How to Become an FBI Special Agent

The FBI exam—also known as the FBI Special Agent Selection System (SASS)—is a multi-phase assessment process designed to evaluate candidates for the role of FBI Special Agent. The exam includes both written and physical components, assessing cognitive abilities, personality traits, situational judgement, and physical fitness. Successfully passing the FBI exam is a key step in joining one of the most elite law enforcement agencies in the world.

The FBI Special Agent hiring process is highly selective and can take several months to over a year. It includes two major exams, interviews, a physical fitness test, and an extensive background investigation. Only candidates who pass every stage are invited to train at Quantico.

Step 1: Application

The first step is submitting your FBI Special Agent application online. You’ll need to provide personal details, references, and background information, as well as answer questions about your specialized skills and professional experience. As part of your application, you’ll complete a self-reported Physical Fitness Evaluation (PFE) to show you meet basic physical readiness.

Step 2: FBI Phase 1 Test

If your application passes screening, you’ll be invited to the FBI Phase I Test—a 3-hour computerized exam that includes logical reasoning, behavioral judgment, and personality profiling. Scoring in the top 30% is required to move forward.

If successful, you’ll attend a “Meet & Greet” session with FBI recruiters. Don’t be fooled by the informal name — you’re being evaluated from the moment you arrive.

Step 3: Internal Review

After the Meet & Greet, your full application is reviewed by an internal FBI hiring board, which evaluates your qualifications and fit for current agency needs. If approved, you’ll move on to the final testing phase.

Step 4: Phase 2 Test & Interview

Phase II consists of two parts:

1. A 90-minute written exam, where you’ll analyze background material and write a structured report
2. A 60-minute structured panel interview, assessing critical thinking, judgment, and interpersonal skills

Only candidates who excel in both continue to the next step.

Step 5: Conditional Job Offer & Physical Fitness Test

If you pass Phase II, you’ll receive a Conditional Job Offer (CJO) — but there are still hurdles to clear. You must:

• Pass the official FBI Physical Fitness Test (PFT)
• Complete a comprehensive background investigation, including a polygraph test
• Undergo a medical and vision screening

Once cleared, you’ll begin your 20-week training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Want to increase your chances of success? Start preparing for the FBI Phase 1 Test here.

Aspiring special agents in the FBI are required to pass two challenging assessments as part of their hiring process. The first is the Phase I Test, also named the FBI Special Agent Exam. It is a three-hour written test with cognitive and behavioral questions.  The top 30% who pass this test will move on to the FBI phase 2 exam.

The full FBI exam is divided into several phases:

1. FBI Phase 1 Exam – A computer-based assessment covering logic-based reasoning, figural reasoning, personality assessment, and situational judgement.

2. FBI Phase 2 Test– Includes a written assessment (report writing based on a given scenario) and a structured panel interview.

3. Physical Fitness Test (PFT) – A series of exercises including sit-ups, 300-meter sprint, push-ups, and a 1.5-mile run to assess your physical readiness.

4. Background Check & Polygraph – A comprehensive review of your personal, professional, and criminal background.

5. Medical & Vision Exam – Final medical clearance required before training.

6. FBI Academy Training – If accepted, you’ll begin your official training at Quantico.

The FBI Phase 1 Test is a 3-hour exam that evaluates your cognitive abilities, logical reasoning, and situational judgment. It includes multiple-choice questions across several sections and serves as the first major screening stage in the FBI Special Agent hiring process.

This section of the FBI exam contains 11 questions, each presents a set of facts within a paragraph based on which you must determine the correct conclusion out of 5 options. 

For example, this question is taken from our complete FBI phase 1 preparation: 

Such questions can get very confusing under time pressure. To be able to solve these quickly and accurately, it is highly useful to be rely on general rules, such as: 

• The fact that "all A are B", does not mean that "all B are A" (let's say all birds are blue, it does not mean that all blue things are birds). This means that if you are given a B (blue thing), it is not necessarily an A (bird).
• However, "Some B are A" is derived from the first statement and must be true. 

For more logic-based reasoning assessing exams, check out our Secret Service (SAEE) Tests Preparation.

There are 19 questions in this section of the FBI exam. Each question contains a description of a work scenario, followed by a list of possible responses. The challenge here is correctly rate the effectiveness of each response (from most effective to ineffective), so it aligns with the core values and capabilities expected of special agents.

For example, this question is taken from our complete FBI phase 1 preparation: 

This question measures abilities related to effective relationships with other co-workers. Other questions examine the ability to adapt to changing environments, organize and prioritize, and evaluate information in order to make decisions. 

This section assesses your ability to identify shape or image patterns and complete them accordingly. There will be 9 questions, each containing a sequence of shapes or symbols with one missing shape.

To practice different types of patterns and sharpen the ability to notice them, our practice pack contains a variety of questions with thorough explanations and solving tips, just like you've seen above. These will help you learn the most efficient solving techniques for each and every question.

The personality assessment measures aspects of your personality to identify those that possess traits necessary to be a successful FBI special agent. There will be 100 statements in this section.

For each question, you will be shown a pair of statements with a scale of 4 options between them: Agree with A/Slightly Agree with A/Slightly Agree with B/Agree with B.

Note that this personality test is adaptive, which means your responses affect the questions that will be shown to you during the test.

 To try more questions, go to our free FBI Phase I Practice Test or visit our Special Agent Practice for additional information.

The FBI Phase 1 Test evaluates your cognitive abilities, professional judgment, and personality, while the Phase 2 Test focuses on your ability to communicate effectively. It includes a writing assessment that lasts 150 minutes and a structured interview that lasts 1 hour. If you purchase the FBI Phase 1 Test, you can also opt for Phase 2 Test preparation by checking the box on the right.

Click here to learn more about the FBI Phase II Test Preparation

The FBI uses the Phase 1 and 2 Tests to screen thousands of Special Agent candidates every year. Only those who score in the top 30% advance to the next hiring stage.

These tests are challenging, with the Phase 1 exam lasting 3 hours and requiring fast, focused decision-making under pressure.

Our comprehensive FBI Phase 1 and 2 preparation packs give you everything you need to pass with confidence:

• Realistic Exam Simulations: Practice tests that mirror the latest exam formats

• Expert Strategies: Proven study techniques that boost scores

• Up-to-Date Content: Always aligned with current exam trends

• Diagnostic Tools: Find weak spots and improve faster

• Full Coverage: Logical reasoning, figural reasoning, situational judgment, personality assessments, and writing tasks

Whether you’re just starting your application or gearing up for the Phase 2 interview, our tools help you stand out.