• Criminal Justice Bachelor's Degrees
• Online Criminal Justice Degrees

Read How to Become a DEA Agent

1) Earn a bachelor's degree (required). Specialized consideration is given to applicants with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice
2) Review the additional requirements below to make sure you qualify
3) For application materials, call 1-202-307-4077

Find Schools that will help prepare you for a DEA career now

Learn How to Become a DEA Agent

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) prosecutes the growing, manufacture and distribution of controlled substances in the United States. DEA special agents come from a variety of backgrounds and enforce controlled substances laws and regulations. DEA agents bring to justice the organizations that are involved in controlled substance growing, manufacturing and distribution. To accomplish this DEA agents work to dismantle drug trafficking rings, prosecute drug traffickers and destroy the financial infrastructure of the organizations involved in drug trafficking.

The DEA's responsibilities include the following:

• Investigating violations of interstate and international drug laws
• Investigating and preparing for the prosecution of criminals and drug gangs
• Collecting, analyzing and distributing drug intelligence information
• Seizing of assets derived from illegal drug trafficking
• Many other drug-related tasks and responsibilities

DEA Agent Requirements

To be considered for a job as a DEA agent you must be a U.S. citizen in excellent physical condition, at least 21 years of age and no older than 36. A bachelor's degree is required and special consideration is given to those applicants who have degrees in Criminal Justice, Police Science or related fields. Degrees in finance, accounting, economics and foreign language also receive special consideration.

Request free information from Kaplan University to learn how a degree in criminal justice will help you succeed as a DEA Agent.

DEA Agent Training

The DEA Agent training facility is located in Quantico, Virginia and is used by both the FBI and the DEA for training their agents. New agents attend training for 16 weeks where they receive the following training:

• Basic Agent Training
• Practical Applications
• Tactical Training
• Firearms
• Legal Training
• Intelligence Training
• Ethics

DEA Agent Salary

Now that you know how to become a special agent, you'll want to know about the DEA agent salary you can earn. DEA agents are normally hired at the GS-7 or GS-9 level, depending on their education and experience. Once you finish your training at the DEA Academy 25% "availability pay" will be added to your salary. Starting salaries for DEA agents are approximately $49,746 for a GS-7 and $55,483 for a GS-9. After working for the DEA for four years, special agents can be promoted to the GS-13 level, which brings with it a salary of $92,592.

If you'd like to fight drugs and drug abuse, bring criminals to justice, and earn a good salary while you do it, learn more about how to become a DEA agent by contacting the Drug Enforcement Agency directly. Or if you want to get the education you need to truly succeed or earn the highest salary within the DEA, contact the schools below to ask about their criminal justice and law enforcement programs.

Request free, no-obligation information from the fully accredited degree programs below, and learn more about how these degrees will help you succeed in a career as a DEA agent.

Online Criminal Justice Degrees for DEA 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

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

BS in Criminal Justice - Homeland Security
BS in Criminal Justice - Management & Administration
BS in Criminal Justice - Computer Info Syst & Security
BS in Criminal Justice - Crime & Criminals
BS in Criminal Justice - Human Services for CJ
B.S. in Psychology - Criminal Justice

University of Phoenix:

Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice
BS in Criminal Justice
MS in Administration of Justice and Security

Virginia College: Virginia College is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), which is listed as a nationally recognized accrediting agency by the United States Department of Education. Virginia College is also recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

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

American InterContinental University Online: The BSCJ in Special Populations is an accelerated Bachelor's Degree program that will prepare you for careers in federal government, such as an Air Marshal.

Associate's Criminal Justice Administration
BSCJ - Law Enforcement
BSCJ - Forensic Science
BSCJ - Special Populations

Kaplan University:

AAS in Criminal Justice
AASCJ - Corrections, Law Enforcement, Private Security
BS in Criminal Justice
BSCJ - Law Enforcement, Computer Crime, Corrections, Homeland Security...

Capella University:

BS in Criminal Justice
BS Public Safety - Emergency Management, Homeland Security
MS in Criminal Justice
MS in Public Safety - Emergency Management
MS in Public Safety Leadership
PhD Programs - Criminal Justice, Emergency Management, Public Safety Leadership

Keiser University Online :

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

Request information to learn more about these as well as other Criminal Justice Programs at Keiser University.

Rasmussen College Online:

Associate's in Criminal Justice - Homeland Security
Associate's in Criminal Justice
AACJ - Corrections
AACJ - Crime Scene Evidence
AACJ - Law Enforcement
Bachelor's in Criminal Justice
Certificate - Police Officer Education

Lincoln College Online:

BS in Criminal Justice and The Study of the Criminal Mind

Request information from Lincoln College to learn more.

Ashford University:

BA in Organizational Management - Criminal Justice

Colorado Technical University Online:

A.S. in Criminal Justice
B.S. in Criminal Justice
M.S. in Management Criminal Justice