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vision and 20/20 in one eye and 20/30 in the other with glasses permitted. Candidates are further evaluated
through personal interviews. They are rated for such factors as appearance, poise, and communication
skills. The physical examination and all travel for interviews are at the applicant's own expense.
Finally, a thorough background investigation is made to determine general character, honesty, and
suitability for this position. Previous infractions of the law may result in nonselection, and drug abuse in any
form is disqualifying. Candidates must have a valid driver's license and be between the ages of 21 and 37.
Shortly after appointment, Special Agent trainees attend a formal 12- to 15-week training program at
the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia. The subjects dealt with during this
training period include agency rules, regulations, and procedures; use of firearms; methods of self-
defense; arrest and surveillance techniques; criminal law; undercover operations; court procedures;
investigation techniques; rules of evidence; criminology; drug and narcotics identification; and the use
of legal warrants. After successfully concluding this program, new agents are assigned to DEA field
offices where they work with experienced personnel until they can function independently. Special
Agents continue to receive periodic training throughout their careers to keep them current with
developments in their field of work.
FBI SPECIAL AGENT
Candidates for this position are carefully screened by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. They must be
U.S. citizens between the ages of 23 and 37 and be willing to accept assignment anywhere within the
United States and Puerto Rico. There are five entrance programs under which applicants can qualify for
possible appointment to the position of Special Agent: Law, Accounting, Language, Modified, and
Science. An applicant applying under the Law Program must be a graduate of a state-accredited resident
law school with at least two years of resident, undergraduate college work. Those applying as Accountants
must possess a four-year resident college degree with a major in accounting. Linguists must have a four-
year resident college degree and fluency in a foreign language. Candidates for consideration under the
Modified Program need three years of full-time work experience in addition to a four-year resident college
degree, or two years of such work experience if they possess an advanced degree. Many options are
available under the Science Program, and qualification is possible based on a background in such areas
as electrical engineering, metallurgy, physics, chemistry, biological science, pharmacology, toxicology,
and mathematics. These are not all inclusive, however, as backgrounds in business or public administra-
tion, computer science, or management information sciences or systems can also be qualifying, as can
expertise as a firearms examiner, explosives examiner, or document or fingerprint examiner. As in the
other programs, candidates under the Science Program must possess a resident college degree with
advanced degrees or professional experience necessary in many instances. College transcripts and
detailed resumés showing experience must be submitted by candidates seeking to qualify under the
Science Program.
All candidates must qualify on batteries of written and oral examinations designed to measure
emotional stability, resourcefulness, interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to apply
analytical methods to work assignments. Since Agents have to be able to use firearms and defensive
tactics to participate in dangerous assignments and raids, each individual must pass a rigid physical
examination; be capable of strenuous physical exertion; and have excellent hearing, eyesight, and normal
color vision. In addition, before hiring, the FBI conducts an extensive background and character
investigation.
Applicants who receive appointments as Special Agents undergo training at the FBI Academy located
on the U.S. Marine Corps Base at Quantico, Virginia. For a period of about 15 weeks, they receive
intensive training in defensive tactics, judo, and the use of various types of firearms. Thorough instruction
is also given in federal criminal laws and procedures, investigative methods, fingerprinting techniques,
