Frequently Asked Questions
- All
- Virtual Environment FAQs
- About the Foreign Service (FS)
- Foreign Service Officer (FSO) Career Tracks
- Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT)
- FSO Selection Process
- Foreign Service Officer Assessment
- FS Specialists
- Medical Clearances
- Security Clearances
- Civil Service
- Student Programs
- Consular Fellows Program
- Veterans
The U.S. Department of State is announcing an additional innovation to the Foreign Service selection process to further advance the Secretary’s goals to modernize American diplomacy and win the competition for talent.
To improve the candidate experience and make application to the Foreign Service (FS) more accessible by reducing the financial and logistical barriers associated with travel for in-person assessments held in Washington, D.C., the Board of Examiners (BEX) will transition all Foreign Service assessments to virtual platforms. In Spring 2020, in response to the pandemic, BEX began hosting Foreign Service Specialist Assessments (FSSA) on a virtual platform, a change made permanent in February 2022. Now, candidates interested in 17 FS Specialist job categories (all non-DS Specialist job categories) can test from anywhere in the United States and from most parts of the world. In Fiscal Year 2023, BEX virtually assessed 800 candidates across 14 specialties. Survey respondents have consistently lauded this move.
BEX will now transition the Foreign Service Officer Assessment (FSOA) to a virtual platform as well. Beginning with candidates who took the February 2024 Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT), the Department will move to a fully virtual FSOA. The first of the three components, the Case Management Exercise (CME), will be offered separately and in advance of the remaining two components, the Group Exercise (GE) and Structured Interview (SI). Invited candidates may take the CME from home, a private location of their choice, or at one of 850 on-site locations offered through PearsonVUE around the world.
The Board of Examiners continuously reviews and evaluates examination procedures. The pandemic provided an opportunity to innovate. The temporary cessation of in-person assessments prompted exploration of alternatives, and extensive pilot tests demonstrated the utility of virtual assessments. As a result, the Department was able to continue assessment of Foreign Service Specialist candidates despite pandemic disruptions. Building on this experience, the Board of Examiners is pleased to offer the same rigorous assessments for the Foreign Service Officer Assessment (FSOA) in a virtual environment.
The move to virtual platforms for the three components of the FSOA – the Case Management Exercise (CME), Group Exercise (GE), and Structured Interview (SI) – will begin with candidates who took the February 2024 FSOT. Other candidates currently in the FSOA pipeline will continue with their already scheduled in-person assessments. It is important to note that the structure of the assessment is not changing. All candidates will continue to participate in all three segments of the FSOA (CME, GE, SI) with no additional performative requirements. By offering the assessment virtually, we will reduce travel and other costs which have discouraged qualified candidates from participating in the assessment in the past while improving the experience for candidates. These were concerns consistently identified in surveys of previous candidates.
The Department is implementing the move to a virtual platform for all three components of the FSOA beginning with candidates who took the FSOT in February 2024. The virtual assessments for candidates from that cohort are on track to begin in May 2024.
No. Beginning in May 2024, the Foreign Service Officer Assessment (FSOA) will be offered exclusively on a virtual platform.
The first of the three components, the Case Management Exercise (CME), will be offered separately and in advance of the remaining two components, the Group Exercise (GE) and Structured Interview (SI). Invited candidates may take the CME from home, a private location of their choice, or at one of 850 on-site locations offered through PearsonVUE around the world. The CME has been separated from the other two components to maximize scheduling flexibility and to increase the number of assessors who will evaluate each candidate, thereby improving the process.
The same rigorous standards and procedures will apply in the virtual context. Candidates will continue to be assessed according to the dimensions, which are based on job analyses, standards, and best practices employed by industrial and organizational psychologists. These dimensions were revised in 2023 to match current Foreign Service job skills and were developed to reflect the implementation of a virtual process.
Yes. Candidates with disabilities will be able to request a reasonable accommodations using the same process as they do now for the in-person assessment.
For questions related to the Lateral Entry Pilot Program, please see more details here: Lateral Entry Pilot Program
- The Department of State prohibits candidates from plagiarizing any portion of their employment application materials to include responses to questions in which candidates must provide a narrative response. Candidates must create their own responses originally and not copy or adapt them from other sources. The Department analyzes candidate submissions for plagiarism and will discontinue any individual’s candidacy if found to have violated this plagiarism policy.
- While the Department of State encourages candidates to create their narratives with great care, including correct use of grammar and style, candidates are prohibited from using any artificial intelligence (AI) tool, to include but not limited to ChatGPT, to aid in their written responses. The Department will discontinue any individual’s candidacy if found to have violated this prohibition on use of AI tools in the application process.
