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A Career in the Foreign Service
The U.S. Department of State is the United States’ premier diplomatic institution, with opportunities to serve our country overseas and domestically. If you are interested in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, we are now hiring Specialists positions for Foreign Service careers.
Benefits include health and medical coverage, federal retirement benefits, and paid leave. Overseas benefits include tax-free housing and tax-free education allowance for dependent children between K-12 overseas, and an unrivaled opportunity to see the world and experience different cultures.
Learn more about the Department of State and a career in the Foreign Service.
The Specialist Online Skills Test is a key step in the Foreign Service Specialist selection process, covering English expression, reading comprehension, situational judgment and depending on the Specialty, specific job knowledge skills necessary to work as a Specialist.
The Specialist Online Skills Test is conveniently offered throughout the United States and worldwide, likely in a location near you, and is available Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Some test centers offer testing Monday through Sunday with some evening hours. Find a test center near you.
Please note: New candidates must create a web account before they can submit an application.
To be eligible, the U.S. Department of State requires that each candidate be:
- Be a U.S. citizen and accept assignments based on the needs of the FS.
- E-Verify: Verification of employment eligibility in the United States is required.
- Be able to obtain a Top Secret Security Clearance.
- Be able to meet the minimum medical qualification standard.
- Be able to obtain a favorable Suitability Review Panel determination.*
- Be at least 20 years old to apply; at least 21 years old to be appointed.
- Be appointed prior to age 60 (preference eligible veterans excepted. **
*The U.S. Department of State Suitability Review Panel and standards are defined in Chapter 3 of the Foreign Affairs Manual. For more information please visit: fam.state.gov.
**Learn more about Veteran’s Preference and how it is applied throughout the selection process.
The Specialist Online Skills Test is offered for free. However, please note that Department of State requires that candidates provide credit/debit card information to Pearson (the test administrator) to complete the registration process. The card will be charged $5 to hold the appointment. This fee is fully refundable and will be credited back to the credit/debit card a few weeks after you test. If, however, a candidate either does not take the test or does not cancel an appointment at least 48 hours in advance, the card will be charged an additional $40 for a total no-show fee assessment of $45.
Candidates must complete two registration steps: submitting an application and selecting a test appointment. Candidates have two weeks after the close of the vacancy announcement to schedule and take their online skills test.
Applications expire six months from the submission of the eligibility verification date at 11:59 p.m. CT. The application expiration date is shown in the portal. Candidates should schedule their test well in advance of the application expiration deadline. Candidates cannot select a testing date past the application expiration date and will need to submit a new application. Exams may not be scheduled and taken on the same day. Candidates may test only once in a 12-month period.
Coming soon.
Foreign Service Specialist Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about the Foreign Service Specialist Online Test, including scheduling, fees, eligibility, retakes, locations, application updates, and test results.
When the Online Test for a Foreign Service Specialty is offered depends on the time frame listed in the vacancy announcement.
There is a $5 sitting fee for the Online Test. This fee is fully refunded to the candidate one to three weeks after the testing event. However, should a candidate fail to appear for the Online Test and/or not cancel a previously-scheduled appointment 48 hours prior to the appointment, the candidate will be assessed a $45 no-show fee.
No. There is no limit on the number of times an individual may sit for the Online Test. However, one must wait 12 months between each test.
No. The 12-month wait applies only to candidates who sat for any portion of the test. Candidates who cancelled or otherwise missed their appointments may apply again to test, provided they have paid any no-show fees.
Currently, the Online Test is not offered at U.S. Embassies or Consulates overseas.
Once an application has been submitted, candidates are unable to make any changes to it for six months. If you wish to change the information, a new application may be submitted after the six-month validity period expires.
If a specific educational institution is not listed, please use “OTHER” and “Other Domestic.”
Candidates may change, modify or cancel their Online Test appointments through their Pearson account.
If you have an extenuating circumstance and are suddenly unable to make your appointment and need to cancel, please contact Pearson customer service.
Please contact Pearson customer service to pay a no-show fee.
Candidates will receive their results immediately after testing.
Plagiarism & AI Policy
The Department of State reserves the right to cancel and/or disqualify a candidate’s application or to withhold test results when, in its judgment, a testing irregularity occurs. Testing irregularities include but are not limited to candidate misconduct and plagiarism. The Department may verify content provided by candidates by contacting references. It also conducts extensive background checks of work and education history of candidates offered employment.
AUTHORITIES: The information is sought pursuant to 301(b) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended (22 U.S.C. § 3941(b)).
PURPOSE: The information solicited on this form will be used to determine eligibility to take the Consular Fellows Program Test, to register for the Consular Fellows Program Test, to assess qualifications for selection as a Consular Fellow, and to ensure the integrity of the examination process.
ROUTINE USES: The information solicited on this form may be made available to prepare statistical reports and analyses at the Department of State. Such reports and analyses, which are prepared in such a way that they are not individually identifiable, may be shared outside the Department. This information may also be shared with other federal agencies in response to request for information about hiring or retention of an employee or to Members of Congress in response to an inquiry on behalf of the applicant. More information on the Routine Uses for the system can be found in the System of Records Notice State-31, Human Resource Records.
DISCLOSURE: Providing this information is voluntary. Failure to provide the information requested on this form may result in the user’s inability to submit appropriate responses to the FSOT questionnaire and/or the FSOT and oral exam.
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Last updated 2026-06-23