• Criminal Justice Bachelor's Degrees

How to Become an ATF Agent

1) Earn a Criminal Justice Bachelor's Degree (Bachelor's Degree Required)
2) Review the requirements below and make sure you qualify
3) Request Application Information from the ATF, Call 1-866-927-9257

Find criminal justice schools that can help prepare you for an ATF career

About the ATF

Agents for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives or ATF work under the umbrella of the U.S. Treasury Department.  A job as an ATF Agent involves investigating violations of laws governing the possession and sale of alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives.  An ATF Agent works closely with local, state and other federal law enforcement agencies.  The ATF Agent career is similar to that of a police officer in that ATF agents obtain warrants, serve warrants, conduct raids, collecting evidence, investigating crime scenes, and testifying in trials.  A career as an ATF agent is exciting and fulfilling but can be very dangerous.

ATF Qualifications and Training

Applicants must be U.S. Citizens, at least 21 years of age, physical and written testing, background and drug screening and a 4-year college degree.  Once hired as a new ATF Agent there will be a significant amount of law enforcement training.  9 weeks in Glynco, GA where new agents are trained in surveillance, arrest techniques, firearms training and other skills.  New agents then spend 13 weeks at FLETC where they are trained on explosives, bomb scene investigation and other similar areas. 

ATF Special Agent Salary

New agents are hired on at either the GS-5 or GS-7 level.  As a GS-5 a new agent will earn between $28,349 and $36,856 a year and as a GS-7 an agent will earn between $35,116 and $45,648.  In most cases, at yearly intervals an ATF agent can be promoted up through GS-13 level. To be hired on as a GS-5 a bachelor’s degree is required.  To qualify as a GS-7 based on education a new agent must have 1 full year of graduate level education. 

Request free, no obligation information from the fully accredited degree programs below and learn more about how these degrees will help you succeed in an ATF Agent career.

Online Criminal Justice Degrees for ATF Agent Careers

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Liberty University Online: Liberty University is regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The Online Education Database has ranked Liberty University among the top 10 online colleges in the nation for two years in a row.

Associate's in Criminal Justice
Bachelor's in Criminal Justice

University of Phoenix Online: University of Phoenix will prepare you for careers in the field of criminal justice wherever you choose to reside. University of Phoenix is the largest private university in the country and is dedicated to their students.

Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice
BS in Criminal Justice
MS in Administration of Justice and Security
Information Systems Security Certificate

American InterContinental University:

Associates in Criminal Justice Administration
Bachelor's - Computer Forensics
BSCJ - Law Enforcement
BSCJ - Forensic Science
BSCJ - Special Populations

Capella University: The FBI considers Capella University to be a preferred provider of higher education for the FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA). There are only a handful of schools that hold this distinction.

BS in Public Safety - Criminal Justice
BS in Public Safety - Emergency Management
BS in Public Safety - Homeland Security
BS in Public Safety - Security Management

Request free information from Capella University to learn more.

Colorado Technical University Online:

AS in Criminal Justice - Stonecliffe College Online
AS in Paralegal Studies
BS in Criminal Justice

Concord Law School: Concord Law School is the first institution to offer a Juris Doctor (JD) degree earned wholly online via state-of-the-art technology. With the latest Internet-adaptive technologies, the Concord program offers excellent course instruction combined with maximum flexibility, specifically designed to fit into today's busy lifestyles.

Juris Doctor Program
Executive JD Program

Drexel University Online: Drexel University is regionally accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. There is a strong focus on criminology as well as the many other facets of criminal justice including administration, policies and procedures, law, corrections and much more. Learn more by requesting information today.

BS in Criminal Justice Online

Everest University Online :

Associate's | Bachelor's - Criminal Investigations
Associate's | Bachelor's - Criminal Justice
Associate's | Bachelor's - Homeland Security
Associate's | Bachelor's - Paralegal

Florida Tech University Online:

Associate's CriminalJustice
Bachelor's - Criminal Justice

Request free information from Florida Tech University Online to learn more.

ITT Technical Institute: Online Criminal Justice and Information Technology Degree programs. ITT is accreditated by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). ACICS is recognized as an independent accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education and Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

AA - Computer Forensics
AA - Criminal Justice
BS - Information Systems Security
BS - Cyber Security
BS - Criminal Justice

Kaplan University:

AAS in Criminal Justice
AAS - Fire Science
BS in Criminal Justice
BSCJ - Law Enforcement, Computer Crime, Corrections, Homeland Security

Keiser University: E-Campus

AA in Criminal Justice
Associate's in Homeland Security
Bachelor's in Criminal Justice
Bachelor's in Homeland Security
Master's in Criminal Justice

Rasmussen College Online:

Associate's - Law Enforcement
Bachelor's - Investigation/Law Enforcement
Associate's - Criminal Justice
Associate's - Corrections
Associate's - Crime Scene Evidence
Bachelor's - Criminal Justice

Strayer University: Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which is an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.

B.S. in Criminal Justice: Criminal Justice Administration
B.S. in Criminal Justice: Homeland Security and Emergency Management
B.S. in Criminal Justice: Homeland Security Technology
B.S. in IS: Homeland Security and Information Systems

Upper Iowa University: The University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. UIU offers open enrollment for their Independent Study Programs (distance learning), which means students can enroll and start taking classes anytime.

BS in Public Administration - Fire Science
BS in Public Administration - Law Enforcement
BS in Public Administration
BS in Criminal Justice

Utica College Online:

Bachelor's - Cybercrime Investigations and Security
Bachelor's - Cybersecurity- Information Assurance
Bachelor's - Economic Crime Investigation

Virginia College:

AA in Criminal Justice
Associate's in Paralegal Studies
Bachelor's in Criminal Justice

Request information to learn more about these as well as other programs at Virginia College.

Walden University Online: Regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, which is one of six accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

B.S. in CJ - Homeland Security
B.S. in CJ - Management & Administration
B.S. in CJ - Crime and Criminals
B.S. in CJ - Information Systems Security
M.I.S.M. - Enterprise Information Security
M.P.A. - Homeland Security, Law and Public Policy, or Local Government Mgmt
M.S. in Psychology - Terrorism & Security or Crisis Mgmt and Response
Ph.D. in Human Services - CJ
Ph.D. in Public Policy & Admin - CJ, Homeland Security Policy, or Public Safety Mgmt

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