You do not have to speak a foreign language to apply and be selected for a Foreign Service career. In some cases, you can add points to your final score and place on the Register by demonstrating proficiency in certain languages. We score language skills on a 0 to 5 scale. See below:
Students: Language Proficiency Definitions
| Language Proficiency Definitions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Proficiency Code | Speaking Definitions | Reading Definitions |
| 0 – No Practical Proficiency | No practical speaking proficiency. | No practical reading proficiency. |
| 1 – Elementary Proficiency | Able to satisfy routine travel needs and minimum courtesy requirements | Able to read some personal and place names, street signs, office and shop designations, numbers and isolated words and phrases |
| 2 – Limited Working Proficiency | Able to satisfy routine social demands and limited work requirements | Able to read simple prose, in a form equivalent to typescript or printing, on subjects within a familiar context |
| 3 – Minimum Professional Proficiency | Able to speak the language with sufficient structural accuracy and vocabulary to participate effectively in most formal and informal conversations on practical, social, and professional topics | Able to read standard newspaper items addressed to the general reader, routine correspondence, reports, and technical materials in the individual’s special field. |
| 4 – Full Professional Proficiency | Able to use the language fluently and accurately on all levels pertinent to professional needs. | Able to read all styles and forms of the language pertinent to professional needs. |
| 5 – Native or Bilingual Proficiency | Equivalent to that of an educated native speaker. | Equivalent to that of an educated native. |
Management Officers do oversee many of the specialist positions, but not all. Office Management Specialists, Diplomatic Security Service Specialists, Regional Public Engagement Specialists and Regional English Language Officers are some of the exceptions, and report directly to other officers.
Yes, there is an initial orientation lasting three weeks followed by additional specialized training lasting up to 17 weeks, depending on the job specialty.
Yes, candidates for all Foreign Service Specialist positions take the specialist assessment, and most are conducted virtually. All Foreign Service Specialist assessments share common elements and are judged according to the same dimensions, but there are some differences in the exam according to the specialty. Please review the Steps to Becoming a Foreign Service Specialist for more information on the Specialist Assessment. . Please review the Steps to Becoming a Foreign Service Specialist for more information on the Specialist Assessment.
No. The hiring process is different for Foreign Service Specialists. For more information, visit the Seven Steps to Becoming a Foreign Service Specialist page on careers.state.gov
Yes. You must be at least 20 years old to apply and 21 years old to be appointed. For most positions you must be appointed prior to age 60 (preference-eligible veterans excepted). Diplomatic Security Foreign Service Special Agents must be appointed before they reach age 37 (preference-eligible veterans excepted).
The U.S. Department of State offers career opportunities to professionals in specialized functions needed to meet Foreign Service responsibilities around the world. Foreign Service Specialist jobs are grouped into eight major categories : Administration, Construction Engineering, Facility Management, Information Technology, International
Information and English Language Programs, Medical and Health, Office Management, and Law Enforcement and Security. Click on the link to learn about the different positions within each category: /career-paths/foreign-service/specialist/fss-career-tracks/
To prepare for the FSOT, the Department of State recommends you have a broad academic foundation, intellectual curiosity, and good writing skills.
The Department offers a number of helpful resources including a Foreign Service Officer Test practice exam found on our Careers.state.gov site
as well as a Suggested Reading List on our Careers.state.gov website.
Candidates seeking information about positions at the U.S. Department of State may wish to contact the Diplomat in Residence responsible for their geographic area. Full information on the Diplomats in Residence Program, including contact details, is available under the Connect Tab
The FSOT will still factor into the decision of whether to advance a candidate to the Foreign Service Officer Assessment (FSOA). However, the FSOT will no longer be a pass/fail gateway test.
Rather, we will give all candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and abilities via their responses to Personal Narrative prompts and their professional experience.
These responses, in addition to their FSOT score, will determine who gets invited to the FSOA Assessment.
The FSOT will still factor into the decision of whether to advance a candidate to the Foreign Service Officer Assessment (FSOA). However, the FSOT will no longer be a pass/fail gateway test.
Rather, we will give all candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and abilities via their responses to Personal Narrative prompts and their professional experience.
These responses, in addition to their FSOT score, will determine who gets invited to the FSOA.
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management maintains a list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding Veterans Services. You can find additional information for Veterans here:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-services/veterans-services-faqs/
Foreign Service candidates who can document creditable veterans’ service by submitting form DD-214 or other certification will be eligible to receive additional points on the Hiring Register: 0.175 for a five-point standing and 0.35 for a 10-point standing. In all cases points are awarded once a candidate has passed the Foreign Service Officer or Specialist Assessment. Instructions on how to claim these points are provided at that time. Qualifying, preference-eligible veterans may be appointed from the rank-ordered register at any time before they turn 65. If appointed between the ages of 60 to 65, a qualifying, preference-eligible veteran may serve five years prior to being mandatorily retired.
There are a good number of Foreign Service employees in the Reserves or National Guard, and military leave is granted so that Reservists and members of the National Guard can fulfill their obligations. For detailed information on military leave and how it works, please click here and select 3 FAM 3440.
Yes. The GPA requirement, along with other eligibility requirements, is listed on the FAIT Fellowship website.
Details are posted on the FAIT Fellowship website.
