All applicants for the Special Agent position must first qualify for one of five Special Agent Entry Programs:

• Accounting
• Computer Science/Information Technology
• Language
• Law
• Diversified

Accounting
To qualify under the Accounting Entry Program, candidates must:

• Have been certified as a CPA; or
• Possess a four-year Business degree with a major in Accounting or a related Business degree that included or was supplemented by 24 hours of accounting courses and an additional six semester hours of business law or other elective business courses. Also must possess two years of progressively responsible accounting work in a professional accounting firm or comparable public setting, such as a state comptroller or the General Accounting Office. The last year of experience must be as a manager, team leader, or other similar position which would provide experience in a variety of areas and allow for exposure to and experience working with higher level executives (i.e., partners and directors).

Computer Science/Information Technology
To qualify under the Computer Science/Information Technology Entry Program, you must have a computer or information technology related degree, a degree in Electrical Engineering, a Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certification, or a Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert (CCIE) certification. Applicants that qualify by virtue of a CCNP or a CCIE certification must also have a BS or BA degree in any discipline.

Language
To qualify under the Language Program, you must have a BS or BA degree in any discipline and be proficient in a language that meets the needs of the FBI. Current qualifying languages include Arabic, Chinese (all dialects), Farsi, Hebrew, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Pashtu, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Urdu and Vietnamese. Candidates must pass both the listening and reading portions of the Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) and demonstrate a proficiency of three or higher on the Speaking Proficiency Test (SPT) in a critical foreign language.

Law
To qualify under the Law Entry Program, candidates must have a JD degree from an accredited law school.

Diversified
To qualify under the Diversified Program, you must have a BS or BA degree in any discipline, plus three years of full-time work experience, or an advanced degree accompanied by two years of full-time work experience.

After qualifying for one of the five Entry Programs, you will be prioritized in the hiring process based upon certain Critical Skills for which the FBI is recruiting.

More information about Critical Skills

Back to Special Agent Qualification Requirements page