The Central Intelligence Agency has a comprehensive program to foster the acquisition and maintenance of foreign language skills. The Central Intelligence Language Institute uses native speakers and the latest instructional technology to teach 16 different foreign languages. All employees who attain tested levels of language expertise through full-time training, part-time classes or self-study are eligible for monetary incentives. (For a description of each proficiency level, go to www.govtilr.org [external link disclaimer] and consult the Unabridged Version of the Interagency Language Roundtable Scale.) New employees who already possess excellent language skills may be eligible for a significant hiring bonus. The CIA has two language incentive systems: the Corporate Language Hiring Bonus Program and the Corporate Language Program.

The CIA's Corporate Language Hiring Bonus Program is designed to attract individuals with superior language skills. Bonuses will be paid to new employees who have been hired into a language-specific occupation after they have entered on duty, been tested in the claimed language and met other eligibility requirements. The amount of a language bonus will be determined on the basis of three criteria: tested proficiency, difficulty learning the language, and criticality of the language to CIA's mission. New employees can qualify for a hiring bonus in more than one language, but the maximum amount is $35,000 per individual. Bonuses will be paid in a one-time, lump sum payment.

The CIA's Corporate Language Program (CLP) is for Agency employees whose jobs require them to use foreign languages or employees who maintain the language proficiency necessary to support a crisis or surge requirement. New employees who receive a language hiring bonus will be enrolled automatically in the CLP. The CLP includes language maintenance payments, language use payments and language achievement awards. For any given language, qualifying employees may receive either maintenance or use payments, but not both.