How do you become a FBI special agent?
As a new special agent, you cannot immediately become a
profiler. You must first serve at least five years as a special
agent and, in addition, be assigned as a profile coordinator in an
FBI field office. The job of the profile coordinator is to work
closely with local and state law enforcement agencies in
identifying cases with which the NCAVC may be able to provide
assistance. As a general rule, profile coordinators do not have the
overall training and authority to provide their own profiles.
However, whenever there is a profiler position opening at the
NCAVC, the profile coordinators are the first candidates that are
considered for the position. These criminal profiling positions are
very competitive, and it may take several years before you are even
considered as a viable candidate.
The selection process is complicated. An education in Behavioral
Science or Forensic Science is preferred. Investigative experience
in violent crime is a real must, so a special agent's experience
with the Bureau should include homicide, rape, and other crimes of
interpersonal violence. This experience may have also been obtained
from employment prior to working for the FBI. This is a very
subjective and highly competitive process. If your goal is to
become a criminal profiler, you should be certain that being a
special agent serving in some other capacity would be just as
satisfying to you.