Top 15 Best FBI Colleges in USA to Become an FBI Agent (2023)

FAQs

What college degrees does the FBI look for? ›

All FBI agents must hold a bachelor's degree at minimum, and many possess a master's degree or higher. FBI agents often earn degrees in fields such as criminal justice or political science, though the Bureau does not maintain any specific academic major requirements for applicants.

For the special agent process, we require a college degree, but also a minimum of three years of continuous work experience before being able to apply to the FBI. There are caveats to that. If you obtain an advanced degree, you can lower the number of continuous work experience years from three down to two.

How Does the FBI Hire Agents? The FBI accepts fewer than 20% of applicants, making jobs within the bureau highly competitive.

Becoming an FBI Agent is a tremendously difficult and competitive process. It takes years of time, planning, and hard work to mold yourself into the kind of candidate the FBI is looking to hire. It's not going to happen overnight, and the hiring process itself can take a year or longer.

You do not have to be a lawyer or have a law degree to become an FBI special agent. The bureau does recruit lawyers as special agents and it uses attorneys and other legal professionals in a variety of other roles.

FBI Agent Training at Quantico

Before beginning field work, FBI agents must pass through New Agent Training at the FBI Academy. This approximately 20-week course is one of the most difficult training programs law enforcement officials will ever go through, and it will test both physical and mental limits.

Depending on their case assignments, FBI agents may work a very strenuous and variable schedule. The FBI says that special agents must "work a minimum of 50 hours a week (which may include irregular hours) and be on call 24/7, including holidays and weekends." They are on call for possible assignment 24 hours a day.

All special agents begin their career at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, for 20 weeks of intensive training at one of the world's finest law enforcement training facilities. During their time there, trainees live on campus and participate in a variety of training activities.

Do FBI agents have a uniform? They frequently wear suits and ties for the majority of their work. They may be dressed casually while making arrests or conducting surveillance. When performing undercover operations, they dress appropriately for the position they are portraying.

Must be clean-shaven throughout training. Hair must be of reasonable length without faddish or exaggerated style or color. Men's hair must not be longer than the bottom of the collar, without adornment such as buns, ponytails or braids.

Are FBI agents allowed to tell family? ›

No. Such information is protected from public disclosure, in accordance with current law and Department of Justice and FBI policy.

Students must have and maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) throughout the application process (or, for collegiate hires, through graduation). Honors interns must maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout the program.

Pros of being an FBI agent

FBI agents typically earn a decent salary and receive a good benefits package. The average salary for a special agent is $71,665 per year . In addition, special agents receive health insurance, long-term care coverage, group life insurance, retirement savings and investment plans.

The Special Agent Selection System (SASS) is a multi-step process designed to hire individuals who can help to make a difference in this job. The SASS typically takes one year to complete, often longer.

You must be at least 23 years old at the time of your appointment. You must also be younger than 37, unless you qualify for an age waiver available to veterans.

Phase I and Phase II Writing Assessment — Wear casual, comfortable clothing that is suitable for an office environment. Phase II Structured Interview — Dress in a professional manner; business attire is recommended.

You will be contacted to schedule an interview. Specialized career paths may require additional assessments. After passing interviews and applicable assessments, you will receive a conditional offer for FBI employment. You will complete a BI, including a polygraph, to receive an FBI Top Secret Security Clearance.

While the FBI marriage rules do not prohibit FBI agents from marring foreign nationals, it may affect their security clearance eligibility, preventing agents from performing specific responsibilities.

Agents carry Bureau-issued or approved handguns and may be issued additional equipment as needed. Those in specialized areas like the Hostage Rescue Teams may also be issued weapons that fit their duties.

Just getting accepted as a new agent is difficult; only 6 percent of applicants are accepted for basic training, which typically lasts about 20 weeks. The tactical training includes scenarios at Hogan's Alley, a mock town at the academy.

Can you fail out of the FBI Academy? ›

Yes, you can. You can fail out of the Academy and you can fail out two ways. Let me say, that's probably the hardest part of our job is dismissing a student, and not because we're dismissing them.

With additional internal approvals, FBI agents can access not just public-facing social media but also private groups and chat rooms.

Our agents enforce many different federal laws and perform various roles in the Bureau, so there really is no such thing as a “typical day” for an FBI agent. Agents in our field offices, for example, could be testifying in federal court one day and executing a search warrant and gathering evidence the next.

Employer Summary

FBI employees receive annual paid leave, as well as federal holidays off.

FBI agents work all over the country and, in some cases, all over the world. While you'll start in the same place as just about everyone else, in Quantico, Virginia, the FBI frequently ends up sending you where it needs you.

'FBI': Shantel VanSanten to Recur as New Team Member Nina Chase | TVLine.

Salary and Compensation: New Special Agents, called New Agent Trainees or NATs, are paid on the GL schedule for Federal Law Enforcement Officers (LEO), beginning as a GL-10, step 1, while in training at Quantico.

