How to Be a U.S. Marshal

U.S. Marshals have the responsibility of protecting the federal court system, transporting prisoners to and from federal prisons, managing assets seized from criminals and running the Federal Witness Protection program. They have worldwide jurisdiction and are involved in nearly every federal criminal investigation. It's not easy to become one, but if you are interested, here's how you can do it.

Things You'll Need

• U.S. Citizenship
• College degree
• Work experience in law enforcement, if no degree
• Driver's license
• Good driving record
• Medical examination
• FIT assessment

Instructions

1. Meet the basic requirements for the job. Applicants must be U.S. citizens between 21 and 36 years of age. You must also have a college degree or have three years of experience in law enforcement (or a combination of the two), and a driver's license with a good driving record.

2. Study hard for the written exam. Your placement on the certified list will depend on your exam score and the highest scoring applicants are interviewed first.

3. Report for the personal interview. Interviews are held across the country. It is your responsibility to assume all costs for travel to the interview site. The interviewers assess your judgment, personal integrity, ability to work as part of a team, initiative and communications skills.

4. Submit your information for your personal background investigation. This takes approximately 90 days to complete. The United States Marshals verify past employment, your educational achievements, where you have lived, if you have a criminal record and other areas of interest.

5. Take your medical examination at a designated United States Marshals' contract health unit. This examination is paid for by the Marshals. If you do not meet the medical requirements stated on the USMS Form 12 (provided with your initial application packet), your application will end here.

6. Pass the FIT assessment to determine your physical fitness for the Marshals. This is held at a Service District Office closest to your work or home. You must meet or exceed the Service's standards for running, push ups, sit ups and flexibility. If you do not pass the first time, you will be given an additional week to meet the standards before you are dropped from consideration.

7. Wait for the final review of your application and prepare to report to the U.S. Marshals Service Training Academy in Glynco, Georgia.

Tips & Warnings

• The U.S. Marshal's exam is offered only about once every five years.

Resources

• Learn more about the United States Marshals