The mission of a U.S. diplomat in the Foreign Service is to promote peace, support prosperity, and protect American citizens while advancing the interests of the U.S. abroad.
If you’re passionate about public service and want to represent the U.S. around the world, a challenging and rewarding career is waiting for you. The opportunity to work and experience cultures, customs and people of different nations is truly a career unlike any other.
The work you’ll do will have an impact on the world. You will be asked to serve at one of any of the more than 270 embassies, consulates and other diplomatic missions in The Americas, Africa, Europe and Eurasia, East Asia and Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, and South Asia. Some of these posts are in difficult and even dangerous environments, but working in them affords great challenges and rewards.
Explore a career in the Foreign Service and start your journey with the Department today. Start by looking at where we work, or taking the quiz to find out if the Foreign Service is right for you, or what career track is the best fit.
The Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) is an important part of the FSO selection process, covering the job knowledge, English expression and biographic information necessary to work as a Foreign Service Officer. The FSOT also includes an essay. View complete information on the steps to becoming a Foreign Service Officer! Visit the Test Information and Selection process website at: http://careers.state.gov/work/foreign-service/officer/test-process.
Upcoming Foreign Service Officer Testing Windows
This chart contains relevant dates for the next three Foreign Service Officer Tests. As a reminder you will be able to register—apply and select a seat—for approximately five weeks before each testing window.
| February 2016 | June 2016 | October 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Testing Window Dates | January 30 to February 6 | June 4 to 11 | October 1 to 8 |
| Registration opens | December 16 | April 27 | August 24 |
| Registration closes | January 27 | June 1 | September 28 |
Local Diplomat-in-Residence, Mr. Isiah Parnell offers the following advice to those that wish to prepare for the test:
A candidate needs to be widely and well read, have solid English grammar and writing skills, and have a good grasp of US history and government, world history and geography, management, economics, and stats. The best preparation is an excellent liberal arts education that requires lots of writing and analytics , a subscription to the country’s best newspapers and journals that focus on intl relations, and persistence in getting through the exam. Those considering taking the test should check out the practice test available on-line.
If you have specific questions about the Foreign Service Officer Test you may send them to FSOTQuestions@state.gov.
You may also download past study guides, reading lists and prep materials from T-square.
