NA and FBI

Does anyone know if the FBI truly accepts new agents with bachelor degrees from NA schools? Their employment website claims they do.

 

Manny the federal government accepts degree from NA accredited schools. Look in the OPM's website and should can see for yourself. Outside of the government is another story, specially if you are planning teaching in an RA school. I am sure you will see more on this on other replies.

 

My senior level univeristy class did a recruitment campaign for the FBI last semester. We were "hired", with a budget to recruit agents (it was incrediable). The official guidelines we were given is no less than RA.

 

If we can't believe the FBI, whom can we belive? Wonder how MLK, Jr. answer this?

 

Taken from the website of the FBI :

Special Agent:


What are the qualifications for the Special Agent position?
To qualify for training as a Special Agent, an individual must be a US citizen, or a citizen of the Northern Mariana Islands, and have reached his/her 23rd but not 37th birthday. All candidates must possess a valid driver's license and must pass a polygraph examination, a drug test, and a color vision test. Other requirements include uncorrected vision not worse than 20/200 (Snellen) and corrected 20/20 in one eye and not worse than 20/40 in the other eye. Applicants must possess a four-year degree from a college or university accredited by one of the regional or national institutional associations recognized by the United States Secretary of Education.

https://www.fbijobs.com/Faq.htm

 

When I was at ITT we had agents from either the FBI or CIA recruiting. I don't know if it was just for technical positions or if they where also looking for agents.

 

The San Diego FBI office is next door to ITT. We had one of their recruiters come to our commencement ceremony. They usually hire the bright ones. What should matter is being qualified under the four areas they hire for.
If you've got the stomach for it, you should apply for it. Look at this message board:www.911jobforums.com

 

With the shortage of qualified intelligence analysts will the FBI continue its policy of age discrimination? Or are intelligence analysts not within the realm of Special Agent?

 

As the daughter of a "retired" special/secret agent (you never really retire), I can attest that they are not trying to discriminate. I am very glad they have those rules. Being a special/secret agent is an emotionally taxing job that can take you away from your family, your home, and, sometimes, even your sanity.

By the age of 23 (I am about to turn 23, by the way) most people have a glimmer of an idea of what they want to do with their lives. And can be more settled in the heavy decision of joining an Agency. My dad was recruited to the NSA straight out of Vietnam when he was only 20. He tells me that if he had been older, he would not have done it. Since then, he has worked for the CIA, FBI, and DoD.

Also, after 37, you have most likely decided on your future path and have little ones, maybe even children entering High School. I promise you, if you have already built a family by this time, it is not practical to do as my father did and gain a promotion or, in the case of others, become an agent. Since I can remember, my dad's been going on long "business trips" and coming back looking "wierd" (when you're young, you can't put a name to severe exhaustion).

We like to laugh that when he said he was going on a business trip to Georgia, he was actually going on a "business trip" to Georgia . Yes, we have lots of interesting and amazing stories to tell our kids about their grandpa but, we also have many gaps that will never be filled because he wasn't able to be there for us. Either physically or emotionally.

I am saying this after talking with my dad. I am not putting down what he has done for us, I'm just letting you know what it's like for a family to have a dad working for an Agency. It can be taxing and confusing at times. When you think of it that way, they are actually protecting families and lives by requiring an age limit.

All my love,
eirie

 

What do they ask you on the polygraph??

 

There are different rules for law enforcement folks with regard to retirement, age limits, etc... than other occupations within the same agency. When I interviewed for a special agent position many years ago I missed the age cutoff by a couple of months (I was finishing a military retirement and couldn't just bail.) I did however, receive an offer for another position within the agency assuming passing the academy. I did not accept this offer.

Eirie,

for the longest time my children called the phone daddy. Time away can never be regained and too often when folks criticize the government employee they forget about those who dedicate their lives to support US citizens through the civil service or the Armed Forces at the expense of some normalcy in life.

Please thank your dad for his sacrifice.

Kindest Regards,

Kevin

 

This was a huge discussion when we had the agents out.

