The Hiring Process

Know What it Takes to Join the ATF Team

Frequently Asked Questions (Special Agent)

How do I apply for a special agent position with ATF?
Individuals interested in employment with ATF as a special agent MUST apply under a specific vacancy announcement. Please visit the ATF website under Careers and click on "career opportunities" to determine if a vacancy announcement is available.
Can a Criminal Investigator (1811) with another Federal agency lateral over to ATF?
Current 1811's are welcome to apply under a specific vacancy announcement; however those applying under an entry level (GL-5, GL-7 or GL-9) announcement will only be considered for a position at these grade levels. Current Federal employees under the competitive service will be required to leave the competitive service and serve under an excepted service appointment for a period of three years.
What type of degree or course work is helpful in receiving consideration for a special agent position?
When applying based upon education, the minimum requirement is a bachelor's degree in any major. Many of our applicants have degrees in the following areas: Criminal Justice, Accounting, Sociology, Administration of Justice, Political Science, Fire Science, Chemistry, or related Criminal Justice Forensic Sciences. The degree must be from an accredited college or university.
I am currently a student in college and will be obtaining a four-year degree in the near future. Can I submit an application for the special agent position?
ATF's current policy is that students may apply for the special agent position if they are within 9 months from obtaining a four-year degree (provided we have an open vacancy announcement).
If I don't have a four-year college degree, can I still be considered for a special agent position?
Applicants without a four-year degree will be considered if they have at least three years of general experience or a combination of education and experience. General experience is defined as progressively responsible work in criminal investigative or law enforcement fields that requires knowledge and application of laws relating to criminal violations.
PLEASE NOTE: According to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regulations, Non-Qualifying General Experience is as follows: Work experience as a uniformed law enforcement officer, where the principal duties consist of investigations and arrests, involving traffic violations, minor felonies, misdemeanors, and comparable offenses; or work experience in which the major duties involve guarding and protecting property; preventing crimes, and/or legal research without the application of investigative techniques.
Once I apply for the special agent position under a specific vacancy announcement, how long is the hiring process?
The entire hiring process is lengthy and may be affected by the timing of position availability and budget related issues.
Is there an age requirement for the ATF special agent position?
Special agent applicants must be at least 21 years of age and younger than 37 at time of appointment unless, you have had previous service in a Federal civilian law enforcement position covered by special civil service retirement provisions, including early or mandatory retirement. Maximum age limitations will not be waived for any applicant, including those entitled to veterans' preference.
I have already taken the Treasury Enforcement Agent (TEA) exam for another Federal agency. Do I still have to take the exam under an ATF announcement?
Under our current recruitment efforts, applicants applying for an entry level special agent position at the GL-5, GL-7 or GL-9 level are required to take and pass an ATF sponsored TEA exam. ATF offers the TEA exam on a pass/fail basis only and numeric scores will not be available. Test results will be valid for three years from the date of the exam.
How are grade level determinations made?
Grade determinations are based upon documentation submitted by an applicant prior to the closing date of a vacancy announcement. The information is weighed against the qualification standards established by the Office of Personnel Management. Duties and accomplishments gained after the closing date of a vacancy announcement will not be considered for the purpose of determining grade levels.
As a special agent applicant, can I apply for a specific duty location?
Special agent positions are advertised on a nationwide basis and not for a specific duty location. Mobility is a requirement for the ATF special agent position. Newly hired special agents can be assigned to any office in the United States to include any U.S. Territory or ATF overseas assignment. Special agents are subject to relocation throughout their careers with ATF.
Can an applicant with an arrest record or with past drug use be considered for a special agent position?
Suitability issues are reviewed on a case-by-case basis during the pre-employment screening process. All applicants must be able to pass a thorough background investigation for a Top Secret security clearance.
Where can I find more information about the special agent position?
Please click on Special Agent Informational Packet for more information.

Taking the TEA Exam and Special Agent Applicant Assessment Test

  • Individuals applying for an entry level (GL-5, GL-7, and GL-9) special agent position must take and pass the Treasury Enforcement Agent (TEA) exam and Special Agent Applicant Assessment Test (SAAAT).
  • Applicants must meet the basic qualification requirements to be eligible to take the TEA exam and SAAAT.
  • Test Date: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will notify qualified applicants of the specific location, date and time. Test notices will be mailed to qualified applicants approximately three weeks prior to the test date.
  • Scheduling Applicants: If the number of applications received under the vacancy announcement exceed the space availability at the test sites, ATF will offer the TEA exam and SAAAT to qualified applicants on a "first-come, first-serve" basis. Qualified applicants not scheduled for the TEA exam and the SAAAT may reapply under future vacancy announcements.
  • Scoring: Both the TEA exam and the SAAAT will be scored on a pass/fail basis. Applicants must pass both tests to be eligible to receive further consideration for positions.
  • Notice of Results: OPM will administer and score the tests. Notice of Results will be mailed by OPM to those applicants who take the tests approximately two weeks after the test date.
  • Failure to Appear for Scheduled Testing: Applicants who are scheduled for the TEA exam and SAAAT, but who do not appear at their designated date and time, may not reapply for an ATF sponsored exam for one year.
  • Applicants are responsible for travel expenses to the test site location.

Field Panel Interview

  • All applicants who successfully pass the TEA exam and Special Agent Applicant Assessment Test will be contacted and scheduled for a Field Panel Interview.
  • The Field Panel Interview will be conducted at the ATF field division closest to the applicant's place of residency.
  • All applicants are responsible for travel expenses to and from the Field Panel Interview site.
  • After the interview data has been processed, the applicant will be notified in writing by the ATF Recruitment, Hiring and Staffing Center if he/she is eligible to continue in the hiring process. An estimated timeframe for notification cannot be determined due to unforeseen budgetary issues or position availability.

Background Investigation

  • After an applicant has passed the Field Panel Interview, he/she will be contacted and instructed to complete the background investigation documents as well as sign and return all of the required documents within a specific time period.
  • Failure to return any of the required documents by the due date or returning incomplete documents may result in removal from any further consideration.

Medical Examination

Applicants for the special agent position are required to undergo and pass a pre-employment medical examination by an authorized government physician and meet the following medical requirements:

  • At a minimum, uncorrected distant vision of at least 20/100 in each eye, and corrected distant vision must test 20/20 in one eye and 20/30 in the other. Normal depth perception and peripheral vision are required as is the ability to distinguish shades of color by plate tests.
    Applicants that have undergone Automated Larnellar Keratoplasty (ALK); Laser in Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK); Photorefractive Keratecotomy (PRK); and Radial Keratotomy (RK) must provide proof that they have passed the specific protocol. The test must be administered by a board-certified opthalmologist who will document the results of the protocol test and that the test was performed no sooner than the prescribed time after the date of surgery (3 months or one year, depending on the type of surgery).
  • Hearing loss, as measured by an audiometer, must not exceed 30 decibels at 500, 1000, and 2000 HZ levels.
  • Perform physically strenuous duties safely.
  • Weight must be in proportion to height.

Polygraph Examination

  • All special agent applicants are required to take and pass a polygraph examination.
  • The exam is a component of the background investigation and will be administered by ATF.

Online Pre-Assessment

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