No. Applicants are generally starting the application process for graduate school at the same time they are applying for the Pickering/Rangel Fellowship. So, applicants should list programs to which they have applied or plan to apply. No acceptances are required. If you have already been admitted to a program that you plan to attend, you can upload your acceptance letter when submitting your application.
Yes, you can apply to both the Rangel Fellowship and the Pickering Affairs Fellowship. The application and selection processes are separate.
Applicants have the option to submit their GRE or GMAT scores to demonstrate their readiness for graduate school. They are not required nor will applicants be disadvantaged by not providing them.
You can learn how to apply at the Rangel Summer Enrichment Program webpage.
You can learn more about the application process at the Rangel Fellowship webpage and about the Pickering Fellowship at the Pickering Fellowship webpage.
Please visit the Student Internship Program webpage to learn more about the application process and sign up to received announcements and updates to the next program cycle in 2022-2023 school year.
The Department of State Student Programs are for students who are U.S. citizens. Non-U.S. citizens may apply for the programs that are made available through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), at exchanges.state.gov.
The Student Internship Program has three program cycles each calendar year (Fall, Spring, & Summer cycles), please visit our webpage to learn more about the call for applications and the eligibility requirements.
We recommend you visit our “Which Office is Right for You?” Here you can explore all the many different Bureaus and their internship opportunities that may align to you major and interests.
If you are already enrolled for the 2021-22 academic year and waiting to start your classes, you’re eligible. If you are taking a break or just graduated from college to decide next steps, then you are not eligible to apply and should wait if you plan to obtain another degree.
The Department of State will place competitively qualified U.S. citizens into Foreign Service Limited Non-Career Appointments (LNA) in country-specific posts with high workloads. These employees will be fully professional members of consulate and embassy teams. Limited appointments, however, cannot serve as special access or alternate entry to the career Foreign Service or the Department of State, i.e., they do not lead automatically to onward employment at the Department of State or with the U.S. government. LNAs are welcome to apply to become Foreign Service Specialists or Generalists or Civil Service employees, but they must meet the applicable qualifications and complete the standard application and assessment processes. Service time and benefits earned as a Consular Adjudicator can be credited in any subsequent federal employment.
Language proficiency tests are given as part of the Consular Fellow Program assessment process. The competitive candidates ranked by the Qualifications Evaluation Panels will be invited to take a language proficiency test with the Language Testing Institute to confirm that they have the required language skills in one of the designated foreign languages (Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, or Spanish). Both speaking and reading will be tested. Candidates will receive their scores from the Consular Fellows Program Unit, along with the invitation to schedule an appointment for the Foreign Service Consular Professional Assessment. Please find a description of the language proficiency test on the Language Tests page.
There is no use of pinyin in the test. Candidates may choose either traditional or simplified Chinese characters for the reading portion of the assessment.
Consular Fellows are afforded salary matching within the appropriate hiring grade, up to step 14.
Dimensions scored in this exercise: Planning and Organization, Working with Others, Judgment, Information Integration and Analysis, Resourcefulness, and Written Communication.
The foreign Service Consular Professional Assessment consists of two parts: a writing exercise and a structured interview. More information can be found at: Consular consists of two parts: a writing exercise and a structured interview. More information can be found at: Consular Fellows Selection Process
As a Consular Fellow you will use your proficiency in Arabic, Mandarin, Portuguese, or Spanish to promote America’s interests by assisting U.S. citizens abroad, fostering economic growth at home, and contributing to U.S. national security.
Consular Fellows work side by side with officers. They may conduct visa interviews, for both Immigrant and Non-Immigrant visas; assist in providing passport and other services to American citizens residing in the consular district; and other duties as assigned by the Section manager.
Almost all Civil Service positions in the U.S. Department of State require at least a Secret security clearance, and many require Top Secret clearance. The clearance process considers such factors as registration for the Selective Service; failure to repay a U.S. government-guaranteed student loan; past problems with credit or bankruptcy; failure to meet tax obligations; unsatisfactory employment records; violations of the law (including federal drug laws), drug or alcohol abuse; or less-than-honorable discharge from the armed forces.
Pathways Recent Graduates opportunities are posted on USAJOBS on an as-needed basis, with the vacancy announcements opening for applications at 12:01am Eastern time on the first day of the application period.
There is an extensive list of benefits available for Civil Service employees, including child care, health and life insurance and a matched retirement plan. View the complete list of Civil Service benefits.
Yes. The Department may provide up $4,700 per year for three years towards your student loans. In return, the employee must agree to remain with the Department for at least three years.
Yes. The Department of State has regular openings for information technology positions, and also has occasional openings for engineering, architecture, and science positions.
All listings on USAJOBS include a section entitled “Telework eligible.” That section will indicate whether or not the employing office is open to telework for the position.
