Secret Service Agent

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

Secret service special agents perform these duties:

Protection: Special agents provide security for the President of the United States, Vice President, President-elect, Vice President-elect, and all immediate family members of the individuals. They also secure former Presidents, their wives, and children 16 years or younger. They also protect President and Vice President candidates and their families, as well as visiting foreign heads of state.
Fraud: Special agents also investigate fraud, including computer crimes, telecommunications fraud, counterfeiting, false identification, and electronic funds transfer fraud.

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.

Featured Criminal Justice Articles

Breakthrough in Forensic Science
Forensic researchers in Tucson, Arizona have developed a revolutionary method that could allow scientists to predict what a person might look like using nothing more than their DNA.
Does The Death Penalty Save Lives?
For the first time in over a generation, the question of whether the death penalty deters murders has captured the attention of scholars in both law and economics, sparking an intense new debate.
Bounty Hunters -- Legit, or not?
There has been increasing controversy in the United States over bounty hunters, with concern voiced over the lack of control that a state has over their behavior.

Criminal Justice Career Spotlight

Homeland Security Professionals

Want to launch a career in Homeland Security? It will probably be a very challenging experience but we can guarantee it will be thrilling and rewarding.

The different departments that come under the aegis of Homeland security offers our nation immense support with secure airports, waterways, borders as well as seaports. view career profile »