What is the Assessment Center’s policy on reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities or those who have medical conditions or other needs, such as the use of medical devices or access to a lactation room?     

The Department of State provides reasonable accommodation to qualified candidates with disabilities.  Procedures vary by test type, and all candidates must request reasonable accommodations in advance.

FOREIGN SERVICE SPECIALISTS:

Consular Fellows Program (CFPT) – before scheduling your exam, visit https://home.pearsonvue.com/test-taker/Test-accommodations.aspx and select “Foreign Service Specialist Appointment Selection (FSSAS)” as your exam program.

Diplomatic Technology Officer (DTOT) – before scheduling your exam, visit https://home.pearsonvue.com/test-taker/Test-accommodations.aspx and select “Foreign Service Specialist Appointment Selection (FSSAS)” as your exam program.

Office Management Specialist (OMST) – before scheduling your exam, visit https://home.pearsonvue.com/test-taker/Test-accommodations.aspx and select “Foreign Service Specialist Appointment Selection (FSSAS)” as your exam program.

All other Specialist exams – at least six weeks before your scheduled assessment, email the Office of Accessibility and Accommodation at OAA@state.gov and provide them with your contact information, a brief description of your disability, and the accommodation requested.  That office will contact you within five business days and will work with the Assessment Center to ensure the accommodation, if it is deemed reasonable, is in place for your assessment.  Please ensure your email to OAA@state.gov has a subject line that reads “Reasonable Accommodation Request for FSSAS – Your name.”  If you do not receive an approved accommodation at least five business days before your assessment date, you will be required to reschedule.

FOREIGN SERVICE GENERALISTS:

Foreign Service Officer (FSOT) – before scheduling your exam, visit https://home.pearsonvue.com/test-taker/Test-accommodations.aspx and select “Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT)” as your exam program. 

Foreign Service Officer Assessment (FSOA) –

Case Management Exercise – before scheduling your exam, visit https://home.pearsonvue.com/test-taker/Test-accommodations.aspx and select “Foreign Service Officer Assessment (FSOA)” as your exam program.

Previously approved accommodations for the FSOT will remain in place for the Case Management Exercise.  Call Pearson VUE Accommodations at 1-800-486-0450 to transfer your accommodation and schedule an exam date.

Structured Interview and Group Exercise- at least six weeks before your scheduled assessment, email the Office of Accessibility and Accommodation at OAA@state.gov and provide them with your contact information, a brief description of your disability, and the accommodation requested. That office will contact you within five business days and will work with the Assessment Center to ensure the accommodation if it is deemed reasonable, is in place for your assessment.  Please ensure your email to OAA@state.gov has a subject line that reads “Reasonable Accommodation Request for FSOA – Your name.”  If you do not receive an approved accommodation at least five business days before your assessment date, you will be required to reschedule.

All candidates requiring accommodation for the Structured Interview and Group Exercise must make a new request, including those with previously approved accommodations from the FSOT or Case Management Exercise.

All candidates are provided breaks, including for lunch, during the Structured Interview and Group Exercise.  If a candidate seeks other breaks as part of a reasonable accommodation, including time for lactation, the candidate must follow the instructions above to request a reasonable accommodation at least six weeks before the assessment date via email to OAA@state.gov.