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.

Information Management Specialist (IMST) – 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 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.

FOREIGN SERVICE GENERALISTS:

For candidates who took the February 2024 FSOT, updated guidance on requesting reasonable accommodation for the FSOA will be forthcoming.

Foreign Service Officer Assessment (FSOA) – 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.

The Assessment Center has a lactation room with a refrigerator for candidates’ use.  Interested candidates should ask the Assessment Center Program Assistant where the lactation room is located when they arrive on the day of their assessment.  All candidates are provided breaks, including 50 minutes for lunch, during the assessment day and may use the lactation room during these times.  If a candidate seeks use of the lactation room as part of a reasonable accommodation, 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.