U.S. Department of State Careers

FAQs

For a listing of frequently asked questions regarding General Information, click here.

For a listing of frequently asked questions regarding Medical Clearance, click here.

For a listing of frequently asked questions regarding Security Clearance, click here.

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About Foreign Service Specialists

What is the difference between a specialist and an officer?
Specialists are: Medical Specialists, Office Management Specialists, Information Management Specialists, Diplomatic Security Agents, Human Resource Specialists, etc.

Officers are generalists who enter in one of the career tracks - Consular, Economic, Management, Political, and Public Diplomacy.
Do Foreign Service Specialists receive training?
There is an initial orientation lasting three weeks followed by additional specialized training lasting up to 17 weeks, depending on the job specialty.
Is the ability to speak a foreign language a consideration in hiring Specialists?
Foreign language skills are not a prerequisite to employment. The Department of State determines which overseas positions are "language designated" and offers language training to specialists assigned to those positions. Successful candidates who pass the Oral Assessment can raise their ranking on the List of Eligible Hires by demonstrating proficiency in a foreign language used by the Department through a telephonic assessment.
Does a Foreign Service Specialist candidate have to take the Foreign Service Officer Test?
No. The hiring process is different for Foreign Service Specialists. For more information visit the Selection Process page.
Many of the specialists seem to fall under the management area of responsibility. Do Foreign Service Management Officers have supervisory responsibility over these specialists?
Yes, in fact, the Management Officers do oversee many of the specialists. Office Management Specialists are the exception, as they report directly to the officers for whom they work.
Will the Federal government repay my college loans?
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has implemented a program for the repayment of student loans under certain conditions. By law, the maximum any federal agency can award is $10,000 a year, or $60,000 over a lifetime. In each of the first three years of our program, the Department approved payments of $4,700. In return, an employee must agree to remain with the paying agency for at least three years. For the complete list of benefits, please click here.
Are veterans given hiring preference?
Qualified Veterans who pass the specialist oral assessment may have an additional 5 to 10 points added to their score thereby increasing their standing on the rank-ordered Register of Cleared Candidates.
Are non-citizens eligible for Foreign Service employment?
Only U.S. citizens may apply for an appointment to the career Foreign Service, i.e., you must be a U.S. citizen by the day you take the Foreign Service Officer Test (for generalists), or upon your application to fill a vacancy announcement (for specialists).
Are there employment opportunities for spouses overseas?
Yes. Employment opportunities for spouses vary by country of assignment. The Department's Family 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.
Will my family get to travel and live overseas with me?
Spouses, children under age 21, and, in rare cases, dependent parents may accompany Foreign Service employees abroad at Government expense. However, even though family members are not required to be medically cleared before an offer of employment is extended, family members must be medically cleared before traveling overseas at U.S. Government expense to accompany Foreign Service Officers on assignment.

This means employees could be assigned overseas unaccompanied by those family members who do not have clearances. Further, the rules for claiming your parent or parent -in-law as a dependent are strict, and involve showing proof that they have been more than 51% financially dependent on you for an extended period of time. Security concerns and lack of adequate educational or health facilities at certain posts may dictate against eligible family members accompanying the officer to such posts. There are, however, no provisions for benefits for domestic partners.
My situation has changed. Can I defer my candidacy for entry into the Foreign Service?
The appointment process to become a Foreign Service Specialist requires strong commitment. Occasionally, candidates request deferral of their candidacy. Active or reserve military personnel serving abroad, or U.S. civilian government employees serving abroad, including Peace Corps, may request deferrals for the period of their overseas service, up to a maximum of two years.

