High School

Take courses in business, mathematics, and accounting to prepare for the management aspects of an agent's job. Take English and speech courses to develop good communication skills because an agent must be gifted at negotiation. Agents also need a good eye for talent, so it's important to develop some expertise in film, theater, art, literature, advertising, or another specialty field.

Postsecondary Training

There are no formal requirements for becoming an agent, but a bachelor's degree is strongly recommended. Advanced degrees in law and business are becoming increasingly prevalent; law and business training are useful because agents are responsible for writing contracts according to legal regulations. However, in some cases an agent may obtain this training on the job. Agents come from a variety of backgrounds; some have worked as actors or other creative professionals and then shifted into agent careers because they enjoyed working in the industry. Agents who have degrees from law or business schools have an advantage when it comes to advancing their careers or opening a new agency.

Other Education or Training

The Association of Talent Agents offers symposiums on entertainment law and other industry-related topics.

Certification or Licensing

Many states require agents who operate their own businesses to be licensed. Contact officials in the state in which you are interested in working for specific requirements.

Several years of prior experience as an intern or volunteer at a talent agency is helpful. This experience provides an advantage when it comes to landing a job.

It is most important to be willing to work hard and aggressively pursue opportunities for clients. Talent agents and scouts should have a good head for business; contract work requires meticulous attention to detail. They also need a great deal of self-motivation and ambition to develop good contacts in industries that may be difficult to break into. Successful agents and scouts are comfortable talking with all kinds of people and are able to develop relationships easily. It helps to be a good general conversationalist in addition to being knowledgeable about the field in which they specialize.