An FBI career is perhaps one of the most sought-after law enforcement jobs in the United States. That’s why knowing how to become an FBI agent is important.
Positions at the Federal Office of Criminal Investigation and most other occupations as a special agent usually provide higher pay (often in the six-figure range after a few years), high health coverage, and excellent retirement benefits.
In particular, FBI agent careers are often viewed as having some status and prestige because the FBI is one of the world’s most well-known and respected investigative agencies.
With that in mind, it’s no wonder you were interested in such a wonderful career opportunity. The question is, how are you an FBI agent?
When you finish reading this comprehensive article, you will inform on how to become an FBI agent before deciding whether an FBI career is a worthwhile job.
Table of Contents
- About the FBI
- FBI Career: Duties & Responsibilities
- FBI Agent Salary
- FBI Requirements (Education, Training, & Certification)
- How to Become a Special Agent with the FBI
- Are there difficulties working as an FBI Agent?
- What is the FBI Application Process?
- FBI Special Agent Application Process
- The FBI Academy
- CONCLUSION
- How to Become an FBI Agent | FAQs
- AUTHOR’S RECOMMENDATION
About the FBI
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the federal investigating agency and one of the world’s leading law enforcement agencies.
Special agents of the FBI investigate the federal government’s crimes and contribute to maintaining security in the United States.
Federal crimes are acts that violate federal laws, as opposed to crimes that violate state or local laws.
Some examples of federal crime include postal fraud, kidnapping, and bank robbery. Criminal activity that crosses national borders is often the responsibility of the FBI.
The FBI was founded in 1908 and was involved in famous cases involving Al Capone, Bonnie and Clyde, the KKK, and John Gotti. The story of the FBI is rich in success stories about protecting the country from many threats.
It began as a team of special agents during the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt and has become one of the main branches of government.
Although the Federal Bureau of Investigations, often called “the bureau”, initially investigated fraud, banking, and antitrust issues, it now addresses the fight against terrorism, hate crimes, human trafficking, human rights violations, and virtually every type of national threat.
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FBI Career: Duties & Responsibilities
A career as an FBI agent carries a variety of tasks to counter these threats. Some specialize in detecting cyber criminals, others in the fight against organized crime and terrorism.
The main task of an FBI Special Agent is to investigate crimes and enforce federal laws. This may include interviewing sources and performing monitoring activities such as monitoring judicially-authorized wiretaps or working in intelligence.
Some use advanced science degrees to investigate murders, while other FBI agent has sound accounting skills to detect fraud in the financial sector.
FBI agents are responsible for the security of America and its citizens. They fight daily against life-threatening challenges such as terrorism, drug trafficking, and organized crime.
FBI agents use both computer and financial know-how to protect themselves against cyber theft, fraud, and white-collar crime. They fight criminals who steal with advanced techniques.
Special agents in the FBI should be efficient regardless of their focus on the following tasks:
- Collect data
- Analyze data
- Survey and questioning
- Computer knowledge
- Self-defense
- Use of weapons
- Investigation of changes in criminal patterns
- Maintaining mental and physical fitness
Special agents are divided into five career paths where their roles and responsibilities may vary:
Intelligence
The FBI collects information and data from all forms of criminal activity to categorize and analyze it. In this way, a database can be set up for future investigations.
Counterespionage
Investigating foreign nationals from other nations who may be collecting information about the United States
Counter-Terrorism
Investigating individuals and groups who may be planning terrorist activity on US soil. Suspected terrorists under investigation may be foreign or domestic terrorists.
Criminal
The elucidation of serious crimes is the FBI’s biggest and most important task.
Cyber
Protect sensitive government data from criminal threats at home and abroad. Agents in this area also conduct forensic investigations of computers and other related devices that could serve as evidence of other crimes.
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FBI Agent Salary
Law enforcement officials have various salary levels, but most earn a very good salary. Given that the FBI is one of the country’s most elite and key law enforcement agencies, agents and leaders in the office can expect to earn some of the best prosecution salaries.
FBI Special Agents, as a General Schedule (GS), fill 10 people on the pay scale of law enforcement agencies and can reach grade GS 13 for non-regulatory tasks.
Supervisory and management positions are remunerated according to GS 14 and GS 15 levels. Brokers also receive local and availability compensation – a salary increase of about 25 percent due to overtime requirements.
