Intelligence Careers at the FBI
Intelligence Analysts
Our intelligence analysts work closely with special agents and partners throughout the Intelligence Community to consolidate valuable information into strategic, analytic intelligence. They are our first line of defense in identifying and understanding threats and vulnerabilities.
Highlights
- Generate intelligence products with significant impact
- Engagement opportunities with local, state, territorial, and international partners
- Extensive on-the-job career-enhancing training opportunities

Overview
Intelligence analysts are critical to our ability to proactively mitigate risks. They analyze information and allow us to understand, mitigate, and neutralize threats. Intelligence analysts engage in work ranging from counterterrorism to organized crime, and beyond.
Career Paths
All intelligence analysts must perform at least one of the five analytic or raw reporting functions listed below. As an intelligence analyst, you may be placed into a more specific role that has additional responsibilities.
- Threat Analysis assesses and communicates real-time analytic judgments regarding specific threats and intelligence gaps.
- Collection Management enhances our intelligence collection capabilities and disseminate raw intelligence against priority collection requirements and intelligence gaps.
- Domain Analysis consolidates comprehensive information into strategic analytic products that contextualize intelligence and enhance our understanding of threats, gaps, and vulnerabilities.
- Targeting Analysis shares collected information across teams that identify gaps while ensuring timely and accurate reporting of intelligence.
- Reports Officer reports raw intelligence in a timely manner through various forms of media, documents, and general information to determine patterns.
Staff Operations Specialist/Tactical Specialist
For Current FBI Employees Only
Staff operations specialist/tactical specialist (SOS/TS) provide tactical analysis to operational personnel in support of FBI investigations. They work alongside intelligence analysts and special agents and provide mission-critical contributions to the FBI.
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Intelligence Analyst Careers
Jagdeep speaks about his role in the FBI as an intelligence analyst.
Jagdeep Singh Narula: My name is Jagdeep Singh Narula. I’m an intelligence analyst.
So, we’re there to support the cases, specific to say the agents that are here. But then also, we look at the cases as a whole, and we try to determine trends that are occurring, that we’re seeing in our area of responsibility. So, we do a lot of research, a lot of writing. And beyond that, analysts many times are also asked to do briefings, so we share the information that we get not only with our law enforcement partners, but also with members of the private sector. I personally enjoy that aspect of it.
I happen to have a law degree. There are other people that have bachelor’s degrees that have been able to come in as analysts based on a lot of the experience that they brought with them.
I would definitely recommend becoming an IA here. It allows you to touch on all of the... on multiple cases on your particular squad, so you’re not limited or relegated to a single case or two cases. At the same time, there’s really never a dull moment. You have cases that are ever-changing.
The best thing about working here is really feeling like you’re making a difference. You know, my day-to-day is not about helping corporations get rich, it’s not about helping people line their pockets. It’s about helping Americans stay safe. So that, you know, it gives me a lot of fulfillment knowing that my work actually matters.

Selection and Hiring Process
We recruit and hire intelligence analysts at all career levels, from recent college graduates to experienced professionals. Education and experience requirements are different depending on the intelligence analyst role and position grade.
You will be evaluated against our Core Competencies (PDF) throughout the process. These eight specialized traits represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities all of our employees are expected to cultivate and apply to their important work in fulfilling our mission.
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Application & Screening
You must attach all necessary forms (as listed in the vacancy announcement) to your application. Applications are screened for eligibility and suitability. -
Phase I Test
Phase I is conducted online and is a multiple-choice assessment of your analytic thinking, logical reasoning, and personal experiences. -
Phase II Test
Phase II is a timed writing assessment that simulates the intelligence analyst’s role in reviewing intelligence and preparing intelligence products. -
Phase III Interview
Phase III is a structured interview to assess your communication, analytic thinking, organization, planning, and interpersonal skills. -
Conditional Job Offer (CJO)
After passing all three phases, you will be considered eligible to receive a Conditional Job Offer for employment as an intelligence analyst. The CJO will include your position title, GS pay grade, and salary. Conditional Job Offers are contingent upon: signing the FBI mobility agreement, a favorable decision in the background investigation process, budgetary requirements, and meeting the critical skills needed by the FBI. -
Background Investigation
The background investigation includes a Personnel Security Interview (PSI), polygraph examination, drug test, and fingerprinting. It also includes credit and arrest checks, interviews with associates and references, and verification of educational achievements. -
ONE Seminar
All new or current employees with the FBI, regardless of job or duty station, attend a four-day Onboarding New Employee (ONE) seminar at the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA, during their first week. This includes learning about the FBI’s mission, history, structure, and culture; briefings on ethics, security, and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO); a tour of Quantico; and opportunities to begin developing an FBI network. The FBI’s Leadership Doctrine is emphasized as well. -
Basic Field Training Course
Upon successful completion of the background investigation, you will be scheduled for a 12-week Basic Field Training Course (BFTC) at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, to begin training as New Intelligence Analyst Trainees (NIATs).
The BFTC is designed to train new special agents and intelligence analysts together, preparing them for collaborative work in the field.
The Academy -
Career Placement
Upon successful completion of the background investigation and BFTC, you will officially join the FBI as an intelligence analyst. New intelligence analysts may be placed either at HQ or in a specific field office. Placement is at the discretion of the FBI and based on FBI needs at that time.
Field Office Locations

Related Opportunities
STEM
Professionals interested in data intelligence and forensics may also be interested in a STEM career with the FBI.
Special Agents
Intelligence professionals also have opportunities to experience a variety of careers within the FBI, including our special agent position.