Are you passionate about bettering your community? If you said yes, you are not alone. Many people dedicate their days to improving society, working in federal, state, and local government offices to protect the greater good.
More specifically, if you’d like to serve your community as a detective, an agent, or by playing a role in a primary national security agency, you should consider a career in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Both the FBI and CIA are agencies of the United States government’s Intelligence Community. And while these agencies occasionally cooperate on cases to share information, they have distinct differences with specific focus areas.
In this guide, we discuss the differences between the FBI and CIA, the responsibilities of FBI and CIA agents, and the exciting career path options for students interested in either of these organizations.
What is the FBI?
The FBI, formed on July 26, 1908, is the premier domestic law enforcement agency that gathers domestic intelligence and works to stop threats from within the U.S. They also assist local police in handling major cases and have a sophisticated evidence lab.
Their mission is to protect and defend the U.S. against terroristic threats, both foreign and domestic, investigate intelligence threats, uphold and enforce criminal laws of the US, and provide leadership and criminal justice services to municipal and international agencies.
Major murder cases, crimes that cross state boundaries, and kidnappings are all under the jurisdiction of the FBI. And, if someone within the U.S. planned something that threatened American security (also known as domestic terrorism), it also falls under the FBI’s jurisdiction.
Other priorities for the FBI include the following:
- Combatting public corruption
- Protecting against cyber-attacks and high-technology crimes
- Protecting civil rights
- Fighting significant acts of violence and white-collar crimes
- Upgrading technology to keep up with the FBI’s mission
What does a career in the FBI look like?
The FBI hires more than just FBI agents and intelligence analysts; various professional career opportunities are available to candidates interested in this field.
Positions are separated into two primary career paths:
- Operations and Intelligence Careers. Front Line roles such as special agents, intelligence analysts, surveillance, forensic accounting, and foreign languages
- Specialized Careers. Behind the Scenes roles such as national safety, positions in arts and communication, business, and administration, facilities and logistics, legal services, medical assistance, police and security, or STEM-related positions
Additionally, the FBI is part of the Federal Justice Department and is organized into the Office of the Director. Candidates can find work in the five functional branches:
- National Security Branch
- Criminal Cyber, Response, and Services Branch
- Human Resources Branch
- Science and Technology Branch
- Information and Technology Branch
How do I join the FBI?
To pursue a career in the FBI, candidates must be U.S. citizens with no criminal record, have a four-year college degree in a related field, and pass a background check.
Additionally, physical fitness and polygraph tests may be required before selected applicants undergo 21 weeks of training at the FBI academy.
What is the CIA?
Unlike the FBI, the CIA does not have a law enforcement function. Instead, the CIA, formed on September 18, 1947, is the U.S. federal government’s civilian foreign intelligence service. They gather information internationally and can evaluate and take action if the U.S. is at risk.
The CIA does this by collecting foreign intelligence, producing objective all-source analyses, conducting action as directed by the president, and safeguarding secrets to protect the nation.
Areas of focus in the CIA include:
- Nuclear nonproliferation
- Counterintelligence
- Counterterrorism
- Foreign organized crime
- Drug trafficking
- Arms control
Additionally, the CIA only collects information involving foreign countries and their citizens. Therefore, they are prohibited from collecting data regarding U.S. persons, defined as U.S. citizens, resident aliens, legal immigrants, and U.S. corporations, regardless of location.
What does a career in the CIA look like?
Like the FBI, the CIA has ample career opportunities for interested candidates. The CIA operates worldwide, using agents on the ground to relay information to their central Virginia offices. Agents in the CIA also routinely cooperate with other international intelligence agencies.
The CIA has an executive office and four directorates:
- The Directorate of Intelligence
- The National Clandestine Service
- The Directorate of Support
- The Directorate of Science and Technology
Career paths in the CIA are organized into the following six areas:
- Analysis
- Clandestine
- Targeting
- STEM
- Enterprise & Support
- Foreign Language
These include the following titles and positions, among many others:
- Counterterrorism analyst
- Operations officer
- Cyber threat analyst
- Physician
- Ethics attorney
How do I join the CIA?
Those interested in joining the CIA must be U.S. citizens above 18 years of age and have obtained a high school diploma or GED. A college degree, however, is required to serve as an overseas officer, intelligence analyst, and other non-clerical positions.
While there are differences between the two organizations, both the FBI and CIA will provide you with an exciting, fulfilling, and rewarding career. The best way to prepare for your future starts by aligning your degree with your career goals in these agencies.
For example, consider the undergraduate and graduate Criminal Justice degree programs at University of Bridgeport (UB). Both programs provide students with the skills and experience needed to join a network of domestic and international security experts who understand criminal behavior and create solutions to contemporary policing issues.
We need public safety professionals with the proper training now more than ever. Learn more and start your future today at UB!