In 1940 the FBI began conducting limited training at a small facility on the U.S. Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia. In 1965 Congress appropriated funds to expand the FBI training facility to render greater assistance to local and State law enforcement in the training and technical fields. In addition, a 2-year affiliation and accreditation study paved the way for the FBI Academy and the University of Virginia to join as "partners in the quest for police professionalization" in 1972. When the 90th session of the National Academy inaugurated the halls of the new facility, the number of students quadrupled and hovered around 1,000 students per year until 1997. Three main groups of students receive training at the FBI Academy. Representatives of municipal, county, State, Federal, military, and foreign law enforcement agencies attend the National Academy and other specialized conference programs. FBI and DEA special agent trainees learn the responsibilities and skills required of them in their new positions; and FBI employees attend courses to help them acquire new skills and enhance their capabilities. After profiling National Academy students, this article describes the training for special agent trainees and personnel of international law enforcement allies. Also described are the Academy's formal conferences, the FBI training network, and the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, which is based at the Academy. Other aspects of the Academy's program discussed are the Forensic Science Research and Training Center, the Critical Incident Response Group, research, and the Academy's design for the future. 36 notes