What are the requirements to join the FBI?

To join the FBI as a Special Agent, applicants must be a U.S. citizen between the ages of 23 and 36, hold a bachelor's degree, have two years of professional work experience, and be able to pass a rigorous background check and physical fitness test.

Is it hard to get into FBI?

The FBI accepts fewer than 20% of applicants, making jobs within the bureau highly competitive. Applicants typically begin their candidacy through one of the FBI's various entry programs, all of which are tailored to specific FBI career tracks.

What qualifications do you need to be in the FBI?

FBI requirements for roles like Special Agent include U.S. citizenship, a bachelor's degree, relevant work experience (usually 2 years with a bachelor's, 1 with an advanced degree), a valid driver's license, and meeting strict physical fitness standards, all while passing extensive background checks, polygraphs, drug tests, and adhering to their drug policy. Key eligibility factors also involve good standing with finances (taxes, loans, child support) and no affiliations with anti-government groups, with age generally 23-36 (waivers for veterans).
 

What does the FBI pay?

While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $168,500 and as low as $20,000, the majority of Fbi Agent salaries currently range between $37,500 (25th percentile) to $86,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $114,000 annually across the United States.

What disqualifies you from joining FBI?

The FBI disqualifies candidates for serious issues like felony convictions, recent illegal drug use (especially marijuana within a year or other drugs within 10 years), failure to pay taxes or child support, defaulting on student loans, dishonesty, and gang affiliation, but also for poor financial management, certain tattoos, and failure to register with Selective Service, all evaluated through a rigorous background check looking for patterns of poor judgment or integrity. Lying during the application process, even about minor issues, can be an automatic disqualifier. 

Want to Become an FBI Agent? Here’s How

Who pays more, CIA or FBI?

The FBI and CIA salaries are comparable and complex, but FBI entry-level agents often start with higher base pay due to law enforcement benefits (LEAP), while CIA officers in specialized technical or paramilitary roles can earn more with bonuses, with both potentially exceeding $150,000 at senior levels, but the CIA's overall average salary might appear higher due to specialized roles. Pay depends heavily on experience, location, and specific skills, with bonuses significantly impacting CIA earnings. 

How long is FBI school?

FBI school, specifically the Basic Field Training Course (BFTC) for new Special Agents at the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA, is a rigorous 20-week program covering federal law, investigative skills, firearms, and tactics, with shorter programs available for specialized roles like Intelligence Analysts or experienced investigators. 

How many hours do FBI agents work?

All FBI agents work full-time with a regular schedule of 40 hours per week. However, the job is very demanding and usually extends beyond the regular working hours and overtime is common as the public must be protected at all times.

What is FBI training like?

New agents spend more than 800 hours training in academics, case exercises, firearms training, and operation skills. During the approximately 18-week program, new agents learn: Academics: Agents learn about ethics, law, behavioral science, investigative techniques, interrogation, forensic science, leadership, and more.

How to become a secret agent?

To be considered for the position of special agent, applicants must meet the following requirements:

1. Be a U.S. Citizen.
2. Be at least 21 years of age at the time of application, and younger than 37 upon receipt of a conditional offer of employment, to continue in the application process*.

What is the FBI age limit?

The FBI generally requires special agent applicants to be between 23 and 36 years old, needing to enter duty before their 37th birthday, though exceptions (waivers) exist for veterans and current federal law enforcement/FBI employees, allowing entry up to age 39 or even later for some. This age limit ensures agents meet the minimum service time for the mandatory retirement at age 57, requiring at least 20 years of service. 

Is a FBI agent higher than a cop?

No, FBI agents are not inherently "above" police officers; they are separate entities with different jurisdictions and chains of command, though FBI agents have federal authority for federal crimes, and they often work together in task forces, with one potentially taking the lead depending on whether federal or state laws are broken. FBI agents focus on federal crimes, national security, and investigations crossing state lines, while local police enforce state and local laws, but they aren't subordinate to each other. 

Do you get to choose where you work in the FBI?

Upon graduation from the FBI Academy, you will be assigned to one of the FBI's field offices or satellite offices. Roughly one-third of new agents get their first choice. Ultimately, the mission comes first.

What age do most FBI agents start?

In those classes, on average, more than 50% of the new agents came from a military or law enforcement background, approximately 48% had advanced degrees, and the average age was 29.

Is the FBI interview hard?

Interview process at Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

On a scale of 1-10 where 1 is Easy and 10 is Difficult, rating is 6.

Do FBI agents carry guns?

Today, FBI special agents receive extensive firearms training and carry their service weapon with them wherever they go.

Who gets paid more, FBI or CIA?

The FBI and CIA salaries are comparable and complex, but FBI entry-level agents often start with higher base pay due to law enforcement benefits (LEAP), while CIA officers in specialized technical or paramilitary roles can earn more with bonuses, with both potentially exceeding $150,000 at senior levels, but the CIA's overall average salary might appear higher due to specialized roles. Pay depends heavily on experience, location, and specific skills, with bonuses significantly impacting CIA earnings. 

What disqualifies you from being an FBI agent?

FBI Special Agent disqualifiers include not being a U.S. citizen, felony convictions, significant drug use (especially within 1-10 years), defaulting on student loans, failing to file taxes, dishonorable discharge, serious driving offenses (like DUIs), and failing to register for Selective Service (males), with the FBI also scrutinizing finances, past conduct, and potential dishonesty during the extensive background investigation. Key disqualifiers center on integrity, adherence to law, and financial responsibility, with specific drug use timelines (marijuana in past year, other illegal drugs in past 10 years) and strict tax/loan compliance. 

What is the FBI fitness test?

The events are administered in the following order with no more than five minutes of rest between each event: Pull-ups: Maximum number of continuous pull-ups (untimed) 300-meter sprint: Timed 300-meter sprint. Push-ups: Maximum number of continuous push-ups (untimed) 1.5 mile run: Timed 1.5-mile run.

Does the FBI pay for college?

Our Impact. The FBIAA Memorial College Fund (MCF) provides scholarships for the children and spouses of deceased FBI Agents. Since its inception, the MCF has provided over $14 million in support to approximately 315 students.

What does an FBI agent do all day?

For example, Agents spend large parts of their days outside the office, “in the field,” working on cases. However, Agents may also spend an entire day in the office completing paperwork related to investigations. These varied tasks usually mean that a day in the life of a Special Agent will differ from the one before!

How expensive is the FBI Academy?

All attendees stay in dorms in the FBI Academy complex located at a Marine Base just outside of Washington D.C. The cost of training is paid for by the Federal Bureau of Investigations. The approximate cost to train an applicant is $50,000.

Is FBI higher than police?

No. State and local law enforcement agencies are not subordinate to the FBI, and the FBI does not supervise or take over their investigations. Instead, the investigative resources of the FBI and state and local agencies are often pooled in a common effort to investigate and solve the cases.

Is there a height requirement for the FBI?

While the FBI does not have specific height or weight requirements, applicants must take and pass a physical fitness test to get through the hiring process.