The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is one of the least understood government agencies in the United States. They aren’t in the public eye nearly as much as the FBI because their job is not to investigate crime, but to collect intelligence. The majority of their work is done behind the scenes and without advisement of the public, which means that it can be difficult to determine whether or not you want to pursue a career as a CIA agent.
The CIA has experts in many different fields, and they employ experts with hundreds of different backgrounds. Their basic job is to advise U.S. policymakers on decisions involving foreign relations and to collect pertinent information about the dealings of other countries. They are the ones that supply the FBI with information so that they can make arrests.
Working for the CIA means working for the government, which has both attractive and unattractive qualities. Salaries range from $30,000 – $80,000 per year, although CIA agent salaries are considered confidential. The vast majority of CIA agents are not spies, but support staff who are experts in fields such as computers, weaponry and science.
In order to achieve employment with the CIA, you will need at least a bachelor’s degree (master’s degrees are even more in demand) in a field that is conducive to the job you will be performing. Degrees in areas such as computers, science, psychology, economy and political science are the most attractive to the CIA. Fluency in another language is also a highly valuable asset.
CIA agents work in one of four directorates (branches): the Directorate of Operations (field agents who collect human intelligence); the Directorate of Science & Technology (agents who use technological advancements to gather intelligence); the Directorate of Intelligence (agents who are experts at deciphering, decoding and analyzing intelligence); and the Directorate of Administration (support staff who run the daily aspects of the CIA).
The CIA is a highly secretive government agency and entrance into the programs for becoming a CIA agent comes with a rigorous battery of testing prior to the extension of an employment offer. CIA agents must pass not only a medical examination, but also a polygraph examination, a background check and a drug screen. The reasons for their extensive testing are obvious; over the years, there have been moles and spies discovered within the CIA network, and since their job is to collect intelligence, they can’t take a chance on offering their information to spies from other countries.
The application process for a career as a CIA agent can take as little as two months or as long as one year, as the agency itself is wary of the classified nature of their work. Once you have been offered a job, you will continue through the testing process, and if you pass that, you will be placed in Williamsburg, VA for CIA agent training at Camp Peary. Very little is known about CIA training because it is kept confidential and because it involves specialty training.
