Running head: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Tuniesha Balkissoon
Delaware Technical & Community College

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Federal Bureau of Investigation

FBI agents help the United States in many different ways. With the crime rates increasing
so is the demand for police officers and FBI agents. Many have applied and failed, but a
few have applied and succeeded. Giving up is out the question if becoming an FBI is
your dream career. Enlisted below are the requirements, salary, pension, and even a brief
summary of what I need to do to become an FBI agent in the near future. Although I
dont meet many of the requirements as yet becoming a police officer is the first big step!

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Federal Bureau of Investigation

The FBI has a goal of defending the United States by upholding and enforcing
criminal laws, assisting and serving alongside agencies and partners from all levels, and
protecting the nation from terrorist and foreign intelligence. Becoming this great takes
tons of skills some self-learned and some are taught in the work force. There are many
requirements on becoming an FBI. The requirements for entry is as followed: (1)
Candidates must be at least 23 years old, but younger than 37 at the time of appointment.
Veterans, however, may be granted an age waiver if they are older than 37. (2) Candidates
must be a United States citizen or a citizen of the Northern Mariana Islands. (3)
Candidates must hold a four-year degree from a college or university accredited by one of
the institutional associations recognized by the United States Secretary of Education. (4)
Candidates must possess a valid, U.S. drivers license. (5) Candidates must have
completed at least three years of professional work experience. (Entry Requirements,
n.d., para. 3).
FBI Special Agents have to qualify for at least one of the five FBI Special Agent
Entry Programs to be eligible for employment and that is as followed: Language, Law,
Accounting, Computer Science/Information Technology, and Diversified. (Entry
Requirements, n.d., para. 4).
All FBI Special Agent applicants must also complete an online application which
will then determine whether they are eligible to move on to phase two testing. Phase two
testing includes a writing test and an in-person interview conducted by a panel of FBI
Special Agents. If a personal passes phase two they might receive a conditional letter of
appointment and will have to undergo a background check, physical fitness test, and a

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medical exam. (Entry Requirements, n.d., para. 6). Becoming an FBI wont happen
overnight it takes patience, dedication, and years to get accepted in to. (The Anterior,
FBI Special Agents that are in training are provided with salaries consistent with
GS-10 employees and they earn $43,441 per year in addition to a Quantico, VA COLA
adjustment of $7,602 for the year (training is only for about 21 weeks). Once they are
assigned to a field office, Special Agents retain their GS-10 status but also have a local
Cost of Living Adjustment which is a bonus between 12.5 and 28.7 percent of base
salary. contact (FBI Special Agent, n.d., para. 7).
Agents who are active will receive an Availability Pay, which is an additional 25
percent of the base salary plus COLA. Availability pay is intended to compensate agents
for long hours and around-the-clock availability. Some agents who are relocating from a
nominal cost of living area to a high cost city may expect a one-time payment of $22,000
to help offset moving costs and higher housing prices. (FBI Special Agent Careers, n.d.,
para. 8).
FBI Special Agents may receive the full FERS Basic Benefit if they retire at age
50 with 20 years of federal law enforcement officer service, or at any age with 25 years
of service. (Retirement, n.d., para, 3).
I will need a lot of fitness training to become an FBI. I dont exercise a lot but if
this is the career I want to do in my life then I have to start at some point. I will need a lot
of determination and support. This career requires a lot of time and I have to have that
availability whenever its needed which might be a bit of a challenge for me since Im
always very busy. I would also need to learn to keep things to myself that are confidential
which might also be something hard to keep from my family because Im used to talking

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to them when things get tough. Becoming an FBI is a dream but due to the requirements
my mind might change Im still young and still trying to figure my life out. I just dont
want to pick a career that I might lose my family over or worse they might lose me over. I
know people who are police officers and struggle to keep relationships because they work
around the clock and barely get to be home becoming an FBI agent will be no different. I
will always have to be on the move and travel different places because my job requires it.
Worst of all I might even have to move somewhere where I dont even want to live.

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

References
Entry Requirements. (n.d.). Retrieved from:
http://www.fbiagentedu.org/fbi-requirements/
FBI Special Agent Careers. (n.d.). Retrieved from:
http://www.fbiagentedu.org/careers/fbi-special-agent/
Retirement. (n.d.). Retrieved from:
http://www.fbiagentedu.org/careers/fbi-special-agent/