# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is tasked with keeping the country safe and upholding the United States Constitution. This is no small feat, given that communities across the nation are vulnerable to a variety of threats every day.

While the FBI hires many kinds of professionals, the most well-known position at the agency is that of a special agent. Special agents work in a variety of areas, including cybercrime, public corruption, civil rights, counterintelligence and more. If a career along these lines interests you, consider applying to the FBI.

Eligibility Requirements

The first thing for every FBI applicant to research is the basic eligibility requirements. Candidates for any position in the FBI must be United States citizens who are in compliance with the agency's drug policy and can obtain a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartment Information (TS/SCI) clearance.

In addition, those who apply for the special agent position must meet the following eligibility criteria at the time of their application: ¹

Be between 23 and 36 years of age

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 requirements²

Have a valid driver's license and at least six months of driving experience

Furthermore, aspiring special agents are required to travel to one of the FBI's 56 field offices several times during the application process. Applicants are responsible for their own travel arrangements and accommodations, which are not provided by the agency.

Automatic Disqualifiers for Becoming an FBI Agent

In addition to the eligibility requirements, there are automatic disqualifiers that prevent people from even applying to the FBI. For example, you are automatically disqualified if you are not a United States citizen or if you have ever been convicted of a felony or domestic violence misdemeanor.

You are also automatically disqualified if you have ever: ³

Committed knowing or willful acts or activities intended to overthrow the United States government by force

Defaulted on a United States government-backed student loan

Violated the FBI's drug policy

Failed a urinalysis drug test administered by the FBI

Failed to pay court-ordered child support

Failed to file local, state or federal income tax returns

For males only: failed to register with the Selective Service (unless exempted)

What Steps Do I Need to Take to Become an FBI Agent?

Of the many steps to becoming an FBI agent, most come from the eligibility requirements and the application process. Aspiring special agents need to follow all the required steps to ensure success in their career endeavors.

Earning a Degree

While 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.

After College

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. While 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.

The Special Agent Application Process

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

After Submitting the Special Agent Application

Once you submit your application, multiple steps remain 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 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.

How Much Do FBI Agents Make?

Since FBI special agents are employed by the government, they are subject to governmental pay scales based on locality. ⁶ A new FBI agent earns a salary at the GL-10 special base rate for law enforcement officers' pay grade. Those without prior work experience in the government will be at the GL-10, step 1 pay level.

While working through the Basic Field Training Course (BFTC), agent trainees earn at this pay level and also receive locality pay and availability pay. The same applies to special agents who have graduated from the BFTC and been assigned to their first field office. Locality pay is adjusted according to the agent's geographical location. ⁷
If you're passionate about protecting your country and joining the FBI, Grand Canyon University is pleased to offer a variety of degrees that can help you reach your goal, including the Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies. Click on Request Info above to begin your academic journey at GCU.
Retrieved from:

¹ Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI Jobs, Eligibility in April 2021.

² Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI Jobs, Physical Requirements in April 2021

³ Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI Jobs, Employment Eligibility in April 2021

⁴ Federal Bureau of Investigation, Working at the FBI, How to Apply in April 2021

⁵ Federal Bureau of Investigation, Special Agent Selection Process-All You Need to Know to Apply in April 2021

⁶ The United States Office of Personnel Management, Policy, Data, Oversight-Pay and Leave in April 2021

⁷ Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI Jobs, FAQS in April 2021

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is tasked with keeping the country safe and upholding the United States Constitution. This is no small feat, given that communities across the nation are vulnerable to a variety of threats every day. While the FBI hires many kinds of professionals, the most well-known position at the agency is that of a special agent.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
FBI Academy in Stafford, VA - Certifications, Cost, and Reviews | Indeed.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Explore courses and certifications offered by FBI Academy in Stafford, VA. Check reviews from users who completed their course at FBI Academy and learn about the course fee, course duration and much more.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Top 15 Best FBI Colleges in USA to Become an FBI Agent

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Top 15 Best FBI Colleges in America to Become an FBI Agent To become an FBI agent is a dream and career goal for many, but How To Become An FBI Agent? Well, we are going to discuss that in detail along with that, other useful information about the best colleges for FBI or educational […]

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The CBI Investigations section is committed to providing the highest quality service to assist law enforcement throughout the state. Agents are frequently requested by local agencies for assistance on active investigations such as homicides, financial crimes, sexual assaults and other crimes.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When considering a career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or other law enforcement agency, it is beneficial to understand the potential hazards and disadvantages that one may encounter on the job and throughout a career. This information can help you make a fairly well-informed decision about applying to the FBI.

