US$450 for one attempt; the course bundle costs US$1,497 and advertises 31 hours and 31 CPE.
What the Eleven Domains Are (and Are Not)
If you are searching for the "official" list of CHTI exam domains with percentages attached, here is the honest answer: the issuer, McAfee Institute, does not publish a complete weighted blueprint in the public program and exam pages. What it does publish is a curriculum narrative describing what the Certified Human Trafficking Investigator program covers, along with a headline of 13 course modules and 31 instructional hours. The individual module titles are not fully disclosed in public text.
The eleven domains in this guide are therefore an editorial organization of subjects the issuer explicitly names in that curriculum narrative. They give you a structured way to prepare, but they are not a replica of the exam blueprint, and they do not map one-to-one onto the 13 course modules. Treat them as preparation categories, each of equal standing until the issuer says otherwise.
The eleven domains, in the order we use throughout this guide:
- Trafficking definitions
- Trafficking dynamics
- Trafficking indicators
- Investigative methods
- Open-source research
- Deep-web awareness
- Victim support
- Federal law
- Interagency coordination
- Evidence development
- Professional reporting
For a broader orientation before diving in, see What Is CHTI Certification? and the companion CHTI Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
Exam Format, Fees and Eligibility at a Glance
Knowing the container helps you understand how the domains will be tested. The public exam page describes an online-proctored final assessment of program competencies and applied knowledge, with a three-hour time limit. The published passing threshold is 70%. That figure is a threshold, not an observed pass rate; the issuer does not publicly disclose how many candidates pass. For more on that distinction, read CHTI Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows and CHTI Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
| Item | What the public sources show |
|---|---|
| Issuer | McAfee Institute |
| Exam-only price | US$450: one attempt, online proctoring, one-year exam license (no course or guide access) |
| Course bundle price | US$1,497: advertises 31 hours and 31 CPE, with lifetime learning access |
| Time limit | Three hours, closed-book, single sitting |
| Passing threshold | 70% |
| Question count and item mix | Not verified for this credential specifically |
| Domain weights | Not publicly disclosed |
| Eligibility routes | Bachelor's plus one relevant year; associate degree plus two; high-school equivalent plus four |
Eligibility deserves a note. The exam-only product is aimed at people with official investigative or intelligence responsibilities, and it excludes several private, nonprofit, volunteer and advocacy roles. Broader course marketing does not override that restriction. If your role is ambiguous, get written confirmation first. Details are in CHTI Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify, and the full price picture is in CHTI Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Foundation Domains: Definitions, Dynamics and Indicators
The first three domains build the conceptual base. Every later investigative decision rests on whether you can correctly recognize and describe what you are looking at.
Domain 1: Trafficking definitions
Candidates need precise command of what legally and operationally constitutes human trafficking, and how it differs from related conduct such as smuggling or isolated exploitation offenses.
- Distinguish the core elements of trafficking and how they are framed in federal law
- Separate labor trafficking from sex trafficking and understand why the distinction shapes the investigation
- Be ready for scenario items where a fact pattern must be classified correctly
Domain 2: Trafficking dynamics
This domain covers how trafficking operates as a relationship and a system, not just as an offense. The curriculum narrative emphasizes victim dynamics, trauma, coercion, dependency and fear.
- Understand why victims may not self-identify, may not cooperate, or may appear to consent
- Recognize how coercion and dependency are built and maintained over time
- Connect these dynamics to interview approach and victim safety decisions
Domain 3: Trafficking indicators
Indicators are rarely visible in one place. The program emphasizes identifying and corroborating fragmented indicators, the small, scattered signals that only form a picture when assembled.
- Know the categories of indicators and what each does and does not prove
- Practice distinguishing a single suggestive fact from a corroborated pattern
- Expect applied questions asking what a reasonable next investigative step would be
These three domains also feed everything else. A candidate who treats indicators as proof, rather than as leads requiring corroboration, will stumble on the evidence and reporting domains later. For a quick-reference version of the essentials, keep the CHTI Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts nearby.
Investigative Domains: Methods, Open-Source Research and Deep Web
Domain 4: Investigative methods
This is the operational core. The curriculum points to developing investigative leads and intelligence, and to considering interviews alongside victim safety and legal requirements.
- Turn fragmented indicators into actionable leads
- Understand how intelligence development supports case building
- Weigh interview choices against victim welfare and legal constraints rather than treating them as purely tactical
Domain 5: Open-source research
Open-source research covers collecting and organizing publicly available information to support an investigation. For CHTI preparation, focus on the reasoning around it, not just the tools.
- Know what open-source information can legitimately contribute to a trafficking case
- Understand reliability, corroboration and the risk of over-reading a single source
- Connect findings to documentation so they can be defended later
Domain 6: Deep-web awareness
The issuer's narrative frames this as awareness. Candidates should understand why portions of the internet fall outside ordinary search, and why that matters for trafficking activity.