Requests for deferrals from any other candidates will be considered on a case-by-case basis; however, candidates should be aware that only truly compelling deferral requests can be approved. A deferral does not result in additional time for a name to remain on a register. A deferral merely "stops the clock;" at the end of the deferral period, the candidate's name will be re-added to the Register for the period of time remaining from their original candidacy.
Do many Foreign Service Specialists bring their own vehicles on assignment?
Yes, certainly. They might opt to bring their own car, or they might buy one from a departing colleague when they arrive at post. There are a number of possibilities. Just keep in mind though that you are limited sometimes by certain restrictions - right-hand drive cars, sometimes limitations on retractable headlights, emissions, etc. All of this information about a particular country is readily available to you as part of the assignment bidding process so you can be well informed.
Are there programs that help Foreign Service Specialists adjust to their new duty station?
Yes – each US embassy and consulate has an Orientation Program for all new arrivals at post. You are also assigned a "sponsor," an official sponsor and a community sponsor who matches your interests and family composition. You are very well cared for!
What household items do you recommend a Foreign Service Specialist store and which do you recommend they bring to their new duty station?
Good question. Of course it depends on your state of life, i.e., married, single with kids, etc. It also depends on whether the post is a limited or full shipment post. You should always bring things that will make your home overseas your personal home. Do not bring anything that would break your heart to lose.
Does the Department of State consider lesbians and gays for employment? What if I have a live-in partner?
It is the policy of the Department of State to provide equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, handicap, political affiliation or marital status, or sexual orientation. There are, however, only limited provisions for benefits for domestic partners.

For information on the privileges and benefits afforded to domestic partners/Members of Household, please click here.
How much exposure/experience in the local culture do you have an opportunity to enjoy?
You have lots of opportunity to enjoy the local culture – compare it to the time you have available right now when you go home after work. The host country is your home – after work every day and on weekends. You are a U.S. government representative – but you are also a resident and a tourist if you want to maximize it!
Do I have to accept every assignment that is offered?
Foreign Service personnel can express their preference for postings, but must be willing to serve worldwide according to the needs of the Service.
Does the system tolerate dissent?
As public servants, Foreign Service Specialists 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 a specialist cannot publicly defend official U.S. policy, he or she has the option to resign.

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Medical Clearance

What is involved in the medical clearance process?
The requirement for pre-employment in the Foreign Service is that the applicant must be medically cleared for "worldwide assignment." Family members, however, must be medically cleared before traveling overseas to accompany an employee on assignment at U.S. Government expense. These medical fitness standards are more rigorous than those of most other professions as some overseas posts may be remote, unhealthy, or have limited medical support.
I'm a breast cancer survivor. It has been 10 years since I've shown any evidence of cancer in my regular screenings. Can I be cleared for appointment?
A full medical report from the oncologist is required to establish the type of follow-up that is needed. If, after 10 years, you are taking no medication for the breast cancer and your only follow-up care is an annual mammogram, there is a good possibility that your condition would not limit your medical clearance
My ten-year old child is in a special education program and will need to continue to receive special education assistance for the foreseeable future. What are the implications for her medical clearance?
For any child who has special education needs, the Individual Education Program must be forwarded to Medical Clearances for further evaluation through MED's Mental Health Services. Because of the special education needs, your child is likely not worldwide available and would have the limited, Class 2, medical clearance. This means that approval of an overseas post from Medical Clearances will be necessary prior to your child's inclusion on your travel orders.
I have lived with Type I diabetes since I was a child. It is managed and I am completely capable of giving myself the necessary injections. Is this a limitation to a full medical clearance?
The standard for diabetes control is based on frequent blood glucose monitoring, testing for hemoglobin A1C every 4-6 months, and having access to emergency services in the event of a diabetic crisis, as well as routine monitoring by specialists as required. Due to conditions at some posts, one may encounter profuse sweating, diarrhea and vomiting, or other unforeseen chemical changes that may affect blood sugar levels very quickly and require the need for emergency care. The specific type of insulin you need may not be available in many locations worldwide and it may not be possible to ship you insulin at such locations. Given this range of considerations for the treatment and control of your diabetes, it is unlikely that you would be issued an unlimited medical clearance.
I'm 39 years old. I had a mild heart attack three years ago and was hospitalized briefly. I've had no further cardiac events and my doctor monitors me regularly. I am otherwise in good health. Does this history pose a clearance problem?
We would carefully evaluate the type of monitoring you require. Because your doctor monitors you regularly, it is likely that you would not be worldwide available. There are numerous Department of State posts where no cardiologist, indeed no physician at all, would be available to care for you.
If I am cleared medically for any post in the world but one of my family members is not, won't the Department of State simply assign me to one of those places where all my family members can accompany me?
Accepting employment as being cleared for worldwide assignment means that the Department may send you to any assignment in the world without regard to the ability of your family members to accompany you. Although in many cases it may be possible to identify an assignment where all family members can accompany you, there is no guarantee of this and, if the medical clearance for your family members does not change, the same problem will repeat itself with each assignment throughout a career.

