{"id":580,"date":"2021-09-22T14:41:58","date_gmt":"2021-09-22T18:41:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bridgeport.edu\/news\/?p=580"},"modified":"2025-01-06T16:06:21","modified_gmt":"2025-01-06T21:06:21","slug":"how-to-become-fbi-agent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bridgeport.edu\/news\/how-to-become-fbi-agent\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do You Become an FBI Agent?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Out of all law enforcement agencies, the FBI has long captured the imagination of the American public. From Clarice Starling to Spencer Reid, fictionalized FBI agents have captivated viewers and inspired curiosity about this federal agency. However, outside of the world of fiction, the FBI serves a critical function in the protection of American citizens and the capturing of criminals, both domestic and foreign. From the agency\u2019s origins as the National Bureau of Criminal Identification in 1896, to its existence as the FBI today, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has always been a bastion of excellence in investigation and law enforcement. If a career in federal law enforcement interests you, the first step is to learn what an FBI agent does and how to become an FBI agent.<\/p>\n

What does an FBI Agent do?<\/h2>\n

The FBI consists of 35,000 special agents and staff who work in the United States and abroad to protect American citizens from terrorism, espionage, cyber-attacks, and other criminal threats. An FBI agent gathers intelligence and enforces the laws of the United States. There is no such thing as a \u201ctypical\u201d day for an FBI agent, making it difficult to describe their daily tasks. Agents working in a field office, for example, may appear in court one day and spend time at a crime scene the next. Some agents specialize in specific areas of the FBI, such as white-collar crime or public affairs. Others may work as trainers at the FBI\u2019s training academy at Quantico. All agents, however, are required to work a minimum of 50 hours per week and be on call 24\/7, including holidays and weekends.<\/p>\n

Compensation for FBI special agencies can depend on a number of factors. For example, their level of experience, location of their field office, and whether or not they have an area of expertise can all impact an agent\u2019s pay. Typically, the starting salary<\/em> of an FBI agent ranges from $50,000 to $65,000 per year. However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS<\/a>), federal government agents and investigators can expect an average salary of almost $112,000 annually.<\/p>\n

Steps to become an FBI Agent<\/h2>\n

The FBI is an elite organization of investigators. As such, the agency has fairly stringent requirements for its candidates. In other words, if you\u2019ve ever wondered how to become an FBI agent, you\u2019ll need to fulfill these requirements first.<\/p>\n

Education<\/h3>\n

In order to become an FBI special agent, you have to earn a bachelor\u2019s degree or higher. While the FBI does not specify the kind of bachelor\u2019s degree their candidates should earn, a bachelor\u2019s degree in Criminal Justice<\/a> would best prepare students to pursue a career as an FBI agent. A degree in Criminal Justice provides students with an understanding of criminology, law enforcement, and criminal investigations — all applicable to a career with the FBI. Additionally, this degree path prepares students for a career in federal law enforcement by requiring them to gain language competency in Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Russian, French, or Spanish — all languages useful for prospective federal agents.<\/p>\n

Physical requirements<\/h3>\n

Aspiring FBI agents must receive medical clearance from the chief medical officer of the FBI, who assesses candidates\u2019 health and stamina. Special agent applicants must pass a vision and hearing test, as well. Additionally, prospective FBI agents must meet the FBI\u2019s standards for physical fitness. The FBI\u2019s Physical Fitness Test, or PFT, consists of four main events. Each of these events must be completed with no more than five minutes of rest taken between events. These events include:<\/p>\n