If you are already at the assessment center, waiting for the assessment to begin, let a Program Assistant know immediately. Once you begin the first exercise of your assessment, you will not be able to reschedule your assessment. If you have not arrived at the assessment center yet, please email reschedule@state.gov to let us know. We will work with you to find an alternate date, but we cannot guarantee an alternative Assessment date.

No. FSOAs are conducted only in Washington D.C. and, budget permitting, San Francisco, CA.

We strongly encourage candidates to think carefully before scheduling a date for the Foreign Service Officer  Assessment (FSOA), since changes are only permitted in genuine emergencies, such as a serious illness or military deployment. If after scheduling you cannot, for emergency reasons only, keep your scheduled assessment date, please contact reschedule@state.gov in advance of the appointment. We will work with you to find an alternate date, but we cannot guarantee an alternative FSOA date.

No. Each candidate is allowed to make one Assessment appointment only.

Yes, it is possible to have more than one active candidacy. However, if a candidate accepts a job offer from the Department in one career track while he or she is on an additional register or registers, the signature of a Letter of Offer will close any other candidacies still active or pending with the Foreign Service. Limited Non-Career Appointments are not considered career positions and accepting an LNA position will not terminate other candidacies.

No.

The Foreign Service Officer Assessment is offered in Washington, DC and, budget permitting, twice a year in San Francisco, CA. We do not conduct assessments outside the United States.

The following languages qualify for .17 language bonus points if you pass the telephone test administered by the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) or its designated contractor at a speaking level of 3:

The following languages qualify for additional bonus points if you pass the telephone test administered by the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) or its designated contractor with a speaking level of 2:

Each internship opportunity lists the responsibilities of the internship, but interns may be assigned to do research on political, economic, environmental or other issues. They may write reports and correspondence; assist with citizens’ services or visa work; or use their expertise in information systems, procurement, or budget and fiscal operations. Some may help to organize a conference or a visit of high-level officials. Some interns write news stories, work on web pages, or help produce electronic journals. Others may be involved in educational and cultural exchange activities. Interns also help in the recruiting of U.S. speakers and specialists for overseas programs.

Housing is not provided in the Washington, D.C. area but may be available at some locations abroad, at no cost to interns, but circumstances may vary from post to post, so this cannot be guaranteed. Arrangements and associated costs are the responsibility of interns.