- Even newly hired FBI agents earn over $50,000, taking into account the pay for the 20-week training course and starting salary.
- GS 10-13 annual salary range: 48,297-98,317 USD
- GS 14-15 annual salary range: 89,370 USD – 136,659 USD
While the Bureau of Labor Statistics, one of the best salary information organizations, does not compile specific data on “FBI agents,” there is a list of “police and detective” information, a category that would apply to most FBI agents,
According to BLS, these people earn an average of $ 58,630 a year. Detectives and investigators earned an average of $ 79,870 a year.
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FBI Requirements (Education, Training, & Certification)
Serving as an FBI agent is a demanding task with strict entry requirements in various areas:
Education: Potential FBI officers must have a four-year degree from an accredited college or university.
Professional Experience: Before joining the FBI, three years of professional experience are required.
Background: Potential agents undergo a comprehensive background review to assess both suitability and security. Part of the suitability of the check examines past criminal behavior or drug use as well as financial status and previous employment.
The security section examines the candidates’ personal backgrounds, including family history and any organizations they may have joined. As part of this review, friends and neighbors can be interviewed.
Training: All FBI agents begin their careers at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, and undergo approximately 21 weeks of intensive training. During their time at the FBI Academy, the trainees live on campus and participate in various activities.
Lessons cover various academic and research topics. The curriculum of the FBI Academy also includes intensive training in physical fitness, defensive tactics, hands-on practice exercises, and the use of firearms.
Fitness: Candidates must pass a fitness test with five activities: sit-ups, a 300-meter sprint, continuous push-ups, a timed 2.5-kilometer run, and pull-ups. Applicants must achieve minimum and cumulative scores in each category.
FBI Agent Requirements (Skills & Competencies)
After qualifying for one of the five entry-level programs, candidates are prioritized in the recruitment process based on certain critical skills for which the FBI recruits. These skills can include:
Accounting and Finance: The tracking of funds can be an integral part of many different types of investigations.
Information Technology: Computers are a common tool in most modern criminal enterprises. Therefore, it is often necessary to retrieve hidden data or monitor electronic communication.
Foreign languages: Since not all investigation persons speak English, multilingual agents are particularly valuable.
Legal experience: Good legal knowledge can help initiate investigations in new areas or prevent other investigations from derailing due to legal errors.
Military Experience: The leadership and tactical training of the military can, under certain circumstances, be well transferred to law enforcement.
Scientific knowledge: Some evidence may be difficult to understand for people without a scientific background or education. Experience with scientific research methods also benefits all active ingredients.
How to Become a Special Agent with the FBI
Becoming a Special Agent at the Federal Bureau of Investigation is a goal for many, but an actual destination for very few.
The decision to apply for a badge can take years, and only those with the right training, preparation, and strength of character can hope to be one of the few chosen people to be hired.
Qualifications
The basic qualifications to become an FBI Special Agent are strict:
- Be an American citizen
- You must be between 23 and 36 years old unless you are looking for a veteran waiver
- Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college
- Have a valid state driver’s license
- You have worked as a specialist for at least two years (or one year for applicants with a master’s degree)
- Many agents have studied criminal law, political science, engineering, computer science or accounting and some have graduated in law.
- The FBI considers the mastery of applicants’ foreign language skills to be a particular strength and often seeks applicants who speak certain languages, such as Arabic, Persian, Chinese, Korean and Russian.
- Be prepared to go into dangerous situations and work for the enforcement of laws and the protection of human beings.
Achieving these basic skills can be seen as a first step in becoming a specialist agent, and how you do so can affect your chances of being accepted and insisting on the selection process.
The age and citizenship qualifications are determined by yourself. If you cannot obtain a driver’s license without much difficulty, you should probably get the work of high-end law enforcement others.
However, your decision on meeting the training and work experience requirements lies primarily with the qualifiers you control.
The Bureau values and accepts various academic degrees and professional backgrounds, from economics and accounting to engineering and science. If you have already graduated and gained the required experience, continue with the application process below.
Are there difficulties working as an FBI Agent?
The work of an FBI agent can be stressful and cause trouble. Although the planned working week could be 50 hours, many works more than that. A special agent is on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can work on public holidays.
