How to Become a CIA Agent

"Clandestine service operations officers" is how the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) refers to its agents - everyone else calls them spies. The jobs require a high level of intelligence, training, self-reliance and interpersonal skills.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Internet Access
• Envelopes
• Computers
• résumé paper
• résumé software

1. Familiarize yourself with the CIA. Peruse the CIA Factbook Web page (cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook).

2. Obtain a bachelor's or master's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Suitable majors include international business or international relations, economics, physical science, and nuclear, biological or chemical engineering. Excellent writing skills are also necessary.

3. Be extremely fluent in at least one foreign language and have a strong knowledge of foreign affairs.

4. Send a cover letter stating your interest, your GPA and all your qualifications to Professional Trainee Program, P.O. Box 12002, Dept. INTERNET, Arlington, VA 22209-2002.

5. Take medical and psychological exams and a polygraph test if you are contacted. Your background will first have to be thoroughly checked, a process that can take six months.

6. Expect to live in Washington, D.C., for two years if you're accepted into the Professional Trainee (PT) Program. For one year you will work as an Operations Desk Officer, and the next year you will be a Collection Management Officer.

7. Maintain high work and personal standards to rise into the Clandestine Service Trainee (CST) Program, which is the first step to going overseas as an Operations Officer or Collection Management Officer.

8. Consider that after completing the CST program you can choose another track. You can spend another year being trained as a Staff Operations Officer (SOO), based in Washington, D.C. The SOOs provide important research and support to their colleagues overseas. Some foreign travel is also expected in this position, but SOOs spend much of their time in their home base.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have qualifications such as military experience, extensive travel abroad or fluency in Middle-Eastern or Far-Eastern languages, you may be able to apply directly to the CST Program. Send your cover letter to CST Division, ATTN: 98-IC, P.O. Box 12002, Dept. INTERNET, Arlington, VA 22209-2002.

• To apply to any CIA Clandestine Service Program, you must be a U.S. citizen under 35 years old. If you are married, your spouse must also be a U.S. citizen.

• This is a potentially life-threatening career. Forget the cool, invincible heroes you see in the movies.