Student Trainee (Criminal Investigator) Internship Program
The Student Trainee Internship is a perfect opportunity to set your career in motion.
The HSI Pathways Internship Program—Criminal Investigator Student Trainee Program is a paid federal internship that provides students on-the-job experience related to the Special Agent role.
Selected interns will have the unique experience being embedded within an investigative group and shadow Special Agents and Analysts as they conduct transnational criminal investigations. Tasks may include (but not limited to) supporting investigations, conducting research within databases, attending specialized presentations and trainings, tour HSI and partner agencies’ offices, and providing administrative support.
As a result of the skills obtained, students may become more competitive when applying for an entry-level full-time job within their Pathways Internship occupational category.
Job announcements can be found on USAJobs.gov under the search terms “1899” or “Student Trainee”. HSI jobs will be listed under the Department of Homeland Security.
The job announcement for the Fall 2023 Student Trainee (Criminal Investigator) Internship Program closed in Spring 2023. The next job announcement date is to be determined.
Program Benefits
- Paid internship at the GS-4 level associated to the 1899 (Student Trainee) job series.
- Travel, housing, and all other costs related to the internship will be incurred by the intern.
- Interns may set flexible work hours with their supervisors. Interns may elect to complete their 640 internship hours spread out over the course of many weeks, and/or complete their hours over an academic break.
- Interns who successfully complete the internship program’s requirements may have the opportunity to be transitioned into an entry-level Special Agent.
Program Requirements
Selected interns must adhere to all four of the below criteria to remain a participant in the internship program:
- At the start of the internship, interns must commit to completing 640 in-person internship hours prior to graduation. Interns must then complete these hours prior to graduation.
- For the entire duration of the internship program, the intern must remain at least in part-time student status as defined by their accredited academic institution.
- For the entire duration of the internship program, the intern must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA.
- Complete all administrative requirements (e.g. sign Agreement Form, individual development plan, etc.)
Program Application Eligibility
- Be a United States citizen.
- Current junior, senior, and graduate students enrolled in an accredited college. You are not eligible if you will graduate before the internship start date. Exceptions are permitted if you are continuing your education in the semester immediately following graduation.
- Have and maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA).
- Pass a drug test.
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Candidates cannot have used marijuana or cannabis in any form (natural or synthetic) and in any location (domestic or foreign) within the one (1) year preceding the date of your application for employment. In addition, candidates cannot have used any illegal drug, other than marijuana, within the ten (10) years preceding the date of the application for employment.
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Interns who have deliberately misrepresented their drug history in connection with their application will be found unsuitable for employment and automatically disqualified.
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- Pass a background investigation and obtain a Top Secret clearance.
- Pass a polygraph examination if one is required to supplement your background investigation.
More Information
Candidates may contact the Internship Recruiting Team at HSIPathwaysInternship@hsi.dhs.gov. Please note that we are unable to answer any questions regarding the status of your application.