Overview
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) hires Border Patrol Agents through its own multi-stage federal hiring process, separate from a traditional single written entrance exam. For 2026, the process combines an online entrance exam, a live virtual structured interview, a physical fitness test, a medical exam, and a background investigation that includes a polygraph, before a candidate is offered a seat at the Border Patrol Academy. CBP's own career pages note that the process has moved toward this structured, multi-part assessment model rather than relying on a single written test.
Who can apply
To apply for an entry-level Border Patrol Agent position, a candidate must be a U.S. citizen, hold a valid, unrestricted driver's license, have resided in the United States for at least three of the last five years, and be legally eligible to carry a firearm. Candidates must be referred for selection before their 40th birthday; this age limit can be waived for candidates eligible for veterans' preference, or for candidates with qualifying prior federal civilian law enforcement service (shown through specific documentation on their application). CBP's hiring process also requires candidates to successfully complete a background investigation as a condition of employment.
Selection process
CBP's current Border Patrol Agent hiring process has these stages, broadly in this order:
Application through a Border Patrol Agent announcement on USAJOBS.
The Entrance Exam, taken online.
The Structured Interview, a live virtual panel interview.
The Physical Fitness Test and a medical examination (CBP notes these can be scheduled on the same day and location, though they are two separate steps).
A background investigation, which includes a polygraph examination.
Final adjudication of the background investigation and polygraph results, followed by a conditional offer and the Border Patrol Academy.
Entrance exam
The Entrance Exam has two parts, taken in order. The first is the Candidate Experience Record (CER), a short online assessment that must be completed within 72 hours of the test vendor's email invitation. The second is the Logical Reasoning Test (LRT), which can be taken online or at a local testing centre, and must be completed within 14 days of finishing the CER. CBP states the Entrance Exam is designed to measure skills that Border Patrol Agents use on the job, and it is now available to complete online rather than only at a physical testing centre.
Structured interview
Candidates who are tentatively selected after the Entrance Exam are invited by email to schedule a Structured Interview, held virtually with a live panel. The interview assesses four competencies: judgment and decision-making, emotional maturity, interpersonal skills, and cooperativeness and sensitivity to the needs of others. A candidate must receive a passing rating on all four competencies to pass, and must pass the Structured Interview to continue in the hiring process. A passing result is valid for three years; a candidate who does not pass cannot be considered again for the Border Patrol Agent position for six months.
Physical fitness test
CBP administers a pre-employment Physical Fitness Test with three events: sit-ups (25 in one minute), push-ups (20 in one minute), and a step test (120 steps per minute, sustained for five minutes). Candidates who do not pass are given one opportunity to retest. CBP's career pages note that the medical exam and this physical fitness test are commonly scheduled together but remain two separate pre-employment steps.
Medical exam, background investigation and polygraph
Candidates must undergo a pre-employment medical examination to confirm they are medically qualified to safely perform the full range of Border Patrol Agent duties; CBP states that no single medical condition automatically disqualifies a candidate. Separately, every candidate must pass a background investigation, which starts with a national-security or non-sensitive-position questionnaire, and includes a polygraph examination. The polygraph and the background investigation results together are used to decide a candidate's final suitability for a law-enforcement position with CBP, in a final adjudication stage.
Academy training
Candidates who clear the earlier stages report to the Border Patrol Academy, part of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) in Artesia, New Mexico. CBP describes the Academy curriculum as covering federal immigration and nationality law, firearms handling and use, physical training and self-defence, arrest techniques, defensive driving, and Spanish language instruction, alongside Border Patrol operations. Successfully completing the Academy is required to become a Border Patrol Agent.
Fees
There is no fee to apply for a Border Patrol Agent position or to go through CBP's hiring process. It is a standard U.S. federal government hiring process, and CBP does not charge candidates at any stage, from the online application through the Academy.
How to apply
Candidates apply through an open Border Patrol Agent announcement on USAJOBS, the U.S. federal government's official jobs site. CBP's career pages direct applicants to check their USAJOBS account afterward to confirm the application was received, and point to CBP's own resume-writing guidance for building a federal resume. Candidates with questions can contact the CBP Applicant Contact Center.
After the exam
A passing Entrance Exam result leads to an invitation to schedule the Structured Interview. Candidates who pass the Structured Interview move to the Physical Fitness Test and medical exam, then to the background investigation and polygraph. After final adjudication, candidates who remain eligible receive a conditional offer and are scheduled to report to the Border Patrol Academy in Artesia, New Mexico.
Preparation tips
CBP publishes an official Border Patrol Agent Entrance Exam Preparation Guide, along with other study guides, on its careers site, covering the kind of reasoning questions used in the Logical Reasoning Test. For the Physical Fitness Test, building up sit-up, push-up and step-test endurance ahead of time matters, since a candidate who does not pass is given only one retest opportunity.
What is the maximum age to apply as a CBP Border Patrol Agent?
Candidates must be referred for selection before their 40th birthday. This limit can be waived for candidates eligible for veterans' preference or with qualifying prior federal civilian law-enforcement service, with supporting documentation submitted at the time of application.
Is there a fee to apply for CBP Border Patrol Agent?
No. It is a standard U.S. federal government hiring process, and CBP does not charge a fee at the application, exam, interview or Academy stage.
What does the CBP Border Patrol Agent Entrance Exam cover?
It has two parts taken in order: the Candidate Experience Record (CER), a short online assessment completed within 72 hours of the invitation email, and the Logical Reasoning Test (LRT), completed online or at a testing centre within 14 days of the CER.
Is Spanish required to apply for CBP Border Patrol Agent?
Spanish proficiency is not listed as an application requirement, but Spanish language instruction is part of the training curriculum at the Border Patrol Academy in Artesia, New Mexico.