There may be occasional employment opportunities available for Civil Service employees overseas. These positions are usually filled by career Foreign Service employees, but when appropriate bidders are not identified they may be deemed “Hard to Fill” and opened to Civil Service bidders on excursion tours. At that time, the vacancies filled through a competitive process. Some Civil Service employees may also have the opportunity to fill gaps in employments at overseas posts. In addition, it is not uncommon for Civil Service employees to travel overseas.
As long as you are a U.S. citizen, you may apply for any Civil Service position for which you qualify, even if you have other nationalities.
Over the course of a Foreign Service career, an FSO will develop regional or substantive specialties, while at the same time developing broad experience in a number of different skill sets. In order to compete eventually for promotion into the Senior Foreign Service, FSOs are expected to serve in a mix of completed domestic and overseas assignments with demonstrated regional and substantive expertise, including service in two separate bureaus after tenure.
The tenuring process for FSOs is not based on a candidate’s career track. The sole criterion for a positive tenuring decision will be the candidate’s demonstrated potential, assuming normal growth and career development, to serve effectively as a Foreign Service Officer over a normal career span.
You can learn about the kinds of work each of the five FSO career tracks perform here: FSO Career Tracks
At each stage in your career, there are many opportunities for being mentored. There are mentoring processes. You can locate the Diplomat in Residence who is nearest you and contact that person by phone or e-mail. They will be happy to discuss your questions with you. Once you join an orientation class you will have a formal Career Counselor as well as an assigned mentor from a group of volunteer mentors. You’ll get lots of advice and guidance throughout your career.
Candidates to join the Department of State as Foreign Service Officers/Generalists are required to choose one of five career tracks (Consular, Economic, Management, Political, or Public Diplomacy) when they register for the Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT). The Department collects this career track information for workforce planning purposes, so as to accurately assess a candidate’s background and qualifications throughout the selection process. Candidates are urged to research and consider carefully the options before they choose.
While all FSOs are known as “generalists”, the choice of a functional specialization will determine what type of work you will do for the majority of your career. You can get more details about each career track by going to the Officer Career Track page. We know that this can be a tough decision, so we’ve developed a questionnaire to help you match your interests to the career track that may be right for you.
A security clearance can take anywhere from a couple months to more than a year depending on the particular circumstances candidates should be aware that the clearance process may take longer to complete if they, lived, worked, or were educated in a variety of locations, as this increases the number of places where references and records must be checked. Any potential security concerns as listed in SEAD 4 (linked above) may also take longer to mitigate, depending on the complexity. For more information, visit https://www.state.gov/security-clearances.
Security clearances are adjudicated by examining the candidate’s history from a variety of sources, to include references that are identified via DS and court and police records. While criminal and drug history are relevant to the adjudication of a security clearance, there are also factors that mitigate such concerns, such as the amount of time that has passed, and the circumstances under which the behavior occurred, and likelihood of recurrence. For more information, visit https://www.state.gov/security-clearances.
If you do not want your current employer contacted, you need to advise the Clearance Coordinator who contacts you regarding the completion of your SF-86, and/or annotate it on the SF-86 under that employment entry. While efforts will be made to work with you before contacting any current employment references, it is required that your current employment is verified. The absence of an employment verification will result in your case being adjudicated without satisfying investigative standards. This may result in DS’s inability to consider your eligibility for access to classified information, and may compel DS to err on the side of national security and deny access to sensitive and/or classified information.
Students tentatively selected for the internship program must undergo a background investigation and receive the appropriate security determination, typically either a Secret or Top Secret security clearance. The clearance process takes approximately 60-120 days to complete from the time you submit your forms to the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS). Investigations may take substantially longer than 120 if there is a security, suitability, or medical issue to resolve. In part, these issues could include current or past illegal drug use, to include marijuana, or alcohol abuse, criminal conduct, or a recent history of financial/credit problems. For more information, visit https://www.state.gov/security-clearances.
Your entire file will be reviewed to determine your suitability for appointment to the Foreign Service before you are offered a job. Even if your current Top Secret security clearance is valid, updated background investigation may be required to ensure the Suitability Review Panel has current data to make their determination. These determinations require background investigations that have been completed within the past three years.
Upon completion of the background investigation, a Suitability Review Panel will examine a candidate’s completed file (except medical records) to determine suitability for employment with the Foreign Service. In evaluating suitability, the Suitability Review Panel takes into consideration factors such as misconduct in prior employment; criminal, dishonest, or disgraceful conduct; misrepresentation, including deception or fraud in the application process; repeated or habitual use to excess of intoxicating beverages; abuse of narcotics or controlled substances; reasonable doubt as to loyalty to the U.S. Government; conduct which clearly shows poor judgment and/or lack of discretion; and financial irresponsibility, including a history of not meeting financial obligations or an inability to satisfy debts. For a complete list of factors considered, see 3 FAM 2215.2-6 Suitability Criteria. Eligibility for a security clearance and suitability determinations are separate and distinct processes and evaluations, therefore, obtaining a security clearance does not automatically confer a favorable suitability determination.
