FBI SPECIAL AGENT PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Serving as an FBI Special Agent is a demanding job. A Special Agent is often placed in situations that make great demands on his/her physical capacity. In these instances, physical fitness is often the factor that spells the difference between success and failure - even life and death. Therefore, all candidates for the position must be in excellent physical condition with no disabilities which would interfere in firearm use, raids, or defensive tactics. All Special Agent candidates must be able to pass several tests to gain admittance to the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Physical Fitness Test Vision Requirements Hearing Requirements Medical Review

Physical Fitness TestTo ensure that FBI Special Agents are fully prepared to meet their responsibilities as leaders in the law enforcement community, applicants must pass a standardised Physical Fitness Test. The test consists of four mandatory events that are administered in the following order:

1. Maximum number of sit-ups in one minute 2. Timed 300-meter sprint 3. Maximum number of push-ups (untimed) 4. Timed one and one-half mile (1.5 mile) run

Applicants are required to conduct a Physical Fitness Test (PFT) self assessment using the proper PFT protocol prior to the Phase I exam. The results of the self assessment must be reported on the PFT Self Evaluation Form. This form should be completed by all applicants and submitted to the processing field office during the Phase I exam. Although a passing PFT self assessment is not required to take the Phase I exam, no applicant will be considered for Phase II testing until he/she has submitted a PFT Self Evaluation Form which reflects a passing score. An official PFT will be administered by an FBI representative after an applicant successfully passes Phase II.An official PFT is administered to a Special Agent applicant at his/her processing FBI field office shortly after the applicant has passed Phase II testing. An applicant will not be eligible for admission into a New Agents' Training Class until he/she has passed the PFT. An applicant will have a total of three opportunities to pass the PFT: the first will be shortly after passing Phase II testing. If an applicant fails the first PFT, he/she must retest within 30-90 days. If an applicant fails the second PFT, he/she must retest within 90-120 days. An applicant's processing will be discontinued if he/she fails to retest within the required time frames. If a passing score is not achieved on any of the three PFTs, the applicant will not be eligible for the Special Agent position in the future. There is a strictly defined scoring scale and protocol for each event. In order to pass the PFT, Special Agent applicants must achieve a minimum cumulative score of twelve points with at least one point in each of the four events. (The PFT for Tactical Recruiting Program applicants consists of five events and an applicant must achieve twenty points to pass.) Applicants who pass the official PFT are considered sufficiently fit to safely and successfully complete the physical training and defensive tactics portion of New Agents' Training at the FBI Academy.New Agent Trainees admitted to the FBI Academy must re-pass the Physical Fitness Test in their first week at the Academy. The test, scoring scale, and protocol are exactly the same, except a fifth event is added - standard pull-ups. The score on pull-ups is not used for pass/fail purposes, but is used by the FBI Training Division for fitness awards, including the 50-point award. Please note: some Field Offices may administer the pull-ups test during the Field Office Physical Fitness Test.Before attempting any of these events, please review the FBI's Physical Training Guidelines in order to maximize performance and avoid injuries.

Vision RequirementsSpecial Agent candidates should possess uncorrected visual acuity no worse than 20/200 (Snellen) in each eye, with correction to 20/20 in one eye and at least 20/40 in the other eye. Individuals unable to meet the 20/200 minimum uncorrected acuity may be considered if they provide medical documentation of use of soft contact lenses for at least one year without significant problems or adverse events. If an applicant has had laser eye corrective surgery, a six-month waiting period is required prior to beginning New Agents' Training at the FBI Academy.

The applicant must also provide evidence of complete healing by an ophthalmology clinical evaluation. Policy for color vision allows continuation of applicant processing if those who fail initial color vision screening are able to successfully complete the Farnsworth D-15 color vision test.

Hearing RequirementsSpecial Agent applicants must take an audiometer test and meet specified hearing standards. Please note that no applicant will be considered who exceeds any of the following:

a) average hearing loss of 25 decibels (ANSI) at 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hertzb) single reading of 35 decibels at 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hertzc) single reading of 35 decibels at 500 Hertzd) single reading of 45 decibels at 4000 Hertz

Medical ReviewAn applicant's medical history will be reviewed thoroughly and a determination will be made whether any medical issue (or condition) could potentially affect the applicant's ability to perform the basic functions of the Special Agent position. This medical review ensures that each candidate's situation is reviewed on an individual basis. If you have undergone a particular surgical procedure (e.g., radial keratotomy) and/or have some preexisting medical condition (e.g., hypertension), this will require careful review during the physical examination process. Issues/conditions that surface during the Medical Reviews may delay the final processing for employment. Although an applicant's doctor provides information about the applicant's medical condition, it is the FBI's Chief Medical Officer who decides if the applicant is physically able to perform the duties of the job. This decision is based on the review of the applicant's doctor's findings and the FBI's knowledge of the requirements of the job. The FBI is committed to treating all applicants fairly and equitably in all aspects of our hiring/selection process.

