A lot of you may have dreamed about serving your country, of being able to do something for it. Of course, not everyone has a patriotic streak in them. Some would love to join the FBI for the mystery of the job, the secrecy behind every detail, and the satisfaction from the fact that you are party to all those secret affairs and events. The power that comes with a position in the FBI can also be another reason for you to want to join the FBI. As much as you dream, getting into the FBI requires you to complete an extremely demanding procedure; and your job thereafter is no cakewalk either. To deem a candidate eligible for the FBI, several tests and checks are performed to check for suitability for the job. Take a look at the following requirements that tell you how to become an FBI agent. Age Requirements To join the FBI, you must be at least 23 years of age, but below the age of 37 when you are appointed as a special agent. Educational Requirements For you to become an FBI agent, you will require a recognized 4 year degree from an accredited college or institution. This degree should be recognized by the United States Secretary of Education. Along with this, you are expected to have a minimum of three years of work experience in your field. You have a higher chance of getting into the FBI if you are a professional accountant, lawyer, scientist or engineer. To become a special agent, there are certain Special Agent Entry Programs, one of which you are required to qualify. These include language, information technology or computer science, law and accounting. After you make it through any one of the five programs, if you have professional experience in fields such as accounting, the military, fields of law, engineering, finance and accounting, physical sciences, IT, foreign languages, and law enforcement, you will be considered for the position. These are known as critical skills. The more of these skills you have, the higher are your chances of getting into the FBI. Physical Requirements To become an FBI agent, you must not only be physically fit, but have a stamina that will allow you to fulfill the demanding requirements of the job. The vague hours and several other matters that may have you facing situations of life and death require you to have an excellent stamina and physical capacity. To check for this, you need to pass several rigorous physical tests. These tests begin with checking the maximum number of sit ups you can perform in one minute. Next, you are asked to perform a 300 meter sprint that is timed. This is followed by the performance of as many push-ups as you can perform. Finally, you are asked to perform a one and half mile run that is timed. Apart from these requirements, you are required to have clear vision, or one that does not go beyond 20/200, in both eyes. If you have used soft lenses for one year without any trouble, you will be required to produce a medical document as proof to support it, which the FBI may use to consider your case. If you have had corrective laser surgery on your eyes, you will be asked to wait for a minimum of six months before you can begin training at the FBI. To fit into description of an FBI agent, you will also be put under medical review to check for any history of disease or illnesses. Also, they will check whether any previous or existing condition has the ability to affect your performance in the future. This may delay the process of your employment. Background Check As an FBI agent, you will be party to all types of sensitive information and events that will affect a lot factors even at a national level. So that you are considered fit to be a part of the FBI, the agency will run a thorough background check on you. You must have a clean record. A background check is conducted only when you have received a conditional offer of employment, which can be withdrawn if you do not clear the background check. The tests that are conducted include a polygraph test, a test to check your involvement with illegal drugs, driving offenses, criminal records and credit and financial checks. Financial checks will include checks on defaults in loan payments, failure to clear credit card bills, defaults on tax payments, etc. Finally, random interviews will be conducted with former colleagues, employers, friends, professors, neighbors, and family. Other Requirements There are some other basic requirements you are expected to fulfill to be able to join the FBI. These have been enlisted here.

• You must be a citizen of the United States of America.
• You must have a valid driver's license.
• You must be open to the fact that you may be assigned anywhere in the jurisdiction of the FBI.

With all this information on joining the FBI, brace yourself for the rigorous examination you are going to be put through. You must know that along with fulfilling each of these requirements, you must also be mentally prepared to deal with the rigor of the job. It is not only a physically demanding job, but also a job that will take a toll on your mental health. Once prepared, nothing can stop you from pursuing your dream job!