Dangerous Work

One of the first hazards to consider when contemplating an FBI career is the inherent danger of the work you may do. FBI agents are well trained and carry firearms, but they are also put in harm's way whenever they are investigating crimes. An FBI agent may be shot at, and encounter other life-threatening situations. Additionally, an FBI agent's family may be placed in harm's way if a criminal or terrorist decides to target the agent personally.

Stress and Health Problems

Due to the nature of the work, and the general high-stress that goes with being in law enforcement, FBI agents may experience stress-related health issues such as depression, anxiety, heart problems, digestive problems, chronic pain, sleep difficulties and poor nutrition.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), police officers and detectives have one of the highest rates of on-the-job injury and illness.

FBI and Family Life

A career with the FBI can have a profound effect on family life. The dangers an FBI agent faces on the job may be a constant source of anxiety for a spouse or partner, children and family. Long hours and little down time can also take a toll on family relations.

Government Job

Although working for a government agency such as the FBI can provide many benefits, there may be some disadvantages. Officers may have to adjust to changes in the government policies and and funding. Changes in the needs of the government can result in agents being transferred, and not always to a desirable location. This could place additional strain on a a family.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What Are the Hazards or Disadvantages of an FBI Agent?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When considering a career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or other law enforcement agency, it is beneficial to understand the potential hazards and disadvantages that one may encounter on the job and throughout a career. This information can help you make a fairly well-informed decision about applying to the FBI.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The FBI Academy, dedicated to being the world's premier law enforcement learning and research center and an advocate for law enforcement's best practices worldwide, is operated by the Bureau's Training Division. Situated on 547 acres within the immense Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia, the FBI Academy is just one of many facets of the Training Division, whose work reaches far beyond the confines of the campus grounds.

Overview

Located about 36 miles outside Washington, D.C., the Academy is a full-service national training facility-with conference rooms and classrooms, dorms, firing ranges, a gym and pool, a library, a dining hall, and even a mock town.
While new agents are typically synonymous with the FBI Academy, the Training Division instructs many diverse groups of people, including:

Special agents

Intelligence analysts

Professional staff

Law enforcement officers

Foreign partners

Private sector

*The Academy offers many training programs, including:

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. Hogan's Alley also houses functioning classrooms, administrative and maintenance areas, and audiovisual facilities;

Tactical and Emergency Vehicle Operations Center (TEVOC), which teaches safe, efficient driving techniques to FBI and DEA personnel and other government and military personnel;

Survival Skills, a program that gives new agents and law enforcement officers the skills and mindset required to identify and handle critical situations in high-risk environments;

Law Enforcement Executive Development, which includes the Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminars (LEEDS) designed for chief executive officers of the nation's mid-sized law enforcement agencies.

The Academy also houses the FBI Library that maintains complete and up-to-date law enforcement information from around the world and offers a variety of audiovisual materials, legal publications, government documents, periodicals, and online resources.

*All training programs are contingent upon Congressional funding.

Training Programs

Basic Field Training Course

New Agent Trainees (NATs) and New Intelligence Analyst Trainees (NIATs) begin their training at the FBI Academy in the Basic Field Training Course (BFTC), which features an expansive integrated curriculum.

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. The BFTC replaced these two distinctly separate programs with an integrated, collaborative course that uses a dedicated field office team approach mirroring the environment that agents and analysts will experience in their field assignments.

