He notes that certain undergraduate courses are particularly valuable for an FBI career, including courses in accounting and computer science, since the FBI often investigates white-collar crimes.
While the department does have familiarity and relationships with certain college programs and certain university departments, there is no one school that the FBI recruits from.
Applicants with degrees in criminology, criminal justice or psychology will certainly have an advantage with law enforcement expertise, but they may have a tougher time getting selected for special agent positions. Getting into FBI Academy at Quantico is a difficult task. The selection process is incredibly rigorous and competitive.
You can also consider a degree in computer science or cybersecurity, which focus on the potential risks associated with computers. A variety of majors are ideal for FBI agents. The key is focusing on an area of study that appeals to your personal interests and that relates to your career goals.
FBI agents are expected to maintain physical fitness throughout their careers as agents, Sursi notes. Sursi says he looks for the following character traits when evaluating potential special agents: commitment to performing public service, communication skills, integrity and empathy.
How to Become an FBI Agent and Why. To qualify for an FBI agent position, you must have a college degree, according to the law enforcement and intelligence agency. Persistence when searching for answers to puzzling questions is key component of the job. (Getty Images)
One trait that FBI agents tend to share, he says, is a desire to have a positive influence on society. "They want to feel connected to a bigger whole and a huge sense of purpose and a sense of mission.".
To name a few, a job candidate needs to possess a bachelor's degree, some post-college work experience and U.S. citizenship.
One thing that attracts many people to the FBI is the excitement and "variability" inherent in those careers, Pelfrey says. "That's part of what makes the FBI such an interesting agency.
Because the mandatory retirement age for FBI special agents is 57 and agents must complete 20 years of service to qualify for retirement benefits, job applicants who previously have not worked for the FBI typically must be between 23 and 36 years old, but this rule doesn't generally apply to military veterans.
FBI agent roles are suitable only for people who are adaptable, Sursi explains, not those who require a rigid routine.
For example, FBI agents in cyber security typically have an education in computer science, information technology or systems, computer or cyber security, mathematics, or a discipline of engineering.
Good judgment skills: A good FBI agent has superior judgment skills. Judgment skills enable agents to solve problems in unique ways and carry out investigations that lead to arrests. Leadership skills: As an FBI agent, one must lead teams and cases. Agents must be comfortable with being visible members of teams.
Training lasts 20 weeks.
The first step in pursuing a career as an FBI agent is to hold U.S. citizenship, be between the ages of 23 and 36 years old, and have a clean criminal record with no felony charges.
In fact, data compiled from Pay Scale showed that an FBI agent with 10-19 years on the job earns an average salary of approximately $66,000 per year.
The primary duties of a linguist are to use their linguistic and cultural knowledge and skills to identify suspicious communication and information. Their skills in foreign counterintelligence help solve crimes, including cases of cybercrime, hacking, and other offenses. New hires with the FBI are required to pass aptitude tests for a chosen language. Linguists often work domestically and internationally.
They are talked about the most in media and shown often in film and television. Special agents investigate criminal acts and violations of federal law. Special agents usually work undercover. They gather evidence, interview suspects and witnesses, and monitor suspicious activity. Every day on the job presents a new and unique task. For example, some days are spent interviewing suspects, while others are spent testifying in court. The job requires a great deal of paperwork, as an agent is required to fill out forms, reports, and records pertaining to any particular case they are working. Special agents may specialize in different crime types, such as bank robbery and fraud, crimes involving the deprivation of rights, human trafficking crimes, illegal gaming and gambling, or terrorism (domestic and international).
California State University has a School of Criminal Justice and Criminalistics, which is considered among the best schools for FBI agents. Many of the school graduates have succeeded in securing a good position at various law enforcement agencies. The university has students from diverse backgrounds, which exposes you to different cultural diversities.
The criminal justice program is one of the popular programs at Holy Family University. It provides students with academic knowledge in criminal justice and practical training in the fieldwork. The university offers two different programs, which include a master’s program and a bachelor’s degree.
The second principle is relevance, which means that the relevant knowledge of criminal justice is being given to the students, making them prepared for the market. It is for this reason that Indiana University is among the top FBI colleges.
The Heritage University is famous for its criminal justice program. The program aims to teach the career-oriented students to develop critical thinking, effective communication, and work ethics in their personalities.
