How to Become an FBI Agent in Colorado

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is responsible with the noble task of keeping the United States and its citizens safe from internal and external threats. The Bureau also is tasked with enforcing federal laws and investigate criminal activity that spans over 200 categories.

The role of an FBI agent is diverse and oftentimes intense. In Colorado, there is a field office in Denver that serves all of the state’s counties, plus the state of Wyoming. There are also several resident agencies within the two states.

If you are interested in becoming an FBI agent in Colorado, please take a look at the necessary requirements to improve your chances of a successful application process.

FBI Agent Requirements in Colorado

Basic Requirements

• Applicants must be at least 23 years old and under 37 years old.
• You must possess a valid driver’s license.
• Completion of a bachelor’s degree from a four-year accredited institution is also necessary.
• At minimum, you must have three years of relevant experience.
• Proof that you are a U.S. citizen is required.

Additional Requirements

Applicants must be willing to relocate for their position. Agents are often relocated to new cities at the start of their careers.

Additionally, qualified candidates must pass a physical fitness test consisting of four events: sit-ups, push-ups, a 300 meter sprint, and a 1.5 mile run. Upon passing the physical test, applicants are subject to an in-depth background investigation. This will include a drug test, medical exam, polygraph test, and an investigation of your personal life. This often includes interviews with your colleagues, professors, and friends.

Different Positions with the FBI in Colorado

Once you become an FBI agent, there are a variety of different specialized fields you can pursue. If you know a foreign language, working as a translator or language analyst. There are also opportunities for individuals with specific skills like operating a helicopter.

Additionally, the FBI offers positions for individuals interested in becoming Paralegals, Visual Information Specialists and Deputy General Counsels.

Colorado FBI Agent Education

Criminal justice degrees are not required to become an FBI agent in Colorado. You may use your educational background in a variety of ways for the FBI. For example, a degree in one of the STEM fields, a foreign language, accounting or psychology are all valid options for those wanting to pursue employment by the Bureau.

Major Cities in Colorado

• The most populated city in Colorado is Denver with 649,495 people.
• Colorado Springs has the second largest population in the state with 439,886 residents.
• In Aurora, there are 345,803 residents, making it the third-most populous city in Colorado.

Specific Duties of FBI Agents in Colorado

The FBI has several priorities which apply to agents in Colorado and across the country. These include protecting the U.S. from terrorist attacks, protecting citizen’s civil rights, preventing cyber-attacks and technology crimes and combating white-collar crime, corruption and violence.

An agent in Colorado can expect diverse days in order to uphold these priorities. For example, in one day you might testify in federal court, make an arrest, write reports at the office and attend a meeting.

Interesting Facts

• Denver’s FBI offices played a vital role in the development of the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives Program. Only four days after Raymond Edward Young was put on the list, Denver agents captured him.
• After 9/11, a Denver Field Intelligence Group was formed in order to gather information on key threats to the country.

Colorado FBI Agent Salary

FBI agents across the states are paid on a scale set up by the federal government called General Schedule (GS). For agents in Colorado, this annual salary ranges from GS-10, $57,971, to GS-13, 114,991.

FBI Training Programs and Schools in Colorado