Foreign Service Officers are U.S. diplomats who work for the State Department at embassies and consulates abroad and in Washington. Applicants must be U.S. citizens within the eligibility age range and willing to serve anywhere in the world. Selection runs through several stages: a written test and qualifications review, an oral assessment, medical and security clearances and a final suitability review. No specific degree is required.
What diplomats actually do
The work is less glamorous and more varied than the movies suggest. Officers choose one of five career tracks when they apply.
- Consular: helping Americans abroad and deciding on visas, often the busiest and most public work.
- Economic: tracking trade, energy, environment and business issues in the host country.
- Management: running embassy operations, budgets, housing, staffing and logistics.
- Political: analyzing politics and events and building relationships with officials.
- Public diplomacy: explaining U.S. policy, working with media and running cultural and educational exchanges.
Many new officers start with consular work regardless of track. Tours usually last a few years before moving to a new post, and assignments can include hardship posts with difficult living conditions.
Education and background
- No required degree: most officers have one, but majors vary widely. International relations, political science, economics and history are common; see what you can do with an international relations degree.
- Language skills: helpful but not required to apply; the department provides language training.
- Experience: work abroad, military service, public service, teaching, business or nonprofit work can all strengthen your application.
- Graduate school: optional. Many officers join without it; whether to go to grad school depends on your goals.
Studying or working abroad helps you find out whether living overseas suits you; see should I study abroad.
How selection works
The State Department sets the details, and it adjusts the test schedule and evaluation methods from time to time. In general, applicants register for the Foreign Service Officer Test, submit written responses about their experience, and are evaluated on the full file. Those invited move on to an oral assessment. Successful candidates then need medical clearance and a top secret security clearance, followed by a final suitability review. Candidates who pass are placed on a ranked list for their career track, and offers depend on hiring needs. The process often takes a year or more. Check the State Department’s careers site for current eligibility and timing.
A long-range path from high school
- Read widely about world affairs, history and economics, and write often. Clear writing matters at every stage.
- Study a foreign language and take any chance to live, study or volunteer abroad.
- Choose a college major you enjoy and do well in, and build experiences that show leadership and adaptability.
- Look for internships in government, international organizations or nonprofits.
- Learn about the five tracks and pick the one that fits your interests, since it shapes your career.
- Prepare for the test and assessment steadily, and keep your finances, record and health in order for clearances.
Test the fit first
- Seek an internship with a federal agency or an international nonprofit.
- Talk with current or former diplomats through informational interviews. Ask about family life, hardship posts and moving every few years.
- Spend extended time abroad, through study, work or volunteering, to see how you handle distance from home.
Who thrives abroad, and what pulls people home
The Foreign Service suits curious, adaptable people who like working across cultures and can follow policy they may not personally choose. People leave because of moving every few years, strain on partners and children, hardship assignments, limited control over where they go, or shifts in government policy. It ranks among careers for people who like to travel, but the travel is service, not tourism.
Joining later in life
Many officers join after other careers, and the eligibility age range allows that. Experience in management, business, law, teaching, the military or journalism often helps in the assessment. See making a mid-career pivot and how to get into public service.
Where a mentor helps
The process is long and uncertain, and motivation can fade between stages. A mentor helps you explore whether the Foreign Service fits, choose a track, plan education and experiences, keep a steady study routine, and stay grounded while waiting on results. Mentors are not credentialed career counselors, State Department representatives or admissions counselors. See career and education mentoring and mentoring for professionals.
Related
- Career paths: guides to dozens of careers
- What you can do with a political science degree
- What you can do with an economics degree
- Your first job in government
- How to become an urban planner
- How to become a machinist
Common questions
Do you need a degree to be a Foreign Service Officer?
No specific degree is required, though most officers have one. The selection process looks at knowledge, skills and experience rather than a particular major.
Do you need to speak a foreign language?
No. Language skills can help, but the State Department provides language training to officers before many assignments.
How long does the Foreign Service process take?
It often takes a year or more from the test to an offer, because of assessments, clearances and the ranked hiring list.
Can I choose where I am posted?
Officers express preferences, but assignments depend on the needs of the service, and you must be willing to serve anywhere in the world.
Get started
Considering the Foreign Service and want help building a long-term plan? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.