First, they go over your background, and make sure you have nothing that you have stated differently during the interviews. Then the biggest area that people will fail is

1. You can not have used pot more than 15 times in your life. We were told if you are close, you will probably fail.

2. I think it was 3 or 5 "hard" drugs in your life - cocaine, etc.

3. You have not used an illegal substance in the last 2 years.

We had a great discussion on how they came up with these numbers as guidelines, but that is another story.....

 

Age limit for an agent is 36. This is becuase of the pension / retirement issue, you have to have enough years in to get a full retirement, and 36 is the latest that this could happen.

 

How would they know? Hell, I don't even know...... Hell, i don't even remember my early to mid 20's to be quite honest......

 

Here's what the OPM website says:

COURSES TAKEN AT NONACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS ARE ACCEPTABLE IF THEY MEET THE QUALIFYING CONDITIONS:

1. The courses are accepted for advanced credit at an accredited institution.

2. The institution is one whose transcript is given full credit by a State University.

3. The courses have been evaluated and approved by a State Department of Education.

4. The course work has been evaluated by an organization recognized for accreditation by the Council of Post secondary Accreditation.

Realistically, it seems to me it would be very difficult for most non-RA degree holders to meet these criteria.

 

Han,

From the FBI employment info.

"Special Agent

What are the qualifications for the Special Agent position?
To qualify for training as a Special Agent, an individual must be a US citizen, or a citizen of the Northern Mariana Islands, and have reached his/her 23rd but not 37th birthday."

snip

"Is there a waiver regarding the maximum age limit of 37?
The only position in the agency that has an age restriction is the Special Agent position. The maximum entrance age is mandated by Public Law 93-350, enacted July 12, 1974, which allowed the heads of agencies to establish a maximum age for original entry on duty in federal law enforcement positions. Under this authority, the Attorney General, with the concurrence of the Office of Personnel Management, set the date immediately preceding one's thirty-seventh birthday as the last date for original entry on duty as a law enforcement officer in the Department of Justice.

Is there waiver of the four year degree if an applicant has military service?
No. All applicant's must have a four year degree when applying for the Special Agent position."

you are correct in that this age limit goes directly to retirement issues. However, supporting positions do not have this age limitation.

Back to the original poster, there are positions that only an RA degree will meet within the FBI.

https://www.fbijobs.com/jobdesc.asp?requisitionid=368

scroll down to "Qualifications Requirements"

as has been discussed on the board some of these requirements for licensure depend on the state of issuance and only RA degrees will meet the requirements in many states.

 

COURSES TAKEN AT NONACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS ARE ACCEPTABLE IF THEY MEET THE QUALIFYING CONDITIONS:

Just wondering when a school that was NA was all of a sudden not accredited. Most NA schools are recognized by the USD of E. And the OPM states that. Now will they look at an RA degree as somewhat better, maybe. But that is dependent on people's prejudices.

 

there is a large difference between "Courses" and degrees. Do not confuse NonAccredited (NA) with Nationally Accredited (NA). Many educational providers do not have accreditation but are under a government contract to provide education. These courses are acceptable for qualification criteria if they meet the standard as stated. For example, most universities will accept ACE reviewed courses. Some positions may require specific content areas and a number of hours. So an applicant may need to acquire additional semester hours to qualify.

The statement is a common sense test as normally offered in this forum and essentially adheres to the GAAP measure. By which, if a course isn't acceptable under the conditions listed it is not acceptable for the government.

I would recommend that if anyone has a specific question contact the POC on the application or contact OPM (www.opm.gov).

An example:

ESI has partnered with George Washington University to offer Project Management and other classes. ESI is not accredited but since GWU will allow these classes to be used towards degree requirements the government can allow credit for these classes.

I can not think of any circumstances where an unevaluated unaccredited degree or course would be sufficient in meeting government requirements.

I would also suspect that this addition is directly related to the use of Kennedy Western and other unaccredited/unevaluated providers.

Regards,

Kevin

 

They said if you doubt yourself, that the polygraph will know. I think it is a bunch of milarky that they come up with some artifical number.... seems silly to me.

 

I still think its silly.... to punish someone for their misguided efforts to be cool when they are younger.. but then again maybe the FBI doesn't want out of the box thinkers.... The only people out of my graduating class they where interested in where the straight laced guys that walked the straight and narrow all their lives.