The first BFTC NAT class began on April 19th, 2015-exactly 20 years after the Oklahoma City bombing rocked our nation-and graduated on September 11, 2015-14 years after the 9/11 attacks which changed our nation's landscape and the FBI's mission. The first NIAT graduation was held in late 2015.

The BFTC provides the building blocks to help agents and analysts accomplish our mission as a national security and law enforcement organization that uses, collects, and shares intelligence in everything we do.

While the BFTC integrates agent and analyst candidates where appropriate, the course also preserves the positive aspects, traditions, and specialized skills of each individual role. More information on the individual portions of NAT and NIAT training can be found below.

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...

Yes, it's really happening-just not in a Hollywood movie or on the streets of America. This scenario is taking place at Quantico, Virginia at our Tactical and Emergency Vehicle Operations Center, or TEVOC. The bullets are actually paint balls, and the car chasing our agent is driven by an FBI instructor.
The program The complex
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. The training prepares drivers to handle an array of dangerous situations, from maneuvering out of a common rear-end spinout to more dangerous techniques such as how to ram a threatening vehicle. Our instructors use real-life situation exercises that give drivers only seconds to recognize danger and react accordingly. TEVOC continually works to improve and update its programs-the latest initiative involves off-road situations and techniques.
Specific training for specific needs
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.
Safety is paramount
A range of FBI and government personnel sent overseas-including Bureau executives, Legal Attachés, members of protective details, and others in key positions-receive more intensive training at TEVOC. It includes advanced counter-terrorism techniques such as attack recognition and avoidance. In addition, program managers from TEVOC and Law Enforcement Training for Safety and Survival (LETSS) created a new curriculum that integrates survival training and driving techniques for Joint Terrorism Task Forces and specialty Bureau teams.

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.

Firearms

In 1934-a year after the Kansas City Massacre that left four law enforcement officers dead, including a Bureau agent-Congress gave FBI agents the authority to carry firearms.

In response, the FBI began a robust firearms training program, which has continuously grown and evolved through the years in order to keep pace with technology and best prepare agents and FBI police officers for the increasing dangers and threats they face while carrying out their assignments, domestically and internationally.

The mission of our Firearms Training Unit is to develop and deliver a comprehensive and consistent firearms training curriculum that provides new agent trainees, special agents, and police officers the skills needed to safely and effectively use firearms, if necessary, while performing their duties.

Our experienced firearms training instructors assigned to the Training Division also offer certification and recertification training to all FBI firearms instructors who provide training to agents in the field and in support of our state and local law enforcement partners.

Law Enforcement Executive Development

The Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar, or LEEDS, was conceived for chief executive officers of the nation's mid-sized law enforcement agencies. Begun in 1981, the seminar has graduated more than 1,300 executives.

Designed for executive officers, this seminar enables participants to reflect upon and regroup for the next stage of their careers. Executives are provided with instruction and facilitation in the areas of leadership, strategic planning, legal issues, labor relations, media relations, social issues, and police programs. The environment of the seminar is conducive to independent thought and study. Participants have the opportunity to exchange plans, problems, and solutions with their peers; to develop new thoughts and ideas; and to share successes of their own communities. The interaction among the executives is worthwhile for them as well-some of the most productive learning takes place outside of the classroom during informal interactions.
How to Apply
Law enforcement executives interested in applying for LEEDS should contact the police training coordinator in their local FBI field office.
For Graduates

Most of the graduates of LEEDS become members of the non-profit FBI-Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (FBI-LEEDA) and continue attending annual training conferences to further their education.

National Executive Institute
In August 1975, FBI Director Clarence Kelley tasked the Management Science Unit of the FBI Academy to develop a proposal for a law enforcement executive training program. The resultant proposal was presented to the Major Cities Chiefs (MCC) at their meeting in Denver, Colorado during the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) conference the following month. The MCC overwhelmingly endorsed the proposal, requesting that they be allowed to further analyze and comment upon its scope and format. Kelley assented to their request.

Topical areas selected for the program included: national and international political, economic, and social trends affecting the policing function; ethics and integrity; the effects of affirmative action on hiring and promotional policies; media relations; labor relations; the future structure of police organizations; financing of police operations; training and legal issues; labor relations; and the impact of criminal activity on policing.

