Applications or resumes for the ATF Criminal Investigator (Special Agent)
position will only be accepted in response to an open vacancy announcement
or job information notice. Announcements or job notices will be opened
on an as needed basis. For hiring
updates, please contact the ATF Recruitment and Hiring Center periodically
at 202-927-5690 or e-mail agent/inspectorinfo@ATF.gov.
Please see the following Frequently Asked Questions for important information
about the ATF Special Agent position.
- What are the basic qualification requirements and conditions
of employment for the ATF Special Agent position?
See Special Agent Information
Packet.
- Can I be placed on a list and be notified about future Treasury
Enforcement Agent exams?
No - the ATF Recruitment and Hiring Center receives literally thousands
of inquiries about the special agent position. ATF does not guarantee
that prospective applicants will be notified about future announcements
or job notices. For hiring/testing updates, please contact the ATF
Recruitment and Hiring Center periodically at 202-927-5690 or e-mail
agent/inspectorinfo@ATF.gov.
- I have already taken the TEA exam for another agency. Do
I still have to take the exam under an ATF announcement or job notice?
Yes - under our current recruitment efforts, all applicants are required
to take and pass an ATF sponsored TEA exam. Test results will be valid
for a period of three years from the date of the exam.
- I have previously taken the ATF TEA exam. How can I find
out my numeric score?
ATF offers the TEA exam on a pass / fail basis only. ATF does not
receive numeric scores from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
therefore numeric scores will not be available to applicants.
- As a special agent applicant, can I apply for a specific
duty location?
No - newly hired special agents can be assigned to any office in
the United States and are subject to relocation throughout their careers
with ATF.
During the field panel interview, applicants are allowed to complete
a field office preference sheet in which they can select up to five
duty location preferences. Duty assignments however are made based
on ATF's staffing needs and preferences are not guaranteed.
- Can an 1811 with another Federal agency lateral over to ATF?
ATF will only consider a lateral announcement if and when the need
arises. Under our current recruitment efforts, current 1811's are
welcome to apply however they will only be considered at the GS-5,
GS-7, or GS-9 grade level. They will also be required to leave the
Competitive Service and enter the Excepted Service for a period of
three years.
- How are grade level determinations made?
Grade determinations are based upon documentation submitted by an
applicant
prior to the closing date of a vacancy announcement or job information
notice.
The information is weighed against the qualifications standards established
by
the Office of Personnel Management. Duties and accomplishments gained
after
the closing date of an announcement or job notice cannot be accepted
for the
purpose of determining grade levels.
Applicants are advised of their proposed grade during the pre-employment
screening process and prior to reporting for duty. Proposed grade
levels are not
negotiable and will only be changed if an error was made in evaluating
an
individual's application.
Once an applicant reports for duty, he/she must remain in grade
for 52 weeks
before being eligible for the next grade. This policy also applies
to current
Federal employees who accept a lower grade with ATF.
- What type of degree or course work is helpful in receiving
consideration for a special agent position?
The following are qualifying, but not all inclusive: Criminal Justice,
Accounting, Sociology, Administration of Justice, Political Science,
Fire Science, Chemistry, or related Criminal Justice Forensic Sciences.
The degree must be from an accredited college or university.
- I am currently in college and will be obtaining a four-year
degree in the near future. Can I submit an application for the special
agent position?
If applying based on the education requirement, ATF will accept your
application or resume if you are within 9 months from obtaining your
four-year degree (provided we have an open vacancy announcement or
jot notice at time of application).
- Can applicants with past drug use or with an arrest record
be considered for a special agent position?
All suitability issues are reviewed on a case-by-case basis during
the pre-employment screening process.