<Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (April 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> <P> In the United States, a special agent is usually a criminal investigator or detective for a federal, state, or county government who primarily serves in investigatory roles . Within the United States' federal law enforcement system, dozens of federal agencies employ federal law enforcement officers, each with different criteria pertaining to the use of the titles "Special Agent" versus "Agent". In intelligence usage, agent refers to one who is recruited, trained, controlled and employed to obtain and report information . </P> <P> In general, some, but not all, agents are federal law enforcement officers, and hold either arrest authority or the right to conduct minor criminal / non-criminal investigations . In some agencies, however, an agent can have both arrest and minor criminal / non-criminal investigatory authority, yet still have no authority to conduct major criminal investigations . On the other hand, nearly all special agents are federal law enforcement officers, are distinctly empowered to conduct both major and minor criminal investigations, and hold arrest authority . Most special agents are authorized to carry firearms both on and off - duty, whereas only some agents are authorized to do so . The title of special agent is almost exclusively used in federal law enforcement (United States) for federal criminal investigators . </P> <P> Within the U.S. government, the title of special agent designates a general investigator in GS - 1810 job series, federal criminal investigator in the GS - 1811, Diplomatic Security Service FS - 2501 job series, or a counterintelligence operations specialist in the GS - 0132 job series according to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) handbook . Special Agents typically have an undergraduate degree . They are usually empowered to carry firearms, make arrests, and investigate violations of federal laws . The titles of "Agent", "Investigator", and "Background Investigator" refer to all other 1800 series job series designations, including: </P>

Difference between an agent and a special agent
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