BASIC FIELD
TRAINING COURSE
Special Agent Selection System
The FBI is an equal opportunity employer.
Last revised November 2023.
MISSION.
PRIORITIES.
VALUES.
The mission of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) is to protect the American people and uphold
the Constitution of the United States.
The priorities of the FBI are to:
• Protect the United States from terrorist attacks.
• Protect the United States against foreign intelligence
operations and espionage.
• Protect the United States against cyberattacks and
high-tech crimes.
• Combat public corruption at all levels.
• Protect civil rights.
• Combat transnational/national criminal organizations
and enterprises.
• Combat major white-collar crime.
• Combat signicant violent crime.
The core values of the FBI are:
• Rigorous obedience to the Constitution of the United States.
• Respect for the dignity of all those we protect.
• Compassion.
• Fairness.
• Uncompromising personal and institutional integrity.
• Accountability by accepting responsibility for our actions and
decisions, and the consequences of our actions and decisions.
• Leadership, both personal and professional.
• Diversity.
INSIDE THE
GUIDE
GENERAL INFORMATION
Overview ............................................................................. 5
Curriculum .......................................................................... 6
Academy Tips ..................................................................... 7
Assignment and the Transfer Process ............................... 8
SPECIAL AGENT SALARY
How Pay Is Calculated ...................................................... 10
GENERAL
INFORMATION
Basic Field Training Course
GENERAL INFORMATION
5
OVERVIEW
After receiving a nal job offer, New Agent Trainees (NATs) and New Intelligence Analyst
Trainees (NIATs) will report to the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA. The Basic Field Training
Course (BFTC) is designed to train new special agents and intelligence analysts together
to prepare them for collaborative work in the eld. The NAT curriculum lasts 18 weeks,
including orientation, while the NIAT curriculum lasts 12 weeks. Please note, family
members/friends may not accompany NATs and NIATs upon arrival. All trainees share a
dorm room with a roommate on campus.
During BFTC, you should expect strict dress and grooming standards. These standards are
intended to foster a safe, uniform, and accountable environment, a sense of discipline, and
to eliminate any unnecessary distractions from the training environment.
Guidelines
• Jewelry and piercings must be small, simple in
design and not present a safety hazard.
• Facial piercings are not permitted, except
for female trainees, who are authorized to
wear earrings.
• Tattoo(s) determined to be disruptive to the
learning environment must be covered by similarly
colored long sleeves or a long-sleeve shirt to wear
under the uniform polo shirt.
• 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.
Note: If you need an exception from these standards due to your
religion or disability, you may request an accommodation prior to
beginning BFTC.
All special agent training progressively increases
in terms of intensity, rigor, knowledge, time,
physical demands, and practical application.
You must maintain a certain level of physical
tness throughout your time at the Academy, and
throughout your career as a special agent.
To allow for proper focus during your time at the
Academy, the FBI discourages family members from
moving nearby during the training duration. The FBI
will only cover relocation costs from your Processing
Field Oce (PFO) to your rst oce assignment
(exceptions apply). You may be dismissed for
failing academic or practical tests, as well as
demonstrating unsuitable or inappropriate conduct.
Basic Field Training Course
GENERAL INFORMATION
6
CURRICULUM
The BFTC prepares you with the foundational knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the
job of special agent or intelligence analyst upon graduation.
The curriculum includes lessons in a variety of
areas. Special agent training includes topics
such as rearms, defensive tactics, interview and
interrogation, and human intelligence. Intelligence
analysts learn to write FBI intelligence products
and develop brieng skills. Since the two roles
work and interact together in the eld, some of
the BFTC lessons are integrated. The BFTC also
consists of multiple practical exercises that center
around a simulated investigation in which you will
demonstrate the skills you have acquired throughout
the program.
While at the Academy and in order to graduate,
you must also pass the Physical Fitness Test (PFT),
scoring a minimum of 12 points with at
least one point in each of the four events. NAT
graduation takes place during Week 16.
