Hiring Process for Federal LE jobs

[studentcj]

I was curious to know if an applicant must go to D.C. for all of the phases for the hiring process for fed LE. The reason I ask is because it seems like it would get very expensive to travel to D.C. for every phase. Besides, how are people able to continue to get off from the current job to fly up there. I'm currently a student in college, who plans on going into the Army after graduation, but was curious to know how the application process worked. I will be trying to get on with an agency after my enlistment with the Army.

[Switchback]

No. Generally, for most agencies, there are regional sites designated for testing and interviewing. The specifics of the process can vary greatly from agency to agency.

[wbwood]

Ditto on what Switchback said. Normally you go to where you wil lbe working for the process or to a place in the region. Unless of course you are going for Capitol Police or Secret Service or something, then you may be traveling to D.C.

Also as for example. In 1999 I was going to go with the Border Patrol. I was living in Augusta, Georgia. I tested in Augusta. I then went to Glynco for the interview and then they sent me to some places for the medical, vision and etc there in Augusta. I passed everything waiting on my background to finish, but decided to turn it down then. When I went ot work at the Federal Prison, I did everything there at the prison.

[FPS207]

Just to confirm what has already been said, I applied to the Federal Protective Service here in Atlanta. Everything that I did with application process involved going to Atlanta. Depending on certain agencies or whether you apply to a different location than where you live, majority of the Federal agencies have locations either at the offices located in the major cities throughout the U.S. or you can sometimes go to the specific place you want to work and apply and complete the application process there.

[Switchback]

With many larger agencies, the regional hiring (if available) has nothing to do with where you will be hired. When I applied with the USMS, it was more for "convenience". I didn't have to go to DC, for example, and the agency didn't have 1 location overwhelmed with applicants. I drove 3 hours for testing, 5 hours for an interview and an hour for my physical.