Requirements to become an FBI Agent? 1 The candidate must be a US citizen 2 He/she must be a bachelor’s degree holder. Post-college work experience can be a great plus for the aspiring candidate. 3 The candidate must be able to clear top-secret security clearance. This is to ensure that the candidate will not share the secrets of agency and national security with unauthorized people 4 The candidate must be able to clear to the drug test. 5 The candidate will also have to take a medical certificate from the agency’s chief medical officer. This certificate is to ensure that the candidate is in a position to withstand the challenging physical routine during the job.
I’m sure you must be aware of what is FBI but to recall, the FBI stands for the Federal Bureau of investigation. It is an agency that is primarily responsible for protecting the US homeland from any threat to its existence, boundaries, and people.
One thing that aspires many people to join the FBI is the variations is the Job nature of the FBI agents, for example, your one posting might be very peaceful in which you have to go through documents and proofread them. In contrast, the other posting might demand you to deal with hardcore criminals. This diversity like job compels many young ...
The most common title at the FBI is special agent, and these experts work hard to investigate crimes and enforce laws at the federal level.
Cybercrime is so common across the globe that it has become a $600 billion industry. As people and company’s struggle to stay ahead, the cat-and-mouse game continues. As an FBI agent specializing in cybercrimes, you discourage such crimes by bringing the ones who commit them to justice.
As technology continues to advance, more people than ever use computer systems and servers to store and retrieve data. Agents at the FBI must also use technology during their daily obligations, so knowing how to use computer systems and servers is vital.
Rather than covering criminal investigations or red tape, this program shows you how to respond to different emergencies. If there is an active shooter or another emergency on federal property, you will learn how to secure the area and approach the situation in a way that minimizes the number of injuries or deaths.
Credit card theft, money laundering and embezzlement are among the crimes you can investigate with a degree in forensic accounting. In simple terms, you will play a vital role in bringing the perpetrators of fraud to justice. If you choose this career path, get ready to investigate financial crimes and provide the court with enough evidence to prepare a solid case. You will also go to court to testify about your findings and the conclusions you reached during your investigation.
A degree in finance is another thing that can help you reach your goal of becoming an FBI agent. All organizations have a budget and need to stay on track so that they don’t go under, and the FBI is no different. A degree in finance allows you to handle the financial aspects of each field operation your division handles. You learn to anticipate and justify spending, but you also discover how to keep accurate records. Having a degree in this field makes you a valuable asset and lets you serve a central role in the enforcement of federal crimes.
1. Criminal Justice. When it comes to those working at the FBI, the most common degree is a bachelor’s in criminal justice.
When you complete BFTC training, you're officially part of the FBI. New agents are assigned to a field office within the United States or sometimes overseas. About half of the new recruits who request a specific field office are granted their first choice. Once you move to your new location, you can begin work as an FBI agent in the field.
To begin the application process to become an FBI agent, you'll need to submit a federal resume and a college transcript. You can contact a recruiter at a local FBI field office or use an online portal through the official FBI website.
Once you pass the physical fitness test, you'll receive a conditional appointment offer that you have to officially accept. You have a week to make a final decision and submit your acceptance form.
A degree can help you improve reading, writing and research skills as well as a strong foundation in critical thinking, which is necessary for FBI agents.
It’s so important to speak with recruiters first. This is a great way to get firsthand knowledge about what degrees are required. A recruiter may have information about the most applicable programs at a particular university or college.
It takes hard work, dedication, diligence and commitment. The first step to becoming a special agent with the FBI is getting the right college degree.
Getting to Quantico is a long and arduous process. It takes hard work, dedication, diligence and commitment. The first step to becoming a special agent with the FBI is getting the right college degree.
There are four basic divisions within the FBI. The divisions listed below also have a variety of different mission-essential positions to fill. Before choosing a degree, it’s important to decide what type of special agent one wishes to become. This will help narrow down the career field options.
There are quite a few FBI agents who have degrees in criminology and criminal justice, but most agents have a background in finance and accounting. In fact, very few positions at the FBI have a need for actual criminal justice graduates. Since the FBI has a particular interest in federal crimes, there is very little traditional police work involved.
In fact, very few positions at the FBI have a need for actual criminal justice graduates. Since the FBI has a particular interest in federal crimes, there is very little traditional police work involved.
A public safety administration degree prepares students for a career in the FBI working in administration positions or working with analysts in relation to public safety. The degree program teaches students about risk management, public policy, and strategic planning as it applies to populations and groups.
