Security and Surveillance
Professional Careers at the FBI
Security and Surveillance Careers
FBI investigations rely on a constant stream of intelligence assembled by our highly-skilled security and surveillance professionals.

Overview
Security and surveillance specialists work alongside special agents to provide analytics, intelligence, and surveillance products to defend national security.
Examples of Security and Surveillance Roles
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Investigative specialists conduct physical surveillance related to foreign counterintelligence functions of the FBI.
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Security specialists conduct background checks and collect requirements for security clearances to determine an applicant's employment suitability.
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Surveillance specialists conduct static surveillance to discreetly gather intelligence and provide information to special agents in support of ongoing counterterrorism, foreign counterintelligence, and criminal investigations.
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Threat intake examiners at the National Threat Operations Center answer, assess, and prioritize online tips and phone calls from the public.
An Inside Look
Personnel Security Specialist Yolunda speaks about her FBI career.
Yolunda Willis: My name is Yolunda Willis, and I am a personnel security specialist.
I have the opportunity to process applications for anyone who applies to enter into the FBI. We’re kinda considered the gatekeepers, because before entering into the FBI as an employee, you actually have to prove yourself through suitability, through an investigation process. So, our team works together, it is a very tedious and extensive process, but certainly it’s important for us to go through so that everyone can make sure that our co-workers are not going to hurt or harm each other. But, in addition to that, to make sure that those that are working with us are working to safeguard our country, as well.
We’re dealing with multiple cases, so you have to be very organized, you have to be prepared to think outside of the box sometimes, as well.
We all come in with a story, we all have a history and a past, and we have some great things to offer this agency, that’s another great thing really about the FBI is that the sky’s the limit. It’s just up to the individual and exactly what they want to do, to discover the career path that they would like to seek for themselves.
Featured Openings
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Qualifications and Eligibility
Minimum Qualifications
For most security and surveillance positions, you must have one of the following:
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A bachelor’s degree or higher from a U.S.-accredited college or university with a minimum 3.0 GPA
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Professional work experience performing analytical duties related to the collection and evaluation of information
Note: Qualifications and requirements may vary. For a complete list, please reference a specific job listing.
On The Job Training
Basic Surveillance Course (BSC)
Upon being hired, all FBI investigative specialists and surveillance specialists attend a nine-week Basic Surveillance Course (BSC) in northern Virginia where they learn the following skills:
- Surveillance and observation
- Communication
- Team collaboration
- Navigation and tactical driving (investigative specialists only)
- Collection and management of intelligence in a central data management system (surveillance specialists only)
Eligibility
In addition to job-specific qualifications, you must meet all of the eligibility requirements to work at the FBI.
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Hiring Process
The hiring process consists of multiple phases. The first step is to visit our application portal and create a profile.
For more information and to see the process in detail, visit the hiring process section on our Eligibility and Hiring page.

Related Opportunities
Intelligence Analysts
Intelligence analysts are our first line of defense in identifying and understanding threats and vulnerabilities.
Forensics
Professionals interested in an investigative career path may also be interested in a forensics career with the FBI.