Of the many steps to becoming an FBI agent, most pertain to the eligibility requirements and the application process. Aspiring special agents must follow all the required steps to ensure success in their career endeavors.
What degree do you need to be an FBI agent? is a common question asked by aspiring applicants. Although the special agent position doesn’t require any particular subject area for the bachelor’s degree, a criminal justice degree is certainly a practical choice.
This route offers a thorough grounding in the principles of criminal law and community protection. You might also consider declaring a minor that would provide additional relevant skills, such as a second language or forensic psychology.
In addition to earning your bachelor’s degree, you may wish to earn a master’s degree in criminal justice or justice studies. This could help make you a more competitive candidate and would reduce the work experience time requirement by half (from two years to one year).
You’ll need to accumulate full-time work experience before you can apply to the FBI. Two years are required if you hold a bachelor’s degree and one year if you have a master’s. Although there are no specific requirements for work experience, it’s best to look for jobs in a relevant field. Aspiring special agents might seek a civilian job in law enforcement, such as that of a crime analyst, police dispatcher, bailiff, private security guard or victim advocate.
You can begin the application process after ensuring that you meet the minimum eligibility requirements, are free of automatic disqualifiers and can pass the Physical Fitness Test (PFT). You’ll need to attach your college transcripts and any military documents along with your resume. The resume must follow the Federal Resume Template.4
Once you submit your application, multiple steps must be completed before placement. First, your information will undergo a preliminary screening. If you pass, you’ll be invited to take a computerized test within 21 days of the invitation. In a proctored setting, you’ll take a three-hour test that examines the following areas:5
- Logic-based reasoning
- Figural reasoning
- Personality assessment
- Preferences and interests
- Situational judgment
You’ll receive your results within an hour of taking the test. If you receive a passing score, you’ll be invited to complete the “Required Information” section of the application. This section includes a self-evaluation of the PFT.
Once you submit this information, you may be invited to attend a meet and greet session with evaluators, who will validate the information you provided and determine your physical, mental and ethical fitness.
If you are deemed suitable to be an FBI special agent candidate, you’ll be invited to move forward with Phase II of the application process. The first step in Phase II is a written assessment test and a structured interview with three special agents. If you pass this portion of the application process, you’ll be invited to take the PFT.
You must take the PFT within 14 days of being notified of your eligibility. If you fail the PFT the first time around, you will have two more chances to pass. If you pass the PFT, you’ll be extended a Conditional Appointment Offer (CAO). A CAO is an offer of employment as a special agent contingent on your successfully passing a thorough, rigorous background investigation and the Basic Field Training Course (BFTC), which includes 800 hours of intensive training and lasts about 19 weeks.
If you successfully complete the BFTC, you will graduate and be sworn in as a new FBI special agent by the FBI director or the director’s representative. You’ll then be assigned to your field office to begin your career. Periodically, you will return to the FBI academy to complete refresher courses and specialized training to enhance your skills.