Federal Agent

Job Opportunities

• Employment for a federal agent is expected to increase by 9 to 17 percent through 2014.
• Because of attractive salaries and benefits, the number of qualified candidates applying to be a federal agent exceeds the number of job openings.

Work environment

• being a federal agent can be very dangerous and stressful.
• In addition to the obvious dangers of confrontations with criminals, a federal agent needs to be constantly alert and ready to deal appropriately with a number of other threatening situations.
• A federal agent can witness death and suffering resulting from accidents and criminal behavior.
• A career as a federal agent may take a toll on their private lives.
• A federal agent is usually scheduled to work 40-hour weeks, but paid overtime is common.
• A federal agent is required to work at any time services are needed and may work long hours during investigations.
• Whether on or off duty, a federal agent is expected to be armed and to exercise authority whenever necessary.
• Some jobs such as the U.S. Secret Service and DEA special agents require extensive travel, often on very short notice.
• A federal agent may relocate a number of times over the course of their careers.
• Some special agents in agencies such as the U.S. Border Patrol work outdoors in rugged terrain for long periods and in all kinds of weather.

A Federal agent is a law enforcement officer who works for one of these federal agencies:

Fish and game warden:

• a federal agent who enforces fishing, hunting, and boating laws.
• patrols hunting and fishing areas, conducts search and rescue operations and investigates complaints and accidents.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent:

• is the Government's principal investigator.
• conduct sensitive national security investigations.
• conducts surveillance, monitors court-authorized wiretaps, examines business records, investigates white-collar crime, or participates in sensitive undercover assignments.
• investigates organized crime, public corruption, financial crime, fraud against the government, bribery, copyright infringement, civil rights violations, bank robbery, extortion, kidnapping, air piracy, terrorism, espionage, interstate criminal activity and other violations of Federal statutes.

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent:

• a federal agent who enforces laws and regulations relating to illegal drugs.
• coordinates and pursues U.S. drug investigations abroad.
• conducts complex criminal investigations, carries out surveillance of criminals and infiltrates illicit drug organizations using undercover techniques.

U.S. marshal, deputy marshal:

• a federal agent who protects the federal courts and ensures the effective operation of the judicial system.
• provides protection for the federal judiciary, transports federal prisoners, protects federal witnesses and manages assets seized from criminal enterprises.
• enjoys the widest jurisdiction of any federal law enforcement agency.
• pursues and arrests federal fugitives.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives agent:

• a federal agent who regulates and investigates violations of federal firearms and explosives laws and federal alcohol and tobacco tax regulations.

U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security special agent:

• a federal agent who battles against terrorism.
• advises ambassadors on all security matters.
• manages a complex range of security programs designed to protect personnel, facilities, and information.
• investigates passport and visa fraud, conducts personnel security investigations, issues security clearances.
• protects the Secretary of State and a number of foreign dignitaries.
• trains foreign civilian police and administers a counter-terrorism reward program.

Immigration inspector:

• a federal agent who interviews and examines people seeking entrance to the United States and its territories.
• inspects passports to determine whether people are legally eligible to enter the United States.
• prepares reports, maintains records, and processes applications and petitions for immigration or temporary residence in the United States.

Customs inspector:

• a federal agent who inspects cargo, baggage, and articles worn or carried by people, vessels, vehicles, trains, and aircraft entering or leaving the United States.
• examines, counts, weighs, gauges, measures, and samples commercial and noncommercial cargoes entering and leaving the United States.
• seize prohibited or smuggled articles; intercept contraband; and apprehend, search, detain, and arrest violators of U.S. laws.

Customs agent:

• a federal agent who investigates violations, such as narcotics smuggling, money laundering, child pornography, and customs fraud, and enforces the Arms Export Control Act.
• develops and uses informants; conducts physical and electronic surveillance; and examines records from importers and exporters, banks, couriers, and manufacturers.
• conduct interviews, serves on joint task forces with other agencies, and executes search warrants.

Federal air marshal:

• a federal agent who provides air security by fighting attacks targeting U.S. airports, passengers, and crews.
• goes undercover as an ordinary passenger and boards flights of U.S. air carriers to locations worldwide.

U.S. Secret Service special agent

• a federal agent who protects the President, Vice President, and their immediate families.
• protects Presidential candidates, former Presidents and foreign dignitaries visiting the United States.
• investigates counterfeiting, forgery of Government checks or bonds, and fraudulent use of credit cards.

Requirements:
Requirements to be a federal agent vary within each federal agency:

FBI agent:

• must be a graduate of an accredited law school or a college graduate with one of the following: a major in accounting, electrical engineering, or information technology; fluency in a foreign language; or three years of related full-time work experience.
• undergoes 18 weeks of training at the FBI Academy on the U.S. Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia.

U.S. Secret Service agent, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agent:

• must have a bachelor's degree, a minimum of three years' related work experience, or a combination of education and experience.
• As a federal agent, undergoes 11 weeks of initial criminal investigation training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia, and another 17 weeks of specialized training with their particular agencies.

DEA agent:

• must have a college degree with at least a 2.95 grade point average or specialized skills or work experience, such as foreign language fluency, technical skills, law enforcement experience, or accounting experience.
• as a federal agent, undergoes 14 weeks of specialized training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

U.S. Border Patrol agent:

• must be a U.S. citizen, be younger than 37 years of age at the time of appointment, possess a valid driver's license, and pass a three-part examination on reasoning and language skills.
• A bachelor's degree or previous work experience that demonstrates the ability to handle stressful situations, make decisions, and take charge is required.

Postal inspector

• must have a bachelor's degree and 1 year of related work experience.
• It is desirable that a postal inspector has one of several professional certifications, such as that of certified public accountant.
• as a federal agent, must pass a background investigation, meet certain health requirements, undergo a drug screening test, possess a valid State driver's license, and be a U.S. citizen between 21 and 36 years of age when hired.