SPECIAL AGENT FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
How are special agents assigned to
oces and how often are special
agents rotated in their assignments?
Flexibility is key at the FBI. You must be prepared
and willing to be assigned according to the needs
of the FBI. All agents must sign and adhere to a
mobility agreement, which states that as a special
agent, you accept the possibility of transfer as
a condition of your employment. However, once
assigned to a eld oce, new special agents
are generally not transferred unless they request
voluntary transfer, apply for management positions,
or transfer as a result of an emerging or existing
critical need.
Upon graduation from the FBI Academy, you will
be assigned to one of the FBI’s 56 eld oces or
satellite oces. Roughly one-third of new agents get
their rst choice.
Ultimately, the mission comes rst. While eld oce
position vacancies take priority over all transfer
request decisions, the FBI bases transfers on SA
oce preferences, seniority, budget considerations
and mission needs. If an agent’s top choice is New
York, Los Angeles, San Francisco or San Juan,
Puerto Rico, they will have an excellent chance of
getting that preferred oce assignment. It’s also
worth noting that, on average, an SA transfers just
twice during a 20-year career.
What is the age requirement for
applying?
FBI special agents have a mandatory retirement age
of 57. In order to achieve the required 20 years of
service for retirement, special agents must enter on
duty no later than the day before their 37th birthday.
Applicants must apply for the special agent position
prior to their 36th birthday to allow adequate time
to complete the Special Agent Selection System
(SASS). The FBI may disqualify applicants at any
time during the process if it is determined that they
will reach age 37 before appointment.
Potential exceptions: Applicants with certain prior
federal law enforcement service, applicants who are
current FBI employees, or preference eligible veterans
may qualify for an age waiver.
Are waivers available for applicants
37 and older?
Per Public Law 93-350, enacted July 12, 1974,
the Attorney General and the Oce of Personnel
Management (OPM) set the date immediately
preceding one’s 37th birthday as the last date for
original entry on duty as a law enforcement ocer in
the Department of Justice.
Waivers are available for preference-eligible veterans
who have been discharged or released from active
duty from the Armed Forces under honorable
conditions (honorable or general discharge). The
Member 4 copy of the DD-214 and, in the case of
service-connected disabilities, a copy of the SF-15
“Application for 10-Point Veterans’ Preference,” as
well as other applicable documentation to conrm
Veterans’ Preference eligibility, must be submitted at
the time of application.
Military retirees at the rank of Major, Lieutenant
Commander or higher are not eligible for preference
in appointment unless they are disabled veterans.
This does not apply to reservists who will not begin
drawing military retired pay until age 60.
Current FBI employees are eligible to apply prior
to their 39th birthday and must be appointed and
assigned to the FBI Academy no later than one day
preceding their 40th birthday.
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2
Age waivers for preference-eligible veterans will be
requested only after they successfully complete
all phases of the Special Agent Selection System
(SASS) and have been favorably adjudicated/cleared
for hire. Preference-eligible applicants must still
pass all other components of the SASS, including
the FBI Physical Fitness Test (PFT) and tness-for-
duty requirements.
More information can be found on our military and
veterans page.
Is there a waiver of the bachelor’s
degree if an applicant has military
service?
No. All special agent applicants must have a
minimum of a bachelor’s degree or higher from a
U.S.-accredited college or university.
Will having uncorrected vision or
laser surgery disqualify me from
applying for the special agent
position?
Distant visual acuity, corrected or uncorrected,
must meet FBI standards. Special agent applicants
need to have at least 20/20 vision in one eye and
not worse than 20/40 vision in the other eye. If an
individual has a satisfactory history of wearing soft
contact lenses for more than one year, and is able to
meet correction to 20/20 in one eye and no worse
than 20/40 in the other eye, safety concerns are
considered mitigated and applicant processing may
continue.
If an applicant has had laser eye corrective surgery,
a six-month waiting period is required prior to
beginning New Agent Training. Applicants must
also provide evidence of complete healing by an
ophthalmological clinical evaluation.
The policy for color vision allows continuation of
applicant processing if those who fail initial color
vision screening are able to successfully complete
the Farnsworth D-15 color vision test.
For more information, see our special agent physical
requirements page.
How long does the FBI special agent
application process take?
The special agent application process generally
takes at least one year and often longer, depending
upon annual federal funding levels and hiring goals.
The Special Agent Selection System (SASS) — Phase
I and Phase II Testing — is based on an applicant’s
individual competitiveness.
In addition to the Phase I and II testing process,
the PFT, the background investigation, and
medical evaluation will affect the length of the
application process. Each of these items can take
a considerable amount of time to complete if an
applicant has lived in several areas, has extensive
foreign travel, or has held several jobs.
For more information, visit the our special agent
eligibility page to ensure all information needed has
been gathered ahead of time.
What kind of training do FBI special
agents receive?
All special agents will spend their rst 16 weeks
at the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA, where they
participate in intensive training. During their time
at the FBI Academy, trainees live on campus,
participate in a variety of training activities and
study a wide variety of academic subjects. The FBI
Academy curriculum also includes intensive training
in physical tness, defensive tactics, practical
application exercises, and the use of rearms.
Over the course of an agent’s career, the FBI
provides additional training opportunities to keep
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them updated on the latest developments in the
respective specialty elds.
See more information on the FBI’s training page.
Do I need to have a law enforcement
or military background to apply to
become an FBI special agent? Are
certain degrees more desired by the
FBI?
