SBI Agent I

Full-time 5 months ago
Employment Information

Description of Work

To qualify for this position you MUST have at least 1 year of full-time law enforcement experience that included the power to arrest.

**This job classification qualifies for the employee referral bonus program. If you were referred to this job posting by a current SBI employee, and you are eventually hired, that employee could qualify for a referral bonus.**

Per North Carolina General Statute, the starting salary for an SBI Agent I is $53,477.00. This posting is for multiple positions available statewide.

The 58th SBI Special Agent Academy is a 12 week program held at the Samarcand Training Academy located in Jackson Springs, NC (Moore County). Academy start date is January 21, 2025.

The SBI Agent I will be assigned a duty station within the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). Agent duty stations may be located anywhere in the state. SBI District Office Map: http://www.ncsbi.gov/Divisions/Field-Operations/District-Offices.aspx.

The SBI Agent I is a professional investigative position in the SBI using the authority, jurisdiction, and resources of the Bureau to assist local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and judicial officials, as well as exercise the statutory original jurisdiction of the Bureau. This is a sworn position that is subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act and a mandatory probationary period of 24 months.

The role as an SBI Agent I requires the employee to perform a variety of law enforcement duties, such as investigate criminal activity; conduct crime scene searches, interview and interrogate persons in connection with the investigation of criminal cases; prepare detailed investigative reports using correct grammar, vocabulary, spelling, and appropriate terminology; assist other law enforcement agencies in the investigation and prosecution of cases; testify in court by articulating information in a self-confident and professional manner, and in logical order demonstrating use and understanding of appropriate language; gather information for the identification of persons and criminal intelligence; apprehend wanted persons, conduct background investigations, interact effectively with a variety of individuals from diverse backgrounds in the general population as well as in the law enforcement and criminal justice communities; and perform other law enforcement duties.

SBI Agents must be able to accurately assess the potential consequences of alternative courses of action and select the one which is most acceptable. The employee in this position must be able to reach a decision quickly when faced with several alternate courses of action. The position requires that the employee be able to comprehend factual information and recall this information as it pertains to laws, statutes and codes. The SBI Agent must speak clearly and intelligently to individuals and groups, as well as over police radio and other electronic transmission equipment.

SBI Agents are required to respond on a 24-hour, 7 day per week basis. The Agent is required to work a 160-hour work period as a minimum per month.

  • The SBI Agent pay scale as approved by the NC General Assembly:
Entry (SBI Agent I) $53,477
Completion of year 1 $56,954
Completion of year 2 $60,656
Completion of year 3 $64,599
Completion of year 4 $68,798
Completion of year 5 $73,270
Completion of year 6 $78,033
  • Rates subject to legislative changes.


Learn more about the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation by visiting our website: https://www.ncsbi.gov/.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies



To qualify for this position, applicants must document on the application that they possess ALL the following:


  • Must be a US Citizen.
  • Basic knowledge of the methods, procedures, and practices used in the investigation of criminal offenses to solve the more common types of crimes.
  • Basic knowledge of the principles of securing and identifying the more common types of physical evidence.
  • Basic knowledge in investigating a variety of criminal cases, to interpret and apply criminal laws of North Carolina in investigations, to make arrest, to prepare comprehensive and detailed reports pertaining to individual cases, to present effective court testimony, and to apply the principles, techniques, and procedures of modern criminal investigations.
  • Demonstrated knowledge in communicating both verbally and in writing with local law enforcement agencies, federal investigators, suspects, and witnesses.
  • Knowledge in using firearms and tools/equipment involved in evidence collection and enforcement activities.
Additional Information to Applicants:
Selected candidates will undergo and must successfully complete a comprehensive background investigation which includes a pre-employment polygraph examination, credit and arrest checks, interviews with associates, personal and business references, verification interviews of employers and neighbors, verification of education achievement, medical examination, urinalysis drug screening and psychological assessment.

The fitness assessment for this posting will take place between May 18-25, 2024. A modified POPAT serves as the SBI physical fitness test. Our modified POPAT video can be viewed HERE.

The SBI Agent must be in and maintain a physical condition which permits certification by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission for law enforcement officers.

The SBI Agent will be expected to adopt a reasonable grooming standard consistent with professional standards and expectations, as well as take pride in his/her personal appearance and professional being. The employee in this position must have and maintain a level of personal conduct which, if exposed in court, would not detract from the credibility of his/her testimony. This position requires the employee not to engage in behavior which would diminish community respect for trust in the law enforcement agency.

**Even though positions will be located throughout the state, all phases of the hiring process will take place in Raleigh, North Carolina.**

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See oshr.nc.gov/experience-guide for details.

Bachelor's degree from an appropriately accredited institution and one year of law enforcement experience that included having the power to arrest; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Necessary Special Qualifications: Applicant must graduate from the next available SBI Academy upon hire and meet any other applicable NC state statutory standards for law enforcement officers.

Selective Criteria: Applicants must have current North Carolina Basic Law Enforcement Certification or meet any requirements for a training waiver with the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission asset forth in 12 NCAC 09B .0403.

Management Preferences:
Bilingual skills (read, speak, write in proficient language). Proficiency test to be administered.

Note: Out of state applicants MUST Submit proof of an equivalency check with the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission at the time of their applicant package review on June 14, 2024. Failure to do so may disqualify application.

Supplemental and Contact Information

The State Bureau of Investigation is an Equal Opportunity Employer who embraces an Employment First philosophy which consists of complying with all federal laws, state laws and Executive Orders. We are committed to reviewing requests for reasonable accommodation at any time during the hiring process or while on the job.

The SBI uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Policy to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals. Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position.

It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive information. Information should be provided in the appropriate areas to include the beginning and ending dates of jobs worked, education with the date graduated, all work experience, and certificates / licenses. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application. Answers to Supplemental Questions must refer to education or work experience listed on this application to receive credit. Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.


  • Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD-214 Member-4 Form, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, to their applications.
  • Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach a NGB 23A (RPAS) if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing. If a former member of the NC National Guard who served for at least 6 years and was discharged under honorable conditions, they must attach either a DD256 or NGB 22.
  • If applicants earned college credit hours but did not complete a degree program, they must attach an unofficial transcript to each application to receive credit for this education.
  • If applying for a position certified through the North Carolina Department of Justice - Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Division, refer to https://ncdoj.gov/law-enforcement-training/criminal-justice/ for specific certification requirements.
  • The NC State Bureau of Investigation does not sponsor candidates needing work authorization.
  • Per NC General Statute 143B-972.1 (Download PDF reader), applicants hired into a position certified as a criminal justice officer or justice officer are required to electronically submit fingerprints to the NC State Bureau of Investigation for a state and national criminal history record check and enrollment in the FBI’s Next Generation Identification System: Criminal Justice Record of Arrest and Prosecution Background Service (“RAP Back”). This is in addition to submitting fingerprints during the application process.


For technical issues with your application, please call the GovernmentJobs.com Applicant Support Help Line at 855-524-5627. If there are any questions about this posting other than your application status, please contact SBI Human Resources at 919-582-8511.

Additional Contact Information:
North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation
Human Resources
3320 Garner Road
Raleigh, NC 27603
SBIHR@ncsbi.gov

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