How to Become an FBI Agent in Louisiana

With issues like sex trafficking, fraud, conspiracy and terrorism to deal with, Louisiana keeps the Federal Bureau of investigation busy within its borders. The FBI field office located in New Orleans is responsible for field operations within the entire state, and it also helps coordinate investigations and operations on an interstate basis. FBI agents are responsible for many important criminal justice operations in Louisiana, including one in October 2016 that led to the arrest of 45 human trafficking criminals and the release of 82 juvenile victims.

Those who want to join the FBI and help out in the effort to reduce crime and make Louisiana safe can use the following process to apply to the FBI and become a special agent.

FBI Agent Requirements in Louisiana

Basic requirements

• 23 to 36 years old
• Three years of full-time work experience in any field
  • Can be lower for those with a JD, CPA or advanced degree
• Minimum education level of Bachelor’s degree or higher
  • Preferred training in STEM, laboratory sciences, law, engineering, investigations, foreign languages and flight operations
• U.S. Citizenship
• Valid driver’s license
• No history of felony convictions or prescription drug-related crimes
• Registered for Selective Service (males only)
• Able to pass minimum vision and hearing requirements

Additional requirements

• Must not have defaulted on student loans, failed to file income tax returns, or failed to pay court-ordered child support
• Must be able to pass a drug test and comply with the FBI drug policy, which makes you ineligible if you have consumed marijuana in the past three years or illegal drugs in the past 10 years
• Must be willing to accept assignment anywhere in the country
• Must be able to pass the physical fitness test (PFT) minimum standards
• Must be able to satisfy a thorough 10 year background investigation analyzing your conduct and criminal history

Different Positions with The FBI in Louisiana

• Criminal Investigations — Conduct investigations on suspicious activities or persons, including organized crime, financial crimes, sex crimes, narcotics, violent crime, public corruption and more
• Hostage Rescue Team — Infiltrate hostage situations and recover victims while reducing casualties
• Specialized Weapons and Tactical Unit (SWAT) — Federal agents have their own elite SWAT unit for use against highly dangerous or heavily armed assailants
• Evidence Response Team (ERT) — Dispatched to crime scenes to uphold the highest possible standard for collecting, documenting, preserving and analyzing evidence; includes Hazardous Evidence Response Teams (HERT), Underwater Search and Evidence Response Teams (USERT) and more
• Operational Medic — Provide emergency medical care and evac guidance as a part of a dispatched field team
• CyberSecurity — Helps detect, analyze, investigate and counteract threats such as online fraud, cyber-terrorism and illegal or subversive activities being conducted online

Louisiana FBI Agent Education

• Bachelors of Science in Criminology — Learn the criminal justice process along with important facets like criminal psychology, case establishment and more
• Bachelors of Science in Engineering — The FBI needs increasing engineering expertise both to help them interpret evidence and to assist with the operations of field teams
• Bachelors of Science in Chemistry — Applied science degrees benefit field agents as they gather, preserve and analyze critical evidence
• Bachelors of Arts in Finance/Accounting — Financial crimes and financial-related evidence are frequent encounters in field investigations, necessitating special agents with expertise in finance or accounting
• Bachelors of Arts in a Foreign Language — As America becomes more diverse and FBI investigations look increasingly abroad, the need for special agents who can speak multiple languages increases

Major Cities in Louisiana

FBI headquarters in Louisiana are in New Orleans, which has a population of over 378,000. The FBI also has offices in the cities of Baton Rouge, Alexandria, Lafayette, Monroe, Shreveport and Lake Charles.

Specific Duties of FBI Agents in Louisiana

• Conducting criminal investigations on perpetrators of major organized crime, violent crimes, interstate crimes and other criminal activities
• Monitoring cybercrime threats, investigating cyber crimes and counteracting them
• Investigating allegations of fraud, corruption, racketeering and improper conduct among public officials and police units
• Conducting sting operations to uncover criminal activities
• Arresting high-profile criminals
• Investigation of financial crimes
• Counter-espionage and counter-terrorism
• Emergency response to explosives, hostage situations, violent criminals and more

Intersting Facts About the FBI in Louisiana

The FBI has a long history in Louisiana stretching back to 1911, when the Bureau was formed. Federal agents maintained a heavy presence in the city to monitor crimes at the busy New Orleans harbor. During the two World Wars, they prevented a number of sabotage operations, and in the mid-century they investigated the activities of the Marcello Crime Family. After September 11, the New Orleans office has increased its oversight into terrorism and cyber crimes.

Louisiana FBI Agent Salary

Newly recruited field agents earn a GS-10 level pay, which would be $65,715 a year in New Orleans, including locality and availability pay for full-time agents. Agents may be able to increase their salaries to GS-10 step 10 or higher, corresponding to $85,430 a year.

FBI Training Programs and Schools in Louisiana