Steps to becoming a Foreign Service Specialist

While the Foreign Service written examination is not required for Foreign Service Specialist positions, all applicants must meet basic qualifications for Foreign Service employment:

1. Applicants must be a citizen of the United States.
2. Applicants must be at least 20 years old to apply. They must be at least 21 years of age to be appointed. By law, all career candidates must be appointed to the Foreign Service prior to the month in which they reach age 60. Diplomatic Security Special Agent Career Candidates must not be over 37 years old at the time of appointment.
3. Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must be registered under the Military Selective Service Act.
4. Applicants must be available worldwide, willing to accept assignments throughout the world, including assignments to Washington, D.C. and other parts of the United States. In cases where both husband and wife are foreign affairs agency employees (a tandem couple), both are expected to be willing to accept assignments to a post other than that of the tandem spouse in order to meet the needs of the Service. The Department recognizes the importance of family unity and will make every effort to assign a tandem couple to the same post at the same time.
5. Applicants must meet medical fitness standards which are more rigorous than those of most other professions. They must pass a thorough medical examination, which for some applicants may include a cardiovascular stress test.
6. Applicants must undergo a thorough background investigation for a security clearance, as well as suitability for appointment to the Foreign Service.

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