Requirements to Become an FBI Special Agent
Starting a career as a special agent of the FBI is one of the most coveted government jobs available. However, due to government spending cuts and rigorous job requirements,
acquiring this type of employment can be extremely difficult,
considering that there are thousands of applicants and less than 10% of them ever get hired. In order to even begin the
application process, certain guidelines must be met (which are listed below). If you do not meet any of these requirements then you will probably need to go back to school for a college degree or
consider a different type of career path. The FBI only wants to hire the best of the best, so more often than not you will need to go above and beyond these basic requirements. In addition
to earning one of the desired degrees, seek to learn a foreign language, become an expert with computers (programming & forensics), or at least gain some type of military or relative law enforcement experience - that way you will be able to stand out from other
applicants and increase your chances of getting hired.
FBI Minimum Requirements:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Possess a valid driver's license
- Be at least 23 years of age and no more than 36 years old
- Have a clean criminal background
- Pass a standarized color/vision test (20/20 vision required)
- Pass a standarized hearing test
- Pass a written and physical fitness test
- Be willing to relocate anywhere inside the United States
- Be able to travel frequently
- Possess excellent study habits (good grades can demonstrate this)
- Possess a four-year degree in one of these areas of education:
- Law
- Accounting
- Foreign language
- Computer science
- Information technology
- Any college degree accompanied with 2-3 years of related work experience
- Must be able to work well with people, particuarly your partner
- Be able to manage high levels of stress
- Make sensible split-second decisions
- Have a good memory