What Training Does a Border Patrol Agent Need?
You need to pass an entrance examination that includes logical reasoning, an assessment of past experience, and Spanish or an Artificial Language Test (ALT) that predicts how well you can learn Spanish. You don’t have to speak Spanish to get hired as an agent, but you must learn it at the Border Patrol Academy and pass several Spanish tests to stay on active duty. You then undergo a structured interview to assess your decision making, emotional maturity, interpersonal skills, and sensitivity to others’ needs. Next, to ensure you have the appropriate physical skills, you must pass both a medical exam and a fitness test that includes doing 20 push-ups in 60 seconds, 25 sit-ups in 60 seconds, and a 5-minute cardiovascular step test. You must perform each one correctly in order to pass. Additional requirements include: • U.S. citizenship or residency of at least 3 years • No conviction of domestic violence • Valid driver’s license • Being under 40-years-old • Passing a drug screening testF