FBI SPECIAL AGENT PHYSICAL TRAINING GUIDELINES

The Physical Fitness Test measures muscular strength and endurance (sit-ups, push-ups & pull-ups), anaerobic power (300-meter sprint), and aerobic power (1.5 mile run) with limited amounts of recovery between events. To best prepare, applicants should adhere to the following principles of exercise training to maximize their results and to avoid injuries.

Exercise Training Principles

OverloadTo increase physical fitness, one must exercise at a level that challenges the body beyond its current capacity. Overload is often expressed in terms of training frequency (how often), training intensity (how demanding), and training duration (how long).

ProgressionFor continued fitness improvements, the overload must be gradually increased.

SpecificityTo best prepare for the Physical Fitness Test, applicants should devote most of their training time to sprints and sustained runs, as well as sit-ups, push-ups, and pull-ups performed to protocol. Applicants should also avoid training each event in isolation.

ReversibilityIf physical training ceases, fitness levels will return to pre-training levels. Use it or lose it.Warm Up & Cool DownEach workout should begin with a dynamic warm-up period of at least five to ten minutes. This will increase core body temperature, lubricate the joints, and prime the nervous system for the workout that follows. The warm up should include moderate intensity aerobic activities (i.e., cycling, jogging), and limited amounts of the specific movements to be trained that day (i.e., push-ups, sit-ups). You should already be sweating before the workout begins! Once the workout is completed, perform five to ten minutes of moderate physical activity as a cool down and transition back to rest. Sample Workout ProgramThe FBI recommends that all applicants follow a disciplined workout program in preparation for the Physical Fitness Test. To assist you with this a sample Physical Training Planner is below. The Physical Training Planner includes four different types of workout programs in addition to the warm-up/cool-down:

Muscular Strength & Endurance Aerobic Power Anaerobic Power Circuit Training

Muscular Strength & EnduranceThis type of workout will increase a muscle group's ability to exert force and resist fatigue. Since strength and endurance is specific to certain muscle groups, we strongly recommend that you perform push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups in conformance with the criteria used to score the FBI Physical Fitness Test, as your primary strength and endurance exercises.

Aerobic Power This type of workout will increase the capacity of the cardiovascular, respiratory, and musculoskeletal systems to deliver and utilize oxygen for energy. Sustained running should be your primary mode of aerobic training. Exertion should be heavy throughout the workout (i.e., you should be working hard enough that it is impossible to carry on a conversation).

Anaerobic Power This type of workout will increase the body’s capacity to perform high-intensity work and should consist of short bursts (30–90 seconds) of maximum exertion. We recommend sprint running, as this will best prepare you for the 300-meter sprint on the Physical Fitness Test.

Circuit Training Circuit training combines elements of aerobic, anaerobic, and muscular strength and endurance exercises with limited rest periods. Rather than always training for these fitness components in isolation, we recommend that applicants perform at least one circuit workout per week to prepare for the multi-stage Physical Fitness Test. Listed below is a sample circuit workout:

1. Run for 90 seconds 2. Maximum sit-ups in 30 seconds 3. Run for 90 seconds 4. Maximum continuous push-ups

5. Run for 90 seconds 6. Maximum continuous pull-ups 7. Run for 90 seconds 8. Maximum body weight squats or lunges in 30 seconds

Note: Repeat entire circuit three to five times with one minute of rest in between repetitions.General Training GuidelinesThe general guidelines for training to improve muscular strength & endurance, aerobic power, and anaerobic power are provided in the table below. Applicants should use these guidelines to help structure their workouts appropriately. Special consideration should be given to circuit training as this type of workout best replicates the multi-stage Physical Fitness Test.

Muscular Strength & Endurance Anaerobic Power Aerobic Power

Frequency2-3 days per week;non-consecutive days

1-2 days per week 3-5 days per week

Intensity3-5 sets of max repetitions.Add resistance forsit-ups & push-ups

3-10 repetitions of30-90 second sprints;maximum exertion

Heavy exertion -too difficult to carryon a conversation

Time30-60 seconds of restbetween sets

Rest twice as long asexertion

20-30 minutes

PHYSICAL TRAINING PLANNER

The Physical Training Planner provides applicants with a disciplined workout program in preparation for the Physical Fitness Test. As you increase in strength, endurance, and power you will be able to progressively increase your speed, repetitions or intensity for each workout.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Warm-up Warm-up Warm-up Rest Warm-up Warm-up Rest

MuscularStrength &Endurance

Aerobic30-min

Circuit Workout

MuscularStrength &Endurance

Aerobic30-min

Aerobic20-min

Anaerobic(Spints)

Cool-down Cool-down Cool-down Cool-down Cool-down