A Career with the FBI


Do you have what it takes to become an FBI special agent? Do you have a sincere desire to enforce federal laws and investigate crimes?

This job requires hard work and can often times be dangerous and stressful. You'll undoubtedly be in close contact with crimminals and victims of crime. But a special agent's job is rewarding if you enjoy serving the public. Long before applying for a job as an FBI special agent, you'll need to plan carefully what you need to do to qualify.

The FBI Special Agent

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agents are the Government's primary investigators, who investigate criminal violations of over 260 statutes not assigned to another federal agency. Agents may conduct surveillance, monitor wiretaps, examine financial records, or participate in undercover assignments, just to name a few.

The FBI investigates organized crime, white collar crime, such as health care fraud, counterterrorism, copyright infringement, civil rights violations, bank robbery, extortion, kidnapping, terrorism, espionage, violent crimes, drug trafficking, and other violations of Federal statutes.

The following was adapted from The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Facts and Figures 2003, FBI Priorities (http://www.fbi.gov/priorities/priorities.htm)

The FBI's priorities are to:


  1. Protect the United States from terrorist attack.

  2. Protect the United States against foreign intelligence operations and espionage.

  3. Protect the United States against cyber-based attacks and high-technology crimes. Combat public corruption at all levels.

  4. Protect civil rights.

  5. Combat transnational and national criminal organizations and enterprises.

  6. Combat major white-collar crime. Combat significant violent crime.

  7. Support federal, state, county, municipal, and international partners.

  8. Upgrade technology to successfully perform the FBI