U.S. Department of State

As a follow-on to this, is there a list online somewhere that shows how many points are available by language?

If you receive a score of S-2 or higher in the Foreign Service Institute-conducted telephone test in any one of the Super Critical Needs Languages or Critical Needs Languages, you will receive 0.4 additional points (0.5 for Arabic) that will raise your ranking on the Register. Candidates who score successfully in other languages will receive 0.17 additional points on the Register; click here to determine the level of proficiency (88kb, pdf) required to earn 0.17 additional points.  For additional information, and a listing of super-critical/critical languages, please click here and then see section entitled "Foreign Languages."http://careers.state.gov/officer/selection-process

Points are not awarded for college language courses.  You would need to pass the FSI language test to gain the extra points.

For an explanation of the different levels of proficiency mean, see the International Language Roundtable site: http://www.govtilr.org/

This will break down, for example, what a "S-2" in speaking actually means in terms of grammar, vocabulary, ect.

Can you use college courses in a particular language to gain language points?

Is it possible to get points for Swiss German?

If a specialist candidate received a passing score from FSI for one of the languages on the list as part of language training for USAID, can that person receive the extra points without taking the phone test?

I speak a critical needs language and a non-critical one.  Could I get points for each language I speak?

You may get points for only one language.  Once you start your orientation class, you may test in all the languages you speak, but to increase your ranking on the Hiring Register you may claim only one language.  The CNL will give you a bigger bonus, so if you feel confident of a 2 level, you should test in that one first.  Thank you.

Whether to test in the CNL or other language is a personal decision. The CNL will give you more points, but it will also obligate you to serve in a job that uses that language 2x in your career, once as an entry level officer and once as a mid level officer. mThat's a big commitment, and depending on your OA score, you may or may not really need the larger boost.

When you're on the register, you can ask the Registrar where you stand on the register and figure out whether those points are necessary.

Thank you for your posting.
To gain language points, you must test in the language through our Foreign Service Institute. College courses cannot be used to gain language points. The list of foreign languages at the Institute does not include Swiss German, but, if your candidacy reaches the stage where you can take a language test, you can ask about it.