In addition, agents are often placed into atypical situations, including dealing with people in traumatic situations and crime scenes that can be cruel and death.
Agents may be transferred to one of the 56 field offices in the US or overseas for a temporary or extended period of time.
What is the FBI Application Process?
The application process is very extensive and includes interviews, written tests, polygraph tests, background checks, and drug tests.
Applicants must sign a clearance to allow the FBI to review their medical, work, military, law enforcement, credit, and other records.
The Application Processes
Special FBI agents must acquire and conduct a top-secret security clearance. If you are planning to become an FBI agent, you should expect a similar process:
- Acquire the training and/or experience you need to become an FBI agent.
- Perform a Self-Physical Fitness Test (Self-PFT).
- Apply to the FBI website.
- You will be invited to take and pass the Phase I test, a three-hour exam focused on thinking and cognitive skills.
- Conduct a Meet and Greet interview.
- You will be invited to take and pass the Phase II tests and an official physical fitness test.
- You receive a conditional offer (CAO).
- Conduct a background study.
- You are assigned to train as a New Agent Trainee (NAT) at the 21-week FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
- Complete the Basic Field Training Course (BFTC) in your local field office on a specific date.
- Most FBI agents start their careers as law enforcement officers at a local or state police or sheriff’s department.
- Receive on-the-job training to gain 18 months of practical experience during probation.
Jobs as an FBI agent are becoming a popular career opportunity for many people. The Federal Bureau of Investigation Agency is one of the top government agencies dealing with high-level criminal investigations, cartels, and national security hazards.
An FBI agent can be described as an agent working as an investigator for this agency. FBI agent jobs are extremely demanding but quite rewarding. You can visit the FBI official job website by clicking on the button below.
FBI Special Agent Application Process
The application and review process includes two test phases and a thorough background check that candidates pass through before they receive a conditional-date offer and begin training.
The FBI Academy
Once you’ve gone through all the steps, you’ll be invited to a special-agent class at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
The 21-week training program requires you to live on campus, spend hours in the classroom, and learn weapon skills, defense tactics, and other special abilities.
The FBI Academy is mentally and physically exhausting, and special-apprentice trainees must maintain their physical fitness.
If an agent trainee fails his fitness test for the first or seventh week, he will be sent home.
The academic requirements are just as high and failing tests and qualifications will make you unemployed.
CONCLUSION
Becoming an FBI agent is an extremely difficult and competitive process. Becoming the candidate the FBI wants to hire takes years of time, planning, and hard work. It will not happen overnight, and the hiring process itself can take a year or more.
In the end, however, a career as an FBI Special Agent offers unique challenges, opportunities, and rewards. If you want to work for the FBI, now is the time to start planning for your future.
How to Become an FBI Agent | FAQs
To become an FBI agent, you must obtain an official degree in criminal justice. In addition, you must complete a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a subject of your choice, followed by a master’s degree in criminology or criminal justice.
The Bachelor’s is a 4-year degree program, and the Master’s degree in Criminal Justice can be completed within 2 years. Therefore, it can take about 6 years to become an FBI agent.
Yes, it is required that you have a Bachelor’s degree. This is a bachelor’s program offered by many colleges and universities.
You should seek a degree in a related academic field, such as criminal law, business administration, finance, and accounting. You can also opt for a bachelor’s degree online if you cannot attend a campus lesson.
Here are some of the requirements:
If you want to become an FBI agent, you must meet the following conditions: You must have a four-year degree from an accredited college or university, have US citizenship, and be under the age of 37. As an FBI agent, you must apply to sign up for a special training program from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
FBI agents have very demanding jobs. It depends on whether you have the right temperament and like investigative and intelligence jobs. Then you will find it interesting.
The compensation scale depends on your experience and your rank in the field. However, FBI agents receive accommodation, travel, insurance, and retirement benefits.
FBI agents work with the federal bureau of investigative authority. The job description and the work plan depend on which FBI department the person works in. FBI agents typically need to perform a series of tasks z go through other records.
Before you apply as an FBI agent, you must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. The most suitable study areas are cybercrime, computer forensics, criminal law, biology, and business administration. These degrees can also be obtained online through accredited online schools. Candidates must also hold valid US citizenship.
References
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