Can FBI Agents Have Beards? General FBI grooming and hygiene standards are codified, unless otherwise as specified for a duty or position, post-training, as: Clean shaven through training, clean mustaches permitted afterwards. Jewelry and piercings must be small, simple, and not pose a safety risk.

One of the qualifications FBI agents must have is good vision, although it accepts those who correct poor eyesight with glasses, contact lenses or laser surgery.

Special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) carry official badges that identify them as working for the organization.

What is FBI motto? ›

As in the American flag, the red bars exceed the white by one. The motto, “ Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity,” succinctly describes the motivating force behind the men and women of the FBI (see below).

FBI agents say the job is often exciting, and working on such significant, challenging issues is very rewarding. One of the most significant downsides of working as an FBI agent is so many additional work hours in sometimes very challenging situations.

The investigations will inevitably be conducted by a majority White workforce – 74% of FBI employees are White, according to the Office of Personnel Management. And just 4.7% of the roughly 13,500 special agents at the FBI identify as Black or African American, the agency says.

Yes. You can become an FBI agent if you have no prior law enforcement experience. One path to becoming a federal agent is through a four-year degree in one of the appropriate fields relating to the job being applied for and three years of relevant work experience.

The FBI has over 19,000 employees. About 7,800 of these are Special Agents.

The investigation includes a security interview; polygraph examination; drug test; fingerprint, credit, and records checks; and extensive interviews with former and current colleagues, neighbors, friends, professors, etc.

Becoming an FBI agent is a tremendously difficult and competitive process. It takes years of time, planning, and hard work to mold yourself into the kind of candidate the FBI is looking to hire, and the hiring process itself can take a year or longer.

For more than seven decades, the FBI has stationed special agents and other personnel overseas to help protect Americans back home by building relationships with principal law enforcement, intelligence, and security services around the globe that help ensure a prompt and continuous exchange of information.

How fast do FBI agents get promoted? ›

Agents start at 10, but promotions are fairly regular to GS-13. You're eligible for non-competitive promotion to 11 after successfully completing the 2-yr probationary period. It's 1 more year to 12, and then 2 years to 13.

If you fail the FBI polygraph, you'll be barred for life from FBI employment.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) scored higher in 6 areas: Culture & Values, Work-life balance, Career Opportunities, CEO Approval, Recommend to a friend and Positive Business Outlook.

The Collegiate Hiring Initiative is the FBI's full-time, entry-level hiring program. You are eligible to participate in this program if you are a graduating senior or have received an undergraduate, graduate or PhD degree. For the 2021 Collegiate Hiring Initiative, students must graduate by June 2021.

Hold a bachelor's degree. Have two years of full-time work experience, or one year plus a master's degree. Meet the special agent physical fitness requirements. Have a valid driver's license and at least six months of driving experience.

In its "Special Agents" career profile, the Federal Bureau of Investigation website doesn't indicate any height requirements for agents. Agents do have to meet a number of physical and medical requirements, given the physically demanding aspects of the job.

Becoming an FBI agent is a tremendously difficult and competitive process. It takes years of time, planning, and hard work to mold yourself into the kind of candidate the FBI is looking to hire, and the hiring process itself can take a year or longer.

All special agents begin their career at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, for 20 weeks of intensive training at one of the world's finest law enforcement training facilities. During their time there, trainees live on campus and participate in a variety of training activities.

No. Such information is protected from public disclosure, in accordance with current law and Department of Justice and FBI policy.

How old is the youngest FBI agent? ›

You must be at least 23 years old at the time of your appointment. You must also be younger than 37, unless you qualify for an age waiver available to veterans.

Depending on their case assignments, FBI agents may work a very strenuous and variable schedule. The FBI says that special agents must "work a minimum of 50 hours a week (which may include irregular hours) and be on call 24/7, including holidays and weekends." They are on call for possible assignment 24 hours a day.

FBI training is extremely mentally challenging but still requires a physical need as well. Ultimately, I found it to be in excellent physical and mental shape before taking on either.

Do FBI agents have a uniform? They frequently wear suits and ties for the majority of their work. They may be dressed casually while making arrests or conducting surveillance. When performing undercover operations, they dress appropriately for the position they are portraying.

Similarly, you should understand the true career path of an FBI special agent; many new special agents routinely quit within the first 2-5 years due to an unrealistic expectation of the organization (fostered by years hollywood fiction).

While the FBI marriage rules do not prohibit FBI agents from marring foreign nationals, it may affect their security clearance eligibility, preventing agents from performing specific responsibilities.

Under Public Law 108-458, the FBI may raise its mandatory retirement age to 65 for up to 50 employees per year. Note: Positions affected by a mandatory retirement requirement typically have a maximum entry age of 37 so that the person can work for 20 years before retirement at 57.

There are no weight limits, but agents have to achieve certain requirements in four different exercises depending on their age and gender. The threshold to pass is not nearly as high as it is for military commandos or hostage rescue-team members.