Accepting an appointment in the Foreign Service when one has family members with medical or learning disability problems that preclude them from receiving a Class One medical clearance is accepting the possibility of unaccompanied assignments. All prospective employees and their family members should understand that principle before pursuing a career in the Foreign Service.

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Security Clearance

What is involved the security clearance process?
The clearance process considers such factors as registration for the Selective Service, failure to repay U.S. Government-guaranteed student loan, credit history, violations of the law, drug or alcohol abuse, or a less-than-honorable discharge from the armed forces. Background investigations may take several months (longer if a candidate has moved frequently or lived overseas for extended periods of time), and may include interviews of supervisors and coworkers. These investigations are conducted by the Department of State in cooperation with other federal, state, and local agencies.
What is the background investigation?
Applicants who are successful in the Oral Assessment will be asked to submit forms for a security clearance required for appointment to the Foreign Service. 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; drug or alcohol abuse; a criminal record; extensive travel; education; residence and/or employment overseas; dual citizenship; foreign contacts; immediate family or relatives who are not citizens of the United States and/or a foreign born spouse; or a less- than-honorable discharge from the armed forces.

The Department of State conducts background investigations on each candidate to determine eligibility for security clearance. Investigations include interviews with current and previous contacts, supervisors, and coworkers.
I have dual citizenship - can that be a factor in obtaining my security clearance?
Security clearance evaluations/determinations must assure that access to classified information for a specific individual is "clearly consistent with the interests of national security." Under the adjudicative guidelines, "any doubt as to whether access to classified information is clearly consistent with national security will be resolved in favor of the national security." When making such a determination, DS must consider all available information, both positive and negative. This is the "whole person" concept. Dual nationality is a relevant element in some cases.

While U.S. citizenship is a basic eligibility requirement to be considered for access to classified information, it does not automatically confer the right to a security clearance. Dual citizenship must be considered in context of other circumstances in an individual's background. For more information on Dual Citizenship please download our in-depth page.
What happens if I do not receive clearance?
Candidates who do not receive security clearances are ineligible for appointment. Potential Candidates who have any serious issues which could prevent them from receiving their clearance should give some thought to the likelihood of their being found ineligible before starting this process. These investigations are conducted by the Department of State in cooperation with other federal, state, and local agencies.
During the security clearance process, what will my current employer be told is the reason for the clearance? Is it best they didn't know I was applying for another job, since employment isn't guaranteed?
If you don't want your current employer contacted, you need to advise the security investigator. They are not supposed to contact your current employer unless you say that they may, since this is a common – and obviously legitimate – concern.
Can you give me an idea of the average time frame for completing the security clearance process?
It all depends on whether issues arise in the security clearance process. It can take as little as 60 days (sometimes even less), but it can also take much longer if there are issues that are complex. Such cases, fortunately, are rather rare, and we generally know within 120 days or so whether the clearances will be forthcoming.
I have top security clearance now. If I pass the written and oral exams, would I be eligible for a job immediately?
If your TS clearance was granted by the Department of State, then you won't need a new one. However, if it's from another agency, we'll need to do our own background investigation and issue our own clearance.
What chance does someone with a misdemeanor conviction have of becoming a foreign officer?
All security clearances are handled on a case-by-case basis. It depends on when, what, etc.
Is sexual orientation a factor considered by the Department in its hiring decisions?
The Department of State is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of sexual orientation. There are, however, only limited provisions for benefits for domestic partners.