A major in law benefits students who want to work in the FBI because it prepares you to work with criminal profilers or violent crime analysts.
In the FBI, you can apply your degree in forensic accounting to criminal investigation careers. The FBI hires forensic accountants to identify finance crimes as well as to prosecute on the crimes.
1. Criminal Justice. When you are looking for the best majors for FBI special agents, you may consider a criminal justice degree . A degree in criminal justice teaches you the basics you need to understand the processes associated with prosecution and conviction of a crime.
The standards set for FBI agents depends on the role you intend to play within the FBI and the type of work you want to focus on for your career – that is, where you will fit in what the FBI does. An FBI agent needs to develop strong communication skills and good judgment.
Forensic science seems like an obvious choice for the FBI. The degree program teaches you how to examine evidence without contaminating the evidence or the crime scene. It also teaches you to administer tests on the evidence and interpret the data from the test. You are then taught how to put the data into a concise and clear report for prosecutors or other professionals in law enforcement.
Forensic science is a useful degree for an FBI agent because it allows you to work as a field agent and gather evidence when a crime occurs. It also allows you to work in a lab to analyze data or to work directly with a prosecutor to present data in a court.
TEVOC instructors constantly remind students of safety measures. The program teaches that there are no accidents, just crashes. It puts full responsibility in the hands of the driver and emphasizes that it is every driver’s duty to be aware of themselves and others while on the road.
It includes a high-speed 1.1-mile oval road track; a precision obstacle course to teach such skills as evasive lane changes, backing up, and emergency breaking; and a skid pan or pad where students learn counter-steering techniques. Originally designed to improve the skills of our surveillance personnel, the TEVOC program was relocated from New York to Quantico in 1994.
The program. TEVOC teaches agents, appropriate professional support employees, and Bureau partners, including DEA and other government and military personnel, how to drive safely and effectively—both to track and catch criminals and terrorists and avoid getting harmed by them.
Driving Skills (TEVOC) An FBI agent is driving down a lonely stretch of road when suddenly a car comes out of nowhere and slams into the agent’s side door. The agent accelerates, but the other car catches up. Then, the driver of the other car rolls down his window, pulls out a gun, and fires at the agent. Tires squeal….
The BFTC was developed by the Training Division to meet the Bureau’s ambitious goal of training new agent and intelligence analyst candidates in a way that will prepare them for their collaborative work in the field. Previously, NATs and NIATs had completely separate training.
Firearms, which trains new agents to discharge all Bureau-issued weapons in a safe and effective manner; Hogan’s Alley , a training complex simulating a small town where FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) new agent trainees learn investigative techniques, firearms skills, and defensive tactics.
In addition to FBI special agents and intelligence analysts, the Training Division offers a wealth of training opportunities in support of the Bureau's mission to provide leadership and criminal justice services to federal, state, municipal, and international agencies and partners.
FBI hopefuls who are planning to enter the bureau as employees must demonstrate work experience that pertains to the particular area of investigation or casework that they are planning to pursue within the bureau.
This is known as the diversified entry program, and it is built on the understanding that skilled agents may come from a variety of backgrounds and fields of study, and that even those who did not pursue traditional law enforcement degrees during their undergraduate years may become valuable agents.
A law degree means that the agent is well-versed in what types of potential corruption or federal offenses may be committed. It also means that agents are also aware of the statutes of limitations as it pertains to their own department's ability to extract information from parties of interest.
Agents who majored in a foreign language or multiple foreign languages may be extremely useful to the FBI in gathering intelligence, running counterintelligence operations or acting as agents placed in other nations in order to conduct surveillance on behalf of the United States. Agents must demonstrate fluency in this foreign language prior ...
The process of becoming an FBI agent i s typically something that hopeful agents undergo after they have already graduated from a four-year college, and most agents who begin training with the FBI have completed at least three or four years of work experience in their particular field.
As FBI agents move up through the ranks of their specific discipline, they achieve additional training and additional security clearance. The longer an agent has spent with the bureau, the higher his or her security clearance. As agents' training and education in their particular field increases, they have the opportunity to take control ...
There is no single degree that a trainee needs to successfully apply to the FBI. With very few exceptions, any four-year degree from an accredited college will be considered as long as the applicant has the kind of work experience required to apply for any open positions.