How to Become an NCIS Special Agent
NCIS Special Agent Jobs
NCIS Special Agents' Job
The NCIS website states that their top priorities are to "Prevent Terrorism, Protect Secrets, and Reduce Crime." NCIS special agents have a wide variety of duties, from criminal investigation to antiterrorism. They can also expect to work in a variety of places, including foreign countries. Special agents receive training in crime scene investigation, fraud investigation, and foreign counterintelligence, among many others. The training available to special agents is discussed later in the article.
NCIS Special Agent Requirements
There are no specific majors required to be an NCIS special agent, but applicants are required to have at least a bachelor's degree to be considered. Other special agent requirements include being under the age of 37, being a US citizen and having vision correctable to 20/20.
When applying to be a special agent, you will have to take a psychological exam and a reading comprehension/judgment test.
Applicants must also be able to pass a background screening and a drug screening. You cannot have used marijuana at all within the last 3 years, or more than 15 times in your life. Special agent applicants must meet more stringent requirements regarding any other drug use.
NCIS Special Agent Training
According to the NAVCOPS website, once hired, new NCIS agents have a 15-week course called the NCIS Basic Agent Course. Part of this course consists of basic criminal investigation training and then six weeks of training specific to NCIS.
After this, special agents receive an additional eight hours of training each month. New hires will also be under the careful supervision of field training agents who will help the new agents learn on the job.
As special agents progress through their careers, they will be able to select more specific technical training courses.
NCIS Special Agent Salaries
NCIS special agents' salary starts, at the lowest, at the GS-7 level. According to the 2008 Government Salary table, this is $36,870 a year. They also receive +25% of this salary for being available for work 24 hours a day.
This is, however, a minimum. According to the NCIS Special Agent Applicant Handbook, the starting special agent salary varies on a case-by-case basis. In addition, as an NCIS employee, the agent will be eligible for government benefit programs.
Sources:
NCIS Special Agent Information Booklet. U.S. Department of Defense. http://ncis.navy.mil/downloads/NCIS_Special_Agent_Applicant_Infobooklet.doc
Special Agent Careers. Navy Criminal Investigative Service. http://ncis.navy.mil/join/agent.asp
NCIS Special Agent Position. NAVCOPS Network. http://www.navcops.com/information/questions.php?questionid=14
Published by Kellen Cooper
Kellen has a BBA and MAcc in Accounting and is in the process of qualifying to become a CPA. View profile
- Two Worlds: Military and CivilianMy life turned upside down on September 11.
- What Are Some of the Different Types of Evidence Used in Criminal Investigation?An examination of the relevance of evidence, the distinction between direct and indirect evidence, what is dissonant and conflicting evidence, and how hedging is used in probabilistic terms.
A Review of the Criminal Investigation Process StudyA review of the findings of the 1975 Rand Corporation's Criminal Investigation Process Study.- Forensic Psychology and the Criminal MIndA research paper that is a correlation of the psychological profiles and criminal minded individuals. It also covers the birth of the practice of criminal profiling, and how it is implemented today in criminal prosec...
- Criminal Investigation: Understanding Properly Handling Blood EvidenceBlood evidence is a valuable resource in a criminal investigation, but it is extremely fragile. Mishandling can easily damage or even destroy this type of evidence.
- Freedom: Remembering What the US Flag Stands For
- The Differences Between Scientific Research and a Criminal Investigation
- When and Why to Use a Travel Agent
- NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service--The Complete First Season
- NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service--The Complete Second Season
- The Business of Acting: Working with Your Agent
- A Guide to Becoming an FBI Special Agent - Languages You Need to Study to Get the Job
- Special Agents Requirements
- Special Agents Training
- Special Agents Salaries
66 Comments
Post a CommentWhile i love the show that is not the reason i want to become an NCIS special agent.I am however going into the military first that i hear helps you get more of a shot...I highly recommend the show NCIS but don't choose to become one based on the show please cuz it isn't the same as you may thing
I love to watch NCIS hopefully I will become one when I grow up.
One should understand that the show is just a show. However I'd like to comment, about being annoyed about people wanting to be apart of NCIS just because of the show. Most people know that the show is just that, a show. But it can inspire people to want to do more than they are. So if you want to be like Ziva or Ducky. DOn't let people tell you that you cannot because of the reason you want to join. Because you can do whatever you want. Only you can limit yourself. So set your mind to the sky and don't limit yourself.
why is it against marijuana?out of all the bad stuff there is out there they go against that 1 drug.
none
none
I find that the more i learn NCIS isnt like the sho, the more i wanna become an agent. i coped with that fact a long time ago because i love it too much and know everything about every actor and character to not fully research it. it got me interested in the great things they do for our country in real life. plus as tony says, "the guns and the babes" (ep. "Collateral Damage")
I want to become an NCIS agent one day, because my cousin is a special agent. But guys, please listen. The show is NOT at all like real life. Most of the people on here seem to be young teens-I'm 15, btw-who idolize the TV show characters. And while it's great that you guys want to become NCIS agents, you have to understand that the real job is very, very different from the show. It's a lot of paperpushing and arrests. Of course they are the best investigators out there but the show is unrealistic. I love the show, too, but I don't base my career choice on it. It's painful to see so many people who are going to apply for special agent jobs and be very dissapointed when they realize that Tony and Ziva and Abby and McGee aren't real. :)
I'm 15, and my older cousin is an NCIS agent, and no offense, but it really annoys me when people who just watch the show insist that they're going to be an agent 'like Ziva' or an ME 'like Ducky'. The show is very good, and I enjoy watching it, but it's often unrealistic. I love the show, but I hate it when people make huge career choices based on something they saw on TV. Guys, the show IS NOT WHAT BEING A REAL AGENT IS LIKE. Just a warning.
I admit that I'm a fan of the show,but I wanted to be an agent long before I started watching it.My dad worked under SecNav and my cousin and uncle are Marines.I have spent a lot of time on Navy bases,and I have actually met several NCIS agents.They are very dedicated to their jobs,and their work is very hard .Many people who watch the show have warped images of what being a Special Agent really entails.Yes,its exciting,but there is a lot of paperwork involved and a lot less hot Tony-like characters.However,knowing this has not swayed my desire to be an NCIS agent all.I agree completely with Mr.H. Too many people think that life mimics TV shows,and vice versa,but its not true.Of course,the real NCIS is an amazing place full of the best investigators around,and I someday hope to join their ranks.