- Understand the conceptual difference between publicly indexed content and less accessible online spaces
- Recognize the relevance to advertising, communication and concealment in trafficking operations
- Appreciate legal and procedural boundaries when moving beyond open sources
Victim Support and Federal Law
Domain 7: Victim support
CHTI treats victim support as an investigative competency, not a courtesy. The curriculum highlights trauma-aware victim support and legal and resource coordination.
- Apply trauma-aware principles when interacting with victims and witnesses
- Understand how safety, stability and access to resources affect both welfare and case viability
- Know how to coordinate referrals and legal resources without overstepping your role
Domain 8: Federal law
Federal statutory framework anchors the exam's legal content. The narrative specifically notes applying federal law and visa provisions.
- Understand the principal federal trafficking statutes at a working level
- Know why visa-related provisions matter for victims and for cooperation
- Be able to connect a fact pattern to the legal framework that governs it
These two domains frequently interact in scenario items: a question may ask how legal protections available to a victim shape the way an investigator approaches that person. Studying them together is more effective than treating them as separate silos.
Interagency Coordination, Evidence and Reporting
Domain 9: Interagency coordination
Trafficking cases rarely stay inside one agency or one jurisdiction. The curriculum emphasizes coordinating federal, state and local partners and developing cases across jurisdictions.
- Understand the roles different partners play and why coordination fails when roles blur
- Recognize cross-jurisdictional complications in building a single coherent case
- Know how information sharing supports, and sometimes complicates, an investigation
Domain 10: Evidence development
This domain covers preserving both digital and physical evidence so it holds up later.
- Understand preservation principles for digital and physical evidence
- Appreciate why chain of custody and documentation discipline matter
- Connect evidence decisions back to legal requirements and victim safety
Domain 11: Professional reporting
Reporting is where the whole investigation becomes a product others will rely on. The program emphasizes documenting findings and preparing defensible professional reports.
- Distinguish observation, inference and conclusion in written work
- Write so that another professional can follow and challenge your reasoning
- Tie each claim back to documented evidence
Key Takeaway
Domains 9 through 11 are linked. Strong coordination produces better evidence, and disciplined evidence development makes reporting defensible. Study them as a pipeline, not three separate topics.
Sequencing the Domains in Your Preparation
Because the official weights are unknown, the sensible approach is even coverage with deliberate ordering. The sequence below follows how the domains build on one another. Adjust the length to your own timeline; for broader context on effort, see How Hard Is the CHTI Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
Foundation: Domains 1-3
- Lock down definitions first, since every other domain assumes them
- Study dynamics and indicators together to see why indicators are only leads
Investigation: Domains 4-6
- Move from indicators to leads using investigative methods
- Cover open-source research and deep-web awareness as extensions of the same workflow
People and law: Domains 7-8
- Study victim support and federal law side by side
- Practice scenarios where legal protections shape investigative choices
Case building: Domains 9-11, then review
- Treat coordination, evidence and reporting as one pipeline
- Finish with mixed-domain practice at our practice test site to expose weak spots
If you can, run timed sessions that mirror the three-hour, single-sitting condition, and use the CHTI practice tests to check readiness across all eleven areas rather than only your favorites. Note that practice question allocation across domains on any prep site is editorial, not a reflection of an official blueprint.
Where These Domains Show Up on the Job
The domain list reads like a job description for someone who works trafficking cases from first indicator to final report. That fits the credential's intended audience of professionals with official investigative or intelligence responsibilities. Exam-only eligibility is narrower than some marketing language suggests, so confirm your own role before purchasing.
If you are weighing whether the credential supports a career move, explore CHTI Jobs, CHTI Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis and Is the CHTI Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026. For scheduling and logistics, see CHTI Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
One more practical point: the one-year exam license and lifetime course access are product terms, not the credential's renewal period. Renewal terms and CPE requirements should be confirmed with the issuer rather than inferred from product packaging.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. They are an editorial grouping of subjects named in the issuer's curriculum narrative. McAfee Institute does not publicly disclose a complete weighted blueprint, and the 11 domains do not correspond one-to-one with the 13 advertised course modules.
That is not publicly disclosed. Because the largest-weighted area is unknown, prepare evenly across all eleven domains rather than betting on one.
The exam is online-proctored with a three-hour time limit, and the published passing threshold is 70%. The exact question count and item-format mix are not verified for this credential, so confirm them with the issuer.
No. The exam-only option costs US$450 and includes one attempt and a one-year exam license, but not course access. The US$1,497 bundle adds the 31-hour, 31-CPE course. Exam-only eligibility is limited to certain official investigative or intelligence roles, so verify yours first.
Do not rely on it. Older indexed listings are not interchangeable with the current curriculum narrative. Use the subjects the issuer currently names, and confirm any specifics directly with McAfee Institute.