| Do you have what it takes to become an FBI | | | | accredited 4-year degree in a foreign language, |
| special agent? Do you have a sincere desire to | | | | law, accounting, or another field plus three years |
| enforce federal laws and investigate crimes?This | | | | of full time employment.The FBI looks for job |
| job requires hard work and can often times be | | | | applicants who have skills in interrogation, report |
| dangerous and stressful. You'll undoubtedly be in | | | | writing, surveillance, and giving testimony. The |
| close contact with crimminals and victims of | | | | selection process also includes cognitive tests, an |
| crime. But a special agent's job is rewarding if you | | | | interview, background check, polygraph test, and |
| enjoy serving the public. Long before applying for | | | | drug test.The FBI also looks for individuals with |
| a job as an FBI special agent, you'll need to plan | | | | character traits, such as honesty and sound |
| carefully what you need to do to qualify.The FBI | | | | judgement.Physical Training RequirementsAn |
| Special AgentFederal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) | | | | example of a requirement would be the PRT, a |
| special agents are the Government's primary | | | | 1.5 mile run test, passed with scores of 14 |
| investigators, who investigate criminal violations of | | | | minutes 10 seconds or under for females and 12 |
| over 260 statutes not assigned to another federal | | | | minutes 40 seconds or under for males.Forensic |
| agency. Agents may conduct surveillance, monitor | | | | ScienceThe candidate for a scientist position must |
| wiretaps, examine financial records, or participate | | | | first qualify under an existing entry program and |
| in undercover assignments, just to name a | | | | have a degree in physics, chemistry, |
| few.The FBI investigates organized crime, white | | | | mathematics, biology, nursing, bio-chemistry, |
| collar crime, such as health care fraud, | | | | Forensics, Medical specialties, or related field. The |
| counterterrorism, copyright infringement, civil | | | | candidate for a Forensic Scientist position should |
| rights violations, bank robbery, extortion, | | | | major in biochemistry, biology or biotechnology. |
| kidnapping, terrorism, espionage, violent crimes, | | | | The Forensic scientist analyzes evidence such as |
| drug trafficking, and other violations of Federal | | | | hairs, firearms, DNA, photographs, fingerprints, |
| statutes.The following was adapted from The | | | | and handwriting examples and testifies verbally |
| Federal Bureau of Investigation, Facts and Figures | | | | and in writing.Advice from a former FBI |
| 2003, FBI Priorities ( FBI's priorities are to:Protect | | | | profilerJohn Douglas, a former FBI profiler, offers |
| the United States from terrorist attack.Protect | | | | the follow advice for aspiring FBI special |
| the United States against foreign intelligence | | | | agents:Seek leadership opportunities.Develop skills |
| operations and espionage.Protect the United | | | | the FBI desires.Do community service.Maintain a |
| States against cyber-based attacks and | | | | clean record--no jail term or felony and good |
| high-technology crimes. Combat public corruption | | | | credit.Maintain good grade point average.Consider |
| at all levels.Protect civil rights.Combat transnational | | | | ROTC.Complete an internship.Don't major in a |
| and national criminal organizations and | | | | course you dislike, such as accounting, because |
| enterprises.Combat major white-collar crime. | | | | you think it will help you to become a special |
| Combat significant violent crime.Support federal, | | | | agent. "Make sure your primary focus is finding a |
| state, county, municipal, and international | | | | career you enjoy," says Douglas.For more |
| partners.Upgrade technology to successfully | | | | information on employment as a FBI Special |
| perform the FBI's mission.Entry RequirementsBe a | | | | Agent, check your phone directory for your state |
| U.S. citizen, or a citizen of the Northern Mariana | | | | FBI office. Or visit the FBI online.SourcesThe |
| IslandsBe at least 23 of age but under 37Be | | | | Occupational Outlook Handbook 2002-2003, US |
| available to work when and where neededPass | | | | Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor |
| hearing and vision tests, including a color vision | | | | StatisticsFederal Bureau of Investigation ( |
| testPossess a valid driver's license.Be in excellent | | | | Douglas's Guide to Careers in the FBI,1998, Kaplan |
| physical conditionPossess a national or regionally | | | | Books, Simon and Schuster, New York. |