All security clearances and suitability determinations are handled on a case-by-case basis, employing the whole-person concept. The recency, severity, and duration of an incident are some of the factors weighed in the adjudicative process. For more information, visit https://www.state.gov/security-clearances.
Candidates who do not receive a security clearance or favorable suitability determination are ineligible for appointment. Before starting this process, potential candidates who have any serious issues which could prevent them from securing a security clearance should give some thought to the likelihood of their being found ineligible.
If you were born a male after December 31, 1959, and are at least 18 years of age, civil service employment law (5 U.S.C. 3328) requires that you must be registered with the Selective Service System, unless you meet certain exemptions under Selective Service law. If you are required to register but knowingly and willfully fail to do so, you are ineligible for appointment by executive agencies of the federal government. If you are unsure of your registration status, or are seeking further details on exemptions to the registration requirement, you can check the Selective Service System website at: http://www.sss.gov.
Candidates will undergo a background investigation that includes verifying and corroborating key activities, information, and events. In addition to various inquiries into criminal history, credit, and other databases, a Diplomatic Security (DS) background investigator may conduct interviews with you and various references (those you provide and those developed through the investigation).
Based on the information obtained in the investigative process, DS will determine if you are eligible for access to classified information. A Security clearance will enable you to perform the various duties and responsibilities of a Foreign Service or Civil Service employee. The security clearance is adjudicated based on Security Executive Agency Directive (SEAD) 4: National Security Adjudicative Guidelines. These guidelines include factors that may raise security concerns, as well as the circumstances that mitigate those concerns. You are encouraged to review SEAD 4 for awareness of the issues DS considers in making this determination. See SEAD 4 For more information, visit https://www.state.gov/security-clearances.
It takes from one week to several months to complete a suitability determination. The length of time depends on the issues involved in each candidate’s file and the need for the Panel to obtain additional information in order to reach a decision that both conforms to the standards outlined in the Foreign Affairs Manual and is fair to the candidate.
Upon completion of the background investigation and minimum medical qualification, a Suitability Review Panel is convened for each candidate. The Panel examines a candidate’s total record (except medical files) to determine suitability for employment with the Foreign Service. In evaluating suitability, the Panel considers among other points: misconduct in prior employment; criminal or dishonest conduct; misrepresentation in the application process; use to excess of intoxicating beverages; trafficking in or abuse of narcotics or controlled substances; doubt as to loyalty to the U.S. Government; conduct which clearly shows poor judgment; and lack of financial responsibility, including a history of not filing tax returns or meeting financial obligations.
Candidates who decline two appointment offers will be removed from the Register even if the 18-month eligibility period has not expired. Since hiring is based on the needs of the Department at a given time, there is no guarantee a candidate who declines an initial offer will receive a second one.
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. Consular Professionals in Limited Non-Career Appointments (LNA) are not considered career positions and accepting an LNA position will not terminate other candidacies.
While results of the FSOT are generally available at the conclusion of the exam, candidates should allow 10 to 12 weeks before receipt of their QEP results. Candidates should log into their Pearson VUE accounts and enable notifications to receive an alert, or check their account 10 to 12 weeks after the FSOT to retrieve QEP results.
All candidates who take the Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) and submit Personal Narratives are considered by the QEPs. The QEPs look at the “total candidate” to rank order all the candidates in a given career track. The number of candidates invited to the Foreign Service Officer Assessment depends on the Department of State’s anticipated hiring needs and budget.
Assuming no serious security or medical issues arise, candidates who take the Foreign Service Officer Test can expect that the minimum time from the test date to placement on the register will be about eighteen months, but it can be months longer. Timing for Foreign Service Specialist positions is similar but varies by category. Offers to those on the hiring register will depend on budget and hiring authority for the Foreign Service Generalist and Specialist positions.
The Department of State hires based on the needs of the Foreign Service and the available budget. It is not possible to predict the proportion of successful, hired candidates based on career track.
The Department of State’s Careers website has comprehensive information about each career track. Candidates seeking additional information may wish to contact the Diplomat in Residence responsible for their geographic area (full information on the Diplomats in Residence Program, including contact details, is available on the Careers website).
For information about the FSOT and FSOA dates and deadlines, please visit the Test Information and Selection Process page, and choose Step 2: Apply for the Foreign Service Officer Test, and Step 5: Take the Foreign Service Assessment.
The FSOT is administered by PearsonVue. You can find answers to your questions about the FSOT at PearsonVue’s website or at their Frequently Asked Questions page.
As noted in the FSOA invitation letter, candidates are guaranteed an appointment only within the dates associated with their Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) cohort. While the invitation is valid for 12 months, if a candidate does not schedule the Foreign Service Officer Assessment for one of the dates offered as part of their FSOT cohort, we cannot guarantee an alternative assessment date. Candidates may contact reschedule@state.gov to have their name placed on a waiting list, and if an assessment date becomes available, the candidate will be contacted. Please note that candidates on the waiting list are offered rescheduling on a first come, first served basis.
