The Secret Service of the United States (US) is a branch of the Department of Homeland Security. The Secret Service is best known for protecting the President of the United States, but this is only one of its many responsibilities. Secret Service agents protect other important political figures, including visiting leaders, in addition to serving as the President’s personal bodyguards. Secret Service agents also deal with law enforcement in the United States Treasury Department. This includes, but is not limited to, major fraud, counterfeiting, and tax evasion investigations.
Becoming a Secret Service agent is no easy task. You must meet a laundry list of minimum requirements to even be considered for the job. You must be a United States citizen, between the ages of 21 and 37, have a valid driver’s license, and have uncorrected vision of at least 20/60, correctable to perfect 20/20. Male candidates must also be registered with the Selective Service. To become an agent, you must also be in good health, as determined an authorized government physician, and pass a rigorous physical fitness examination.
To become a Secret Service agent, you’ll need a lot of education and work experience, even if you meet the minimum requirements. Depending on your experience, you’ll work as a GL-7 or GL-9 agent. A prospective special agent must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university to work at the GL-7 level. In addition, you must have a 3.0 or higher cumulative grade point average (GPA) for all courses taken, a 3.5 or higher for major-related courses only, or membership in a recognized national honor society.
Alternatively, you could show proof of 18 graduate credit hours or one year of GL-5 level work experience in a law enforcement-related field. This can help you advance to the GL-7 level of Secret Service agent. You’ll need a master’s degree or a year of GL-7 work experience in a law enforcement-related field to work at the GL-9 level.
You must have passed the Treasury Enforcement Agent (TEA) test to become a Secret Service agent. Logic problems, advanced mathematical word problems, and fictional crime scene analysis are all part of the TEA test. Specialized study guides, similar to those designed for college and graduate-level exams, are available for the sole purpose of TEA test preparation.
After you’ve completed all of the minimum requirements, education requirements, and TEA testing, you can apply to become a Secret Service agent on the agency’s official website. An extensive background check is performed as part of the application process to ensure that you are qualified for top-level security clearance. A series of interviews, polygraph screening, drug testing, and interviews with a number of personal references are all part of the process. To become a Secret Service agent, you must also demonstrate firearm proficiency. Even if you meet all of the requirements, pass all of the tests, and obtain top security clearance, know that becoming a Secret Service agent is a highly sought-after job in a highly competitive field.