In addition to commissioners, chiefs, and sheriffs from many major jurisdictions, two assistant directors of the FBI-Robert E. Gebhardt of the Los Angeles Field Division and J. Wallace LaPrade of the New York Field Division-were extended invitations. FBI Training Division staff assigned to the program to facilitate and develop it also attended all cycles, and so the precedent was established with Session One of the National Executive Institute (NEI) to include Academy staff graduates as well as regular graduates who were selected and invited by virtue of their position and responsibilities as the senior executives of major law enforcement organizations.

Subsequent sessions of the NEI would see it expanded to include international colleagues, sheriffs from the largest general law enforcement service sheriffs' departments, heads of state police organizations, chiefs of other law enforcement agencies, and our other federal and military partners. Each session of the NEI has three one-week cycles, usually held in March, June, and September.

Nominations for new participants are solicited annually by the Training Division through our local FBI offices and legal attaché offices (legats). Domestically, these usually include the chief executive officers of full-service law enforcement agencies which are the primary providers of law enforcement services to a population of 250,000 or greater and have a complement of at least 500 sworn law enforcement officers. U.S. participants from non-MCC agencies are considered as space permits. Nominees from legats are chosen law enforcement executives who meet the NEI selection criteria and who will contribute to NEI concerning their country's contemporary law enforcement challenges. FBI field division heads are nominated and approved by FBI Headquarters to increase and enhance liaison with their local law enforcement partners. Our federal partner nominees are recommended directly by the respective federal agency.

The NEI has been variously described as the "Director's own program" and as the crown jewel of the FBI's executive training initiatives.

Who We Train

Law Enforcement

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. Training coordinators are available in each field office to help develop solutions to our partners' training needs. Below is a list of formal training opportunities open to law enforcement. If interested, please contact the training coordinator at the FBI field office nearest you. International law enforcement agencies should contact their closest FBI legal attaché office.

Leadership Training

National Academy: A professional course of study for leaders and managers of state and local police, sheriffs' departments, military police organizations, and federal law enforcement agencies from the U.S. and more than 150 partner nations. Participation is by invitation only through a nomination process. During each session, approximately 250 students take undergraduate or graduate courses in the following areas: behavioral science, forensic science, terrorism, leadership development, communications, and health and fitness.

National Executive Institute (NEI): Described as the "Director's own program" and the crown jewel of the FBI's executive training initiatives, the NEI was established in August 1975 when FBI Director Clarence Kelley tasked the FBI Academy with developing a proposal for a law enforcement executive training program. Topical areas selected for the program, which now trains domestic and international law enforcement leaders, included: national and international political, economic, and social trends affecting the policing function; ethics and integrity; the effects of affirmative action on hiring and promotional policies; media relations; labor relations; the future structure of police organizations; financing of police operations; training and legal issues; and the impact of criminal activity on policing. Nominations for new participants are solicited annually by the Training Division through our local FBI offices and overseas legal attaché offices.

Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminars (LEEDS): A two-week program designed for chief executive officers of the nation's mid-sized law enforcement agencies-those having between 50 and 499 sworn officers and serving a population of 50,000 or more. Executives are provided instruction and facilitation in the areas of leadership, strategic planning, legal issues, labor relations, media relations, social issues, and police programs. Participants have the opportunity to exchange plans, problems, and solutions with their peers, develop new thoughts and ideas, and share successes.

Law Enforcement Instructor School (LEIS): An intense 40-hour practical, skill-oriented course designed to provide fundamentals in adult instruction and curriculum design. State and local law enforcement attendees participants learn and practice a variety of teaching strategies to deliver effective instruction. Participants incorporate different instructional methodologies for effective delivery to a variety of audiences in different learning environments, and engage in public speaking exercises to hone their presentation skills. The LEIS has been aligned to meet POST (Police Officer Standards and Training) Commission instructor certification requirements in many states throughout the U.S.