We strongly encourage candidates to think carefully before scheduling a date for the FSOA, since changes are only permitted in genuine emergencies, such as a serious illness or military deployment. If after scheduling you cannot keep your scheduled assessment date due to illness or emergency, please contact reschedule@state.gov. We will work with you to find an alternate date, if available.
If you are ill on the day of your assessment and you are already at the assessment center waiting for the assessment to begin, let a Program Assistant know immediately. We will work with you to find an alternate date, if available. Once you begin the first exercise of your assessment, you will not be able to reschedule your assessment.
No. Each candidate must make their own appointment. Assessing on the same day and location as a friend or relative is strongly discouraged. Candidates must inform Program Assistants on the day of the assessment if they know or have studied with another candidate assessing that day.
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.
Signing the NDA means that candidates are not allowed to discuss the specifics of the assessment with others at any point during or after the Assessment. While you may share general observations about the process, you may not share specific testing material or questions as the material is restricted property of the US government and disclosure within or outside of the Assessment Center is prohibited. A breach of the Non-Disclosure Agreement may result in the termination of a candidacy.
You will not be allowed to use ANY electronic devices, including cell phones or smart watches, while in the Assessment Center; they must be stored in the secure room while you are in the Center. You will be allowed to use electronics when you are outside of the Assessment Center (for example, when you are on your lunch break). You will be allowed to take non-smart watches into your testing area, but stopwatches or smart watches are not allowed; the assessors will time you when required.
You can read printed materials while on breaks that you spend in the Assessment Center, so feel free to bring printed books, magazines, notes, etc. As a candidate, you may not use your own writing materials, nor can you take much with you into the rooms for assessment exercises. We will provide the resources you need to take the assessment.
Any items that you bring with you must fit in a container no larger than a backpack. All items must be able to pass through an x-ray machine. There is no place to store luggage or items that cannot be x-rayed. There is a secure room in which candidates can store a small bag and hang up coats.
You can take the following items into your assessment exercises: medication, lip balm, glasses, breath mints/hard candy, tissue, earplugs. The Program Assistant may ask to see these items before you are permitted to have them in the testing areas.
If you have a documented disability and require the use of a medical device (glucose monitor, orthopedic cushion, etc.) during your assessment, you must request to do so in advance. Please see the section below on how to request a reasonable accommodation.
Candidates may bring food and drinks to the assessment center, but they may only eat during breaks. We will provide access to water throughout the day. There is refrigerator space available for candidates who wish to bring their lunch, and there are several restaurants and cafes near the assessment center where candidates can eat during their lunch break. The lunch break is typically 45 minutes long. Food and drink are not allowed in the Case Management (Written) Exercise room.
For information about the FSOA dates and deadlines, please visit the Steps to Becoming a Foreign Service Officer page, and choose Step 5: Take the Foreign Service Officer Assessment.
After entering the Foreign Service, a candidate may subsequently reapply for other career tracks or specialist positions. All first-tour candidates serving abroad, however, must complete a minimum of one year at post to be released from the requirement to repay the cost of leaving post early.
The Registrar’s Office determines a candidate’s appointment salary based on a candidate’s education, professional experience, and if applicable, current base salary. Any bonus or commission is not factored in.
Home Leave is provided by order of Congress to ensure that Foreign Service employees maintain close ties to the United States while pursuing careers overseas. Home Leave accrues at the rate of 15 workdays per calendar year while on overseas assignment and may be used at the end of a two- or three-year assignment abroad, or at the midpoint of a three- or four-year tour. In addition to providing paid Home Leave, the U.S. government will also pay for employees and family members to travel to a Home Leave address in the United States.
U.S. Department of State employees are compensated based on government-regulated pay scales. Most Civil Service employees are paid using the GS (General Schedule) pay scale, while Foreign Service employees are paid based on the FS (Foreign Service) pay scale
For current GS pay tables, click here.
For current FS pay tables, click here.
Entry salaries depend on the position. See FS Entry Salaries for more details.
Foreign Service personnel can express their preference for postings but must be willing to serve worldwide assignments according to the needs of the Service.
As public servants, Foreign Service employees and all State Department direct hires must publicly defend U.S. government policy, despite personal reservations. There is an internal channel through which an employee may present dissenting views on specific foreign policy issues. If an employee cannot publicly defend official U.S. policy, the employee may consider professional adjustments, including the option to resign.
The Foreign Service is looking for employees who represent the depth and breadth of the United States, and we expect new hires will bring unique skills and life experiences. Those who come to the Foreign Service with decades of experience will have opportunities to share that experience, but they are entry level employees on par with other entry level employees who may not have as many years of experience. The mix of new employees can greatly enrich teams at posts, and most of these second- and third-career new hires find the experience richly rewarding.
Employment opportunities for spouses, including legally married, same-sex spouses, vary by country of assignment. The Department’s Global Community Liaison Office maintains a listing of job opportunities at most posts and may be contacted directly once an assignment is known. The Department also has a growing number of “tandem couples” in which both spouses work for a foreign affairs agency of the U.S. government.