A law enforcement or military background is not
required. Because of the breadth and scope of the
FBI’s mission, it looks for candidates with a wide
variety of backgrounds, not just law enforcement or
military experience. The FBI seeks special agents
with any occupation that requires a college degree.
Specically, we look for expertise in physical
science, computer science, engineering, architecture,
law, accounting, and other disciplines that require
logical analysis and critical thinking.
We’re also actively seeking special agents who are
uent in critical foreign languages, as well as those
with experience in intelligence and counterterrorism
work. Study a eld you enjoy and, after that, obtain
experiences that will demonstrate your ability
to master the special agent core competencies,
specically:
• Collaboration
• Communication
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Initiative
• Interpersonal ability
• Leadership
• Organizing and planning
• Problem solving and judgment
Do I have to know how to shoot a gun
to apply to be an FBI special agent?
No, it is not necessary to have prior experience with
rearms. All special agent trainees receive extensive
training in the use and maintenance of rearms and
related equipment. In many cases, the best agent
trainees are those with no prior rearms experience
(since they do not have any ingrained habits).
Are there different physical tness
requirements for women and men?
Although female applicants/trainees take exactly
the same Physical Fitness Test (PFT) as their male
counterparts, the scoring scale for each event is
slightly different in order to account for physiological
differences. Learn more about the physical
requirements.
What is a typical day like for a special
agent of the FBI?
There is no such thing as a typical day for a special
agent. One day you could be executing a search
warrant and making an arrest, while the next you
could be testifying in court. Your morning could
entail catching up on paperwork in the oce, while
the afternoon could bring a meeting with a high-level
source. No two days are ever the same for an FBI
special agent.
How does the background
investigation process work?
Due to the sensitive nature of our mission, all FBI
positions require a Top Secret Clearance; a special
agent career requires a Top Secret Sensitive
Compartmented Information (SCI) Clearance. Before
employees can start work with the FBI, they must
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undergo an intensive background investigation
that includes a polygraph test, a drug test, credit
and records checks, and extensive interviews with
former and current colleagues, neighbors, friends,
professors, etc., covering the last 10 years or as of
their 18th birthday.
Are there any automatic
disqualiers?
Yes. These include:
• Non-U.S. citizenship
• Conviction of a felony (special agent candidates
only: conviction of a domestic violence
misdemeanor or more serious offense)
• Violation of the FBI Employment Drug Policy
(please see our employment eligibility guide for
more information)
• Drug use while holding a clearance
• Default on a student loan insured by the U.S.
government
• Failure of an FBI-administered urinalysis drug test
• Failure to register with the Selective Service
System (for males only, exceptions apply – please
click here to nd out more)
• Knowingly or willfully engaged in acts or activities
designed to overthrow the U.S. government by
force
• Engagement in prostitution or bestiality
• Failure to pay court ordered child support
• Failure to le federal, state, or local income tax
returns
How much are FBI special agents
paid?
All new FBI special agents will earn salaries at
the GL-10 Special Base Rate for Law Enforcement
Ocers (LEOs) pay grade. Applicants with no
prior government service will earn a salary at
the GL-10, Step 1 pay level. Applicants with prior
government service (including FBI professional
staff) may be eligible to receive higher steps that are
commensurate with their highest previous pay, but
they will not enter at higher grades.
During the Basic Field Training Course (BFTC), New
Agent Trainees (NATs) will earn GL-10 salaries,
plus locality pay for the Washington, D.C. area, plus
availability pay (AVP), which is 25% of their basic
pay (base plus locality). Upon graduation from the
BFTC and assignment to their rst eld oces,
new special agents will be paid at the GL-10 pay
level, plus the locality pay that applies to their rst
oces of assignment, plus AVP. The OPM website
contains current salary tables to allow employees to
determine the locality pay rates for various areas of
the country. Part-time special agents do not receive
availability pay.
As an FBI employee, a special agent also receives
a variety of benets, including group health and life
insurance programs, vacation and sick pay, and a full
retirement plan.
How will having a family affect my
career as an FBI special agent?
The FBI has several programs designed to help
employees meet both their family and career goals.
In addition to our normal annual and sick leave
benets, the federal Family and Medical Leave Act
(FMLA) permits employees to take up to 12 weeks of
leave without pay for medical exigencies, including
the birth or adoption of a child.
The FBI also offers a part-time program for
special agents (agents must have completed the
probationary period). This program allows an agent
to work between 16 and 32 hours a week, providing
extra exibility to parents. In most instances, the
part-time agent’s revised work assignment will
be determined in such a manner that appropriate
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consideration is given by the Division Head to the
agent’s level of investigative experience, specialized
assignments, GS grade, other pertinent skills and the
needs of the division.
What are the opportunities for
promotions and pay increases?
Special agents enter as GL-10 employees on the
Law Enforcement Government Pay Scale and
can advance to the GS-13 grade level in a eld,
nonsupervisory role. Special agents can thereafter
qualify for promotion to supervisory, management
and executive positions to grades GS-14 and GS-15,
as well as to the FBI Senior Executive Service.
I want to be an FBI “proler.” Where
do I begin the application process?
The FBI does not have a job called “proler.”
Supervisory special agents assigned to the National
Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC)
at Quantico, VA, perform the tasks commonly
associated with “proling.” Despite some popular
depictions, these FBI special agents do not get
“vibes” or experience “psychic ashes” while walking
around fresh crime scenes. In reality, it’s an exciting
world of investigation and research — a world of
inductive and deductive reasoning, crime-solving
experience and knowledge of criminal behavior,
facts and statistical probabilities.