Leadership Fellows Program: Through this program, senior police managers and executives from around the world are offered the opportunity to enhance their leadership skills by teaching, networking with staff and students, addressing leadership issues in their sponsoring agencies, attending a variety of courses, and developing a blueprint for personal growth. The first six months of the program is in full residency where fellows work closely with Center for Police Leadership & Ethics (CPLE) instructors to develop and instruct leadership curricula, address challenges or prospective issues in their host agencies having a beneficial impact upon their return, and attend leadership development courses in accordance with their individual development plans. The second six months consists of fellows continuing to support the CPLE instructional mission domestically and internationally while serving as adjunct instructors and providing instruction in accordance with CPLE needs.

Other Training Opportunities

Active Shooter Program: After the Newtown shooting in December 2012, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI were specifically tasked by a White House working group with training law enforcement and other first responders to ensure that protocols for responding to active shooter initiatives are consistent across the country. With DOJ and its Bureau of Justice Assistance, we work with the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) program for first-responding officers. ALERRT has trained more than 114,000 law enforcement first responders, and FBI tactical instructors are cross-trained as ALERRT instructors to assist with ALERRT training throughout the nation. FBI field offices also host two-day active shooter conferences with senior state, local, tribal, and campus law enforcement executives. These conferences are followed by tabletop exercises with other first responders.

Firearms Training: The Training Division delivers a comprehensive and consistent firearms training curriculum that provides new agent trainees, special agents, and police officers the skills needed to safely and effectively use firearms, if necessary, while performing their duties. The experienced firearms training instructors assigned to the division also offer certification and recertification training to all FBI firearms instructors who provide training to agents in the field and support our state and local law enforcement partners.

Virtual Academy for Law Enforcement: A web-based means of accessing and acquiring the essential knowledge, skills, and competencies (through relevant and consistent training and materials) needed to support the worldwide criminal justice community. Thousands of training topics are available through the Virtual Academy; all that is required to access them is agency registration on the Virtual Academy website.

Professional Staff

Education and training are part of every FBI employee's career development, and employees have access to a variety of in-house and external training and educational opportunities provided by professional organizations, private sector vendors, academic institutions, and other government agencies.

All new employees attend a basic orientation course called "ONE"-or Onboarding New Employees-in Quantico, Virginia. And a large variety of classroom, on-the-job, and web-based training opportunities are available to professional staff members after their hiring.
*The FBI provides the following training opportunities for its professional staff:

Annual training development plans drafted by the employee and his/her manager;

University Education Program, providing employees the opportunity to obtain an academic degree and/or certification;

Government Employees' Training Act, used to fund external employee training;

Student Loan Repayment Plan, for federally-backed loans;

Virtual Academy, an online catalog of self-paced courses in a variety of topics;

On-the-job training; and

Executive Development Institute, for future executives to develop and enhance their leadership and management skills.

*Many of these opportunities are dependent on funding and must be relevant to the mission of the FBI.

International Law Enforcement

In an age where crime and terrorism know no borders, our international training initiatives are more important than ever to the FBI's work to protect the American people both here and abroad.

Specifically, these initiatives strengthen legal and police systems overseas, which means fewer attacks on the U.S. from abroad. And they build one-on-one relationships that are instrumental in helping the FBI and its international colleagues track down fugitives, share information, and turn back serious criminal and security threats in this global age.

Over the years, we've trained thousands of officers from all over the world. Here are some examples of those training initiatives:

Bilateral Training Program directly supports Legal Attaché offices' request for training of their foreign law enforcement partners in their areas of responsibilities at overseas and U.S. venues.

International Law Enforcement Academies (ILEAs) teach cutting-edge leadership and investigative techniques to international police managers through an intensive program similar to the FBI National Academy, and also provide specialized classes on everything from corruption to cyber crime. The FBI heads the facility in Budapest, Hungary, and supplies instructors to the academies in Bangkok, Thailand; Gaborone, Botswana; and San Salvador, El Salvador.

Middle Eastern Law Enforcement Training Center provides training to Dubai National Police and other officers in the region through a partnership between the government of Dubai and the FBI.

