No. The Department of State is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of sexual orientation.

Yes. A candidate may qualify for more than one career track and be on more than one hiring register at a time. For example, applicants may qualify for more than one specialist career track, or they may qualify for a specialist career track as well as a generalist career track. If a candidate accepts a job offer from the Department in one career track while on another register, any other active or pending offers with the Foreign Service will be closed effective the date the candidate signs the Letter of Offer.

Both Foreign Service Specialists and Generalists are diplomats and direct-hire career employees of the Department of State.

Foreign Service Specialists are professionals with specialized expertise and experience needed to meet Foreign Service responsibilities around the world (e.g. engineering, medical, management, and security).

Foreign Service Officers (FSO) are known as “generalists” and choose a career track, which will determine the type of work performed for the majority of the FSO’s career. The five career tracks are (Economic, Public Diplomacy, Consular, Management, or Political).