Yes. Each overseas post has an Orientation Program for all new arrivals at post. New arrivals are also assigned a “sponsor,” an official sponsor at work, as well as a community sponsor who matches the new employee’s interests and family composition. Additionally, many posts run mentoring programs for first and second tour employees, usually managed by the Deputy Chief of Mission at post.
Yes, certainly. They might opt to bring their own car, or they might buy one from a departing colleague when they arrive at post, or through a diplomatic sales option once they have arrived at post – if available. There are a number of possibilities. Just keep in mind you are limited by certain restrictions – right-hand drive cars, sometimes limitations on retractable headlights, emissions, age or color of vehicle etc. All of this information about a particular country’s requirements is readily available to you once hired.
U.S. diplomats are well exposed to local culture both in the workplace and beyond. You will have lots of opportunity to engage with the local community at your post and to enjoy the local culture. You are representing the United States at all times; however and must comport yourself appropriately.
This will all depend on your assignment location, family status and size (i.e., single, married, single with kids, etc.), and whether the post is a limited- or full-shipment post. You should consider bringing things that will make your home overseas your personal home. You will have information on what to bring to specific countries readily available to you during orientation.
Only U.S. citizens may apply for an appointment to the career Foreign Service. A candidate must be a U.S. citizen on the date an application to the Foreign Service is submitted (for Generalists), or upon applying to fill a vacancy announcement (for Specialists).
No, you cannot use college language courses to gain language points. Any language points added to a candidate’s Foreign Service Officer Assessment score are based on the results of testing conducted by the Department of State’s Foreign Service Institute.
There is no set educational level or specific major of field of study required to become a Foreign Service Officer (Generalist). Some Foreign Service Specialist positions do have degree requirements. Foreign language skills are not required for Generalists or Specialists but are required for the Consular Fellows Program. You can improve your assessment score by demonstrating proficiency in foreign languages.
To prepare for the exams, we recommend you have a broad academic foundation, intellectual curiosity, and good writing skills. We offer a number of helpful resources including a Foreign Service Officer Test practice test
https://careers.state.gov/fsopracticetest/
as well as a Recommended Reading List
Suggested Reading
The appointment process to become a Foreign Service employee requires strong commitment. Occasionally, candidates request deferral of their candidacies. Active or reserve military personnel, U.S. government civilian employees, Peace Corps Volunteers, candidates on Fulbright grants serving abroad, and spouses of Foreign Service employees currently assigned abroad may request deferrals for the period of their overseas service, up to a maximum of two years.
Yes. The Department of State encourages all interested candidates who meet the age qualifications to apply. The only requirement is employees must have entered an orientation class before their 60th birthday. Qualifying, preference-eligible veterans may be appointed from the rank-ordered Hiring Register at any time before they turn 65.
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).
We like your enthusiasm! Our answer depends on yours. If you are spending your gap year in student status (learning, studying, etc.) then you are eligible to apply. If you are already enrolled for the 2021-22 academic year, and spending your gap year both learning and earning, you’re eligible. If you are taking a break from college to decide next steps, and are focused solely on earning money, then you are not eligible to apply and should wait until next year. If you apply, we look forward to seeing your application!
No, but there are a number of shops and restaurants nearby at which candidates can make purchases during their lunch break.
We will provide water and access to a water fountain throughout the day. Coffee should be purchased before the 7:00 am assessment start time. Candidates may bring beverages and snacks to the Assessment Center reception area. Candidates are expected to clean up after themselves. Food and drink are not allowed in the Case Management (Written) Exercise room.
There is refrigerator space available for candidates who wish to bring their lunch, as well as number of lunch options located nearby. The lunch break is typically 45 minutes long.
Yes, you will be asked to put your badge away with the rest of your belongings on the day of the test. We do this to ensure that all candidates are treated equally on the assessment day. Some external candidates might see the badge and believe it will provide an advantage. This policy is in no way meant to ignore your service to the Department. The assessors will see your service in their review of your file.
You will not be allowed to use ANY electronic devices, including cell phones or smart watches, while in the Assessment Center. You will be allowed to use electronics when you are outside of the Assessment Center (for example, when you are on your lunch break). You will be allowed to take non-smart watches into your testing area, but stopwatches or smart watches are not allowed; the assessors will time you when required. You can read printed materials while on breaks that you spend in the Assessment Center, so feel free to bring printed books, magazines, notes, etc.
No, we do not provide earplugs. Candidates are free to bring and use their own.
Any items that you bring with you must fit in a container no larger than a backpack. All items must be able to pass through an x-ray machine. There is no place to store luggage or items that cannot be x-rayed. There is a secure room in which candidates can put store their small bag and hang up coats.
