Secret Service Agent

The Secret Service, a division of the Department of Homeland Security, serves as a national law enforcement agency.

The primary purpose of the United States Secret Service is to carry out two imperative missions: protection and criminal investigations. During their careers, secret service special agents will be required to perform assignments in both of these areas and will be require to work in many locations both domestically and abroad.

Specifically secret service special agents perform the duties listed below.

The Secret Service protects:

The president, the vice president (or other individuals next in order of succession to the Office of the President), the president-elect and vice president-elect
The families of the president and vice president
Former presidents, their spouses for their lifetimes, except when the spouse remarries
Children of former presidents until they reach the age 16
National Special Security Events, when designated as such by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security
Visiting heads of foreign states or governments and their family members traveling with them, other distinguished visitors
Major presidential and vice presidential candidates, and their spouses within 120 days of a general presidential election
Other individuals as designated per Executive Order of the President

The Secret Service investigates:

Violations of laws relating to counterfeiting of United States financial notes
Financial crimes that include financial institution fraud, access device fraud, false identification documents, advance fee fraud, computer and telecommunications fraud, electronic funds transfers and money laundering as it relates to the secret service agency's core violations
Computer-based attacks on the nation's banking, financial, and telecommunications infrastructure

Secret Service Agent Qualifications

A candidate must be a U.S. citizen
A candidate must pass a medical exam
A candidate must pass a drug screening
A candidate must pass a written test
A candidate must pass a thorough background investigation
A candidate must pass a polygraph exam
A candidate must pass an extensive interview
A candidate must pass an entrance exam
A candidate must obtain a Top Secret clearance
A candidate must be at least 21 and under 37 at time of application

Secret service candidates must have a bachelor’s degree or 3 years of law enforcement or criminal investigation experience.

Secret Service Agent Training

Secret service agents spend 3 months training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Georgia or New Mexico. Following this training, agents spend 3 months at the James J. Rowley Training Center in Maryland.

For more information on how to become a secret service agent you can contact the Secret Service Recruitment Program at 202-406-5830, or TTY 202-406-5390. You may also call 888-813-8777 for a listing of our current vacancies.

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Salary: $38k - $60k+
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Job Outlook: Excellent

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