Plan Colombia/Anti-Kidnapping Initiative provides training assistance to Colombian law enforcement in their battle against illegal drug production and organized criminal groups and terrorism.

Pacific Training Initiative focuses on transnational crimes like terrorism and corruption for senior-level personnel from various agencies in the Pacific Rim and Asia.

International Counter-Proliferation Program offers counter-proliferation training to our global partners in concert with the U.S. Department of Defense.

International Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar (International LEEDS) includes courses established for the FBI's foreign law enforcement partners with limited English fluency to develop or enhance their leadership, administrative, and investigative management skills. The courses, taught at the FBI Academy, are held in the language of the attending law enforcement agency(s). Included among those sessions held at the Academy are Latin American LEEDS, Arabic Language LEEDS, Mexico LEEDS, and Brazil LEEDS.

Classrooms at ILEA Budapest are like a mini United Nations. Although the course material is presented in English, students who speak different languages wear headsets and receive simultaneous translations.

To carry out its mission, the Training Division will continue to work with other FBI operational and substantive divisions, the International Operations Division, FBI Legal Attaché offices abroad, the Department of Justice, the State Department, and U.S. embassies overseas.

FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin

Since 1935, the FBI has provided information on current law enforcement issues and research in the field to the larger policing community through the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin (LEB). The LEB solicits articles written by nationally recognized authors and experts in the criminal justice field and delivers relevant, contemporary information on a broad range of law enforcement-related topics. Its audience includes criminal justice professionals, primarily law enforcement managers, but is also widely considered a valuable training tool at all levels.

FBI Library

The FBI Library was established to provide resources for all FBI employees and students, faculty, and staff at the FBI Academy. The library collection includes books, e-books, government documents, journals, and audio/visual materials.

Contact Us
The FBI Library is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week to FBI employees and FBI Academy students.

Library staff is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST.
Phone: (703) 632-3200
E-mail: librarian@ic.fbi.gov
Fax: (703) 632-3214

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The FBI Academy, dedicated to being the world's premier law enforcement learning and research center and an advocate for law enforcement's best practices worldwide, is operated by the Bureau's Training Division. Situated on 547 acres within the immense Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia, the FBI Academy is just one of many facets of the Training Division, whose work reaches far beyond the confines of the campus grounds.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
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. Classroom hours are spent studying a wide variety of academic and investigative subjects, including the fundamentals of law, behavioral science, report writing, forensic science, and basic and advanced investigative, interviewing, and intelligence techniques. Students also learn the intricacies of counterterrorism, counterintelligence, weapons of mass destruction, cyber, and criminal investigations to prepare them for their chosen career paths. The curriculum also includes intensive training in physical fitness, defensive tactics, practical application exercises, and the use of firearms. For more information, see our New Agent Training webpage. Over the course of their career, agents are also updated on the latest developments in the intelligence and law enforcement communities through additional training opportunities.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What kind of training does an agent go through? | Federal Bureau of Investigation

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
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.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Working as an agent for the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation is a highly skilled position that requires physical endurance, mental acuity and strong logical reasoning skills. In order to pursue a career as an FBI agent, you must meet certain federal requirements, then complete a series of screenings, tests and training. In this article, we explain what an FBI agent does on the job, the requirements you need to become one and the training involved with earning a position as an agent.

What does an FBI agent do?

An FBI agent is responsible for gathering intelligence and enforcing the laws of the United States to protect the nation's citizens and property against internal and external criminal activity. They work in many capacities all over the world, where they conduct investigations and sometimes act as law enforcement to uphold federal statutes. As an agent of the FBI, it is difficult to summarize any routine daily duties, but regardless of your niche as an agent, you should be willing to do any of the following as part of your regular job:

Be willing to travel or relocate

Carry a firearm and be willing to use deadly force

Work a 50-hour week and always be on-call

Be willing to testify in court

Enforce the law with compassion

Read more: Complete Guide to FBI Agent Training Requirements

Requirements to work for the FBI

To work for the FBI, you must complete an arduous and competitive process where only a small percentage of applicants actually become FBI agents. Regardless of your specialized field of focus, to be an FBI agent in any capacity, you must meet these requirements:

