how to become an fbi agent
How to Become an FBI Agent
This article will provide you with a detailed account of what it takes to become an FBI agent and what it means to put your life on the line for your country. Read to know about the recruitment process for one of the toughest jobs in the country.
FBI's Finest: Joseph Pistone a.k.a Donnie Brasco
From 1976 to 1981, for six years, FBI agent Joseph Pistone lived undercover, as part of a New York mafia family, with the alias, Donnie Brasco. His work and the evidence collected by him led to almost 100 convictions and over 200 indictments. Naturally, he is the stuff FBI legends are made of.How to Become One?
The FBI looks out for bright minds, with an appetite for daredevilry and adventure, or who have an expertise in their field and who can hold their own, placing integrity above everything else.
There are various entry points to become a special agent as the bureau needs people from diverse fields, to investigate crime. Before going into the details of those entry points, let us look at the basic qualifications required.
Basic Requirements to Become an Agent
Here are the basic requirements:
- You must be a citizen of United States of America or a citizen of Northern Mariana islands.
- Your age should not be more than 37 years or less than 23 years, when applying. War veterans may be granted concession even if they may have crossed the age limit of 37 years.
- You must have a four-year degree from any government-recognized university or college.
- It is mandatory that you have minimum three years of work experience, in your field.
- You must have a valid driver's license and be ready to work in any place, which comes under jurisdiction of the FBI.
- You have to subject yourself to rigorous background checks and tough fitness tests, in order to qualify. The test includes a 300-meter run, pushups, and other challenging physical feats. There is a polygraph (Lie Detector) test too.
Special Entry Programs
There are various special entry programs, through which you could apply, according to your specific area of expertise. To become a special agent, you must qualify for one of the programs described further.
Accounting Program
Accounting careers can land you a job in the bureau. To qualify for this program:
- You must have a certification as a CPA
- You must possess a four-year degree, with a major in accounting.
- You must have at least three years of extensive and progressive work experience in a professional firm.
- Either a degree in computer science or information technology, an electrical engineering degree, CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional) certification, or CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert) certification
- Applicants with CCNP or CCIE certification must also possess a degree in arts or science field.
- You must possess a BS or BA degree in any field, along with expertise in any of the languages, which will be useful to the FBI.
- Currently, the bureau is looking for people with a mastery in Chinese, Arabic, Hindi, Farsi, Hebrew, Korean, Japanese, Pashtu, Russian, Punjabi, Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, and Urdu.
- A law degree
- 3 years of professional experience.
Critical Skills Required
After you get qualified through any of these entry programs, you are sorted according to certain critical skills, which form the recruitment criteria for the FBI. It is currently recruiting people as special agents, who possess at least one of the following critical skills:
- Accounting
- Computer Science/IT expertise
- Engineering Expertise
- Foreign Language Expertise
- Law Experience
- Intelligence Experience
- Diversified Experience
- Military Experience
- Basic Science Experience (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
Physical Requirements
Since an agent's physical capacity could make the difference between life and death in this field of work, the FBI doesn't compromise when testing candidates for physical requirements. Besides passing the fitness test, the candidates must pass through a rigorous medical review and meet the vision and hearing requirements.
The physical fitness test includes the maximum number of sit-ups you can perform in a minute, a timed 300 meter run, the maximum number of push-ups you can perform, and a timed one and a half mile run. During phase 1 testing, a self assessment test report of all the above-mentioned physical feats needs to be submitted, to be eligible for further evaluation.
After phase 2 testing, this fitness test needs to be taken again and cleared, to be eligible for induction into the academy. At least 6 or more points need to be scored in this test, to stay eligible for further evaluation, though passing takes a lot more. Even after getting inducted into the academy, a more rigorous physical examination needs to be passed, to be eligible for the course.
Besides all this, uncorrected visual acuity of at least 20/200, with a corrected vision of 20/20 in one eye and at least 20/40 in the other eye is necessary. People who do not meet these requirements, but do manage to use contact lenses or have undergone laser surgery, are also allowed to apply with certain conditions.
An audiometer test is carried out, that allows an average of 25 decibel loss in hearing at 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hertz, while requiring single readings of 35 decibels at 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hz, and 45 decibels at 4000 Hertz. This is followed up by a rigorous medical examination which evaluates your body's fitness levels to perform satisfactorily in service. Only after clearance of physical requirements can a candidate be inducted for training, provided he clears the background check, and other tests.Background Check
Naturally, FBI is very strict about drug usage and candidates with a history of usage or addiction are disqualified. You need to fill up certain forms detailing your past acquaintances, employment history, and education. The agency then runs a thorough background check, interviewing your neighbors, past colleagues, and acquaintances. Convicted felony, student loan default, drug usage history, failure to pass urine analysis test, and non-registration with the Selective Service System (in case of male candidates), constitute grounds for disqualification.The Application Process
Finally, here's an overview of the entire process involved in getting inducted into the 21-week training program at FBI academy, situated in Quantico, Virginia. This is known as the Special Agent Selection System (SASS).
Step 1: Apply Online
You must apply online with your resume and requisite documents establishing your eligibility for the special agent program. Your application will be screened and if found to be eligible, you will be invited to take the Phase I screening test. You must appear within 21 days, for the phase I test, after you receive an invitation.Step 2: Clear Phase I
Select candidates will be invited to take a 3-hour examination that tests them for logical, behavioral, and cognitive abilities. This is an automated test and is conducted at local centers. The candidates that qualify through this test and submit a passing self-assessment report of physical testing, are invited to the local FBI field office for introduction to the agency's policies, by senior agents. Those applying through the language program are tested further, at this stage.
Based on the performance of the candidates in these tests, they are graded as 'Most competitive', 'Competitive', and 'Least Competitive'. This is known as 'Headquarter Review'. Only the highest graded ones are invited to take the next set of tests.Step 3: Clear Phase II
Phase II involves a 90-minute written examination, along with a 1-hour panel interview. Candidates that pass through these stages are subjected to a physical fitness test (as described before), along with a background check, and medical examination. Those who make it through all these steps, are chosen for the 21-week training program at Quantico, Virginia, after which they are inducted as special agents in field offices all over USA, in their chosen field.Salary Range
As trainees at Quantico, FBI agents are paid about USD 1,963 as two-week pay, which amounts to about USD 51,043 for a year. After being assigned to FBI's 56 field offices for their first assignments, they are paid about USD 61,100 to USD 69,900 per year, which includes basic pay, along with locality pay and other perks. With promotions and shouldering of higher responsibilities over the years, the annual pay may rise to USD 100,000 or more.