Foreign Service Institute

The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) is the Federal Government's primary training institution for officers and support personnel of the U.S. foreign affairs community, preparing American diplomats and other professionals to advance U.S. foreign affairs interests overseas and in Washington. At the George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center, the FSI provides more than 450 courses -- including some 70 foreign languages -- to more than 50,000 enrollees a year from the State Department and more than 40 other government agencies and the military service branches.

The Institute's programs include training for the professional development of Foreign Service administrative, consular, economic/commercial, political, and public diplomacy officers; for specialists in the fields of information management, office management, security, and medical practitioners and nurses; for Foreign Service Nationals who work at U.S. posts around the world; and for Civil Service employees of the State Department and other agencies. Ranging in length from a half-day to 2 years, courses are designed to promote successful performance in each professional assignment, to ease the adjustment to other countries and cultures, and to enhance the leadership and management capabilities of the U.S. foreign affairs community. Other courses and services help family members prepare for the demands of a mobile lifestyle and living abroad.

To request a catalog of FSI courses about language, leadership, area studies or information technology, contact the FSI Office of the Registrar, on (703) 302-7144/7137. If you want to view driving or METRO directions to FSI, click here.

What's NEW at FSI's Transition Center?

Life skills training for foreign affairs personnel, family members and members of household. 

Security training course for the general public:

NEW PODCAST - Time Magazine writer and author Amanda Ripley's September 2008 presentation, "Reacting to the Unthinkable."

Ripley was one of the speakers at the Private Sector Security Overseas Seminar (PSOS) on September 11-12th, 2008. The Foreign Service Institute's Transition Center, in collaboration with the Overseas Security Advisory Council, reaches out twice a year to the private sector on a limited basis to share its security strategies and information on topics such as current threat trends, surveillance and bomb recognition, environmental threats, and the human side of crisis management. Those wishing to register for PSOS must be Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) constituents. However, there is no fee for becoming a constituent.

Private Sector Security Overseas Seminar:  This 2-day course, offered April 16-17 and September 21-22, 2009, is made available through the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) to provide security awareness training to U.S. private business members that operate overseas. Registration is through the OSAC website. This training is provided on a reimbursable basis. 

Security, personal preparation and retirement courses for foreign affairs personnel and their families:

The "Safety Abroad for Families and Employees" (SAFE) program is a 4-day training course designed for U.S. Government employees and accompanying family members, from other agencies (non-State Department) who are Foreign Service, Civil Service (or third party contract employees), who have never worked in an embassy abroad. This is mandatory security awareness training for all U.S. Government employees who will be working under Chief of Mission authority at a U.S. embassy, consulate, or other post or mission abroad. The SAFE program includes the content of two FSI courses: "Working in an Embassy" and "Security Overseas Seminar (SOS)." The SAFE program is provided to non-State government employees on a reimbursable basis at the Shultz Center.

The Advanced Security Overseas Seminar (ASOS), which is a refresher course required of all foreign affairs personnel (including third party contractors) who will serve under Chief of Mission Authority and who have not had security awareness training during the past five years or more. This course is only available as an online distance learning option. Click here for more details.

NEW The two-day Mid-Career Retirement Planning course is designed as a retirement "check-up" for mid-career U.S. government employees from the State Department and other U.S. government agencies who are between 10 and 15 years from retirement. The following topics will be covered: calculation of estimated income and expenses in retirement, investment and savings options, wills, trusts, durable and healthcare powers of attorney, living wills, age and service requirements for retirement eligibility, how to calculate estimated annuities, considerations for annuities for surviving spouses, determining what to do and where to live in retirement, health issues as one ages, taxes in retirement and the federal long-term care program for parents, spouses and employees. This new course compliments the other retirement planning courses offered: the Retirement Planning Seminar (4 days) and the Job Search Program (1 to 2 months depending on designated retirement system).

2008 contest deadlines for foreign affairs agency family members:

Kid Vid Contest deadline is April 15, 2008. Contest rules and details.  
Clips to Go Contest deadline is August 1, 2008. Contest rules and details.

--  2008 Kid Vid Contest Rules for Children of Foreign Affairs Agency Personnel  [20 Kb]