Be a US citizen

Be 23- to 36-years old (special age waivers may apply to veterans)

Pass a drug test and extensive background check

Be in good economic standing

Maintain peak physical fitness and be in excellent health

Have a bachelor's degree

Have a valid driver's license and six months of driving experience

Have two years of full-time work experience

Pass the FBI physical fitness test, which consists of a 300-meter sprint, pushups and a 1.5-mile run

How do you become an FBI agent?

Assuming you are already a college graduate and physically fit, you must get through the following steps to become an FBI agent:

Begin the application process. Your first step is to submit a federal resume and college transcript to a recruiter at a local FBI field office or the official FBI website.

Pass phase one and two testing. There are two tests you must pass to further in the selection process-the first in logic, reasoning and judgment and the second consisting of written research reports and a panel interview with three special agents. Official practice tests with sample questions and answers are available on the FBI's website.

Pass the physical fitness test (PFT). Passing the PFT requires exceptional physical fitness, so training should begin by the onset of the application process. The FBI offers an app called "Fit Test" to help agent trainees prepare for this rigorous test.

Receive a conditional appointment offer. Once you pass the physical fitness test, you'll be extended a conditional appointment offer of unemployment, at which point you'll have one week to submit your acceptance.

Pass a background check. This extensive background test required to gain top secret clearance will include drug testing, medical testing, polygraph testing and interviews with friends and family. This process can take up to 18 months.

Complete the Basic Field Training Course (BFTC) training at the FBI Academy. This is the final phase of the application for FBI agents. All prospective agents must pass 20 weeks of intensive training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Accept an assignment to an FBI field office. New agents need to be willing to relocate to the field office where they're assigned-either within the United States or overseas.

Related: Government Jobs Explained (And Rewarding Roles To Consider)

What is the training process for an FBI agent?

To train as an FBI agent, you must first pass a rigorous nine-phase application process. The final phase of your application process (the Special Agent Selection Process) is the 20-week Basic Field Training Course (BFTC) at the FBI academy. Here is an overview of the training you'll receive as a new agent recruit:

Academic training

In order to prepare trainees for intelligence reporting and research, BFTC students learn the fundamentals in law, ethics, behavioral science, interviewing, report writing, investigative and intelligence techniques, interrogation and forensic science.

Trainees also learn how to run investigations in counterterrorism, counterintelligence, weapons of mass destruction, cybercrime and criminal activity.

New agent trainees also visit the Holocaust Museum and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. to gain perspective on an agent's responsibility to maintain justice and civil equality.

Operational skills training

Operational skills training involves physical exercises in defensive techniques, surveillance and tactical driving. Agent trainees are taught to protect themselves and others against dangerous suspects through physical combat methods. They learn to handle vehicles in defensive conditions and practice survival training. FBI agent trainees also practice real-world scenarios in over 90 hours of focused instruction on tactical operations. In these sessions, recruits role-play in dangerous situations, using simulated weapons and environments to resolve the scene and practice field tactics. This includes situations like nighttime surveillance, robbery, kidnapping and investigative interviews.

Firearms training

Firearms training takes recruits through 110 hours of practical weapons experience using FBI protocols. Trainees practice the fundamentals of marksmanship, which includes weapons safety, handling and practical firing techniques. Recruits use a variety of weapons and must show they are proficient in each type of firearm by the end of the 28 training sessions.

Case exercise training

Case training exercises are in-depth, real-life scenarios that take agent trainees through the investigative process of receiving a tip to culminating a case.

Read more: How To Write a Federal Resume

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How To Become an FBI Agent: Requirements and Training

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Working as an agent for the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation is a highly skilled position that requires physical endurance, mental acuity and strong logical reasoning skills. In order to pursue a career as an FBI agent, you must meet certain federal requirements, then complete a series of screenings, tests and training.