Candidates may not use their own writing materials, nor can they take much with them into their assessment exercises. We will provide the resources you need to take the assessment. You can take the following items into your assessment exercises: medication, lip balm, glasses, breath mints/hard candy, tissue, earplugs. The Program Assistant may ask to see these items before you are permitted to have them in the testing areas. You cannot take purses or bags with you into the assessment exercises; you will be asked to leave them in a secure location in the reception area.
Signing the NDA means that candidates are not allowed to discuss the specifics of the assessment with others at any point during or after the Assessment. While you may share general observations about the process, you may not share specific testing material or questions as the material is restricted property of the US government, and disclosure within or outside of the Assessment Center is prohibited. A breach of the Non-Disclosure Agreement may result in the termination of candidacy.
No. Candidates who pass the Foreign Service Officer Assessment (FSOA) will be asked to complete the required online security forms through e-QIP to begin their security clearance process. Successful candidates will receive detailed instructions on how to access e-QIP after passing the OA.
Currently, our policy is to allow candidates to take their medications into the testing area if necessary. There are also sufficient breaks in the day to take care of medical needs. If you have notable medical needs to which you will need to attend throughout the testing day, we urge you to inform us of these medical issues before the day of your assessment. You may need to contact ReasonableAccommodations@state.gov if you believe your medical needs warrant some kind of special accommodation. The Program Assistants may ask to see any items you take into the testing area.
A lactation room is available at the Assessment Center, and all candidates receive sufficient break periods that lactation is possible. Please inform the Program Assistant at the start of the assessment day.
Please e-mail ReasonableAccommodations@state.gov at least three weeks before your scheduled Foreign Service Officer or Specialist Assessment and provide us with your contact information, a brief description of your disability, and the accommodation requested. We will contact you within the following week.
All candidates who qualify to take a Foreign Service Officer Assessment (FSOA) through the FSOT process are entitled to one FSOA per FSOT candidacy. Candidates must wait approximately 12 months between FSOT applications. Those candidates who qualify to take an FSOA through processes other than the FSOT may take the FSOA a second time, but must wait six months between Officer Assessments.
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:
| Albanian | Amharic | Armenian – East | Azerbaijani | Bengali |
| Bulgarian | Burmese | Cambodian – Khmer | Chinese Cantonese | Czech |
| Danish | Dutch/Flemish | Estonian | Finnish | French |
| Georgian | German | Greek | Haitian Creole | Hausa |
| Hebrew | Hungarian | Icelandic | Indonesian | Italian |
| Japanese | Kazakh | Kinyarwanda/Rwanda | Kyrgyz | Lao |
| Latvian | Lithuanian | Macedonian | Malay | Mongolian |
| Nepali/Nepalese | Norwegian | Panjabi/Punjabi | Persian – Tajiki | Pilipino/Tagalog |
| Polish | Portuguese | Romanian | Russian | Serbo-Croatian (All variants) |
| Singhalese | Slovak | Slovenian | Somali | Spanish |
| Swahili/Kiswahili | Swedish | Tamil | Telugu | Thai |
| Tibetan | Turkish | Turkmen | Ukrainian | Uzbek |
| Vietnamese – Std. |
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:
| Arabic – Any variety | Chinese – Mandarin | Hindi | Korean | Pashto |
| Persian – Afghan (Dari) | Persian – Iranian (Farsi) | Urdu |
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.
Yes. Interns selected for internships abroad must provide proof of medical insurance coverage, to include medical evacuation and repatriation of remains, to the Student Programs Office or bureau coordinator prior to departure.
The Department is looking for students with a broad range of majors, including Business or Public Administration, Social Work, Economics, Information Management, Journalism, and the Biological and Physical Sciences, as well as those majors more traditionally identified with international affairs.
No, not all posts are able to participate in the program, and participation may vary year to year. Because it is difficult to anticipate the needs of our embassies and consulates, you should apply to those posts that are of interest to you. Posts that are deemed dangerous (designated for danger pay) do not host interns.
Unofficial transcripts are accepted during the application process. However, if you are selected for an internship, you will be required to provide an official transcript prior to beginning your internship.
The Department of State Bureau of Medical Services makes determinations on candidates that meet the minimum medical qualification standard.
There may be adequate health services, including a laboratory, locally where you could obtain the necessary care. Depending on the frequency of the follow up you require, you may also wish to consult your personal health care provider in the U.S. while on leave, or at a reputable medical facility outside of the U.S.
Accepting employment in the Foreign Service for worldwide assignment means that the Department may send an employee to any assignment in the world without regard to the ability of family members to accompany the employee. Although in many cases it may be possible to locate an assignment where all family members can reside, there is no guarantee of this and, if the family members’ medical clearance does not change, the same problem will repeat itself with each assignment throughout a career.
For more information on obtaining Minimum Medical Qualification, please see the Department of State Med website at https://www.state.gov/bureaus-offices/under-secretary-for-management/bureau-of-medical-services/medical-clearances/
For more information on obtaining Minimum Medical Qualification, please see the Department of State Med website at https://www.state.gov/bureaus-offices/under-secretary-for-management/bureau-of-medical-services/medical-clearances/