Suitability
Just because you pass all required coursework
doesn’t guarantee you will graduate. You should view
the BFTC as a 18-week interview during which you
are continually assessed on:
• Judgment
• Conscientiousness
• Integrity
• Emotional Maturity
• Initiative
• Cooperation
Basic Field Training Course
GENERAL INFORMATION
7
ACADEMY TIPS
Packing and Arrival
You should pack for the appropriate length of time
for which you will stay at the Academy. The rst four
days include the FBI’s Onboarding New Employees
(ONE) seminar, required before you begin the BFTC.
Please ensure that you follow the dress code below.
• For the ONE seminar and some eld trips, wear
business attire.
• For night and weekend dress, wear casual
attire (no tank tops or ip ops are allowed on
Academy grounds).
• During work hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., wear uniforms
provided by the Academy.
• Bring appropriate workout gear; women should
ensure they include workout tops that do not show
bare midriffs while exercising.
Prohibited Items
You may not bring any of the following items to
the Academy:
• Personal weapons
• Knives longer than three inches
• Thumb drives
• Personal computers or laptops, unless cleared
by Security
You may bring your personal vehicle; however,
parking at the Academy is limited.
Scheduling and Leave
Most of the training takes place Monday through
Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; however, there are
requirements to attend instruction outside of these
hours. You are required to reside on campus for the
entire rst three weeks of training with a midnight
curfew. Beginning the third weekend, you may travel
off campus with a curfew still remaining at midnight
from Sunday through Thursday. In addition, you may
leave the campus during the weekends as long as
you return by midnight on Sunday.
You may request leave or time off for extreme
circumstances, though this is subject to approval
and will be reviewed against the class schedule and
any other mitigating factors.
For additional questions related to the FBI Academy
or BFTC, contact your Applicant Coordinator.
Basic Field Training Course
GENERAL INFORMATION
8
ASSIGNMENT AND THE
TRANSFER PROCESS
NATs are asked to rank eld oce assignments
in order of preference, from one to 56.
The FBI encourages you to relay your
preference of assignment to ensure
consideration is given when making selections.
Assignments are based on designated career
paths and stang needs.
While eld oce position vacancies take priority
over all transfer request decisions, the FBI bases
transfers on special agent oce preferences,
seniority, budget considerations, and mission
needs. If your top choice is New York, Los
Angeles, San Francisco, or San Juan, Puerto
Rico, you will have an excellent chance of getting
that preferred oce assignment. It’s also worth
noting that, on average, a special agent transfers
just twice during a 20-year career.
Top ranked Field Oce Choices
Percentage of New Agent Placement, FY2016- FY2019
55.5
%
83.9
%
of SAs Placed in Top 3
Preferred Locations
of SAs Placed in Top 10
Preferred Locations
% of Agents
# of Transfers
0
23.6
25.2
19.6
12.2
8.3
5.4
3.0
1.6
.7
.7 .1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Typical Number of Transfers
During a 20-year Special Agent Career
IMPORTANT
All special agents must sign and adhere to a mobility agreement, which states
that you accept the possibility of a transfer as a condition of employment.
SPECIAL AGENT
SALARY
Basic Field Training Course
SPECIAL AGENT SALARY
10
HOW PAY IS CALCULATED
The FBI adheres to the General Schedule (GS)
pay scale of the United States Civil Service,
which is administered by the Oce of Personnel
Management (OPM).
NATs at the FBI Academy start at GL-10, Step 1,
under the General Schedule (GS) Pay Plan. This
includes locality pay for the Washington, DC area,
plus availability pay (AVP), which is 25% of the
basic pay (base plus locality), provided certain
requirements are met.
• Since new special agents are under the Federal
Law Enforcement Ocer (LEO) pay grade, they will
earn salaries at the GL-10 [General Schedule plan
code for LEOs] pay grade.
• Once you are promoted to the next grade
level, your pay scale will convert to the GS pay
grade because GL-10 is the highest pay grade
under that pay plan code.
Upon graduation from the BFTC and assignment to
your rst eld oce, you will be paid at the GL-10
pay level. This includes locality pay that applies to
your rst oce of assignment, plus AVP, which is
25% of the basic pay base plus locality), provided
certain requirements are met.
If you have prior civilian government service
(including FBI professional staff), you may be eligible
to receive higher steps that are commensurate with
your highest previous pay, but you will not enter at
higher grades.
To determine potential maximum salaries, locality
and availability pay, please refer to OPM’s website at
www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/
salaries-wages.
