Foreign Service Officers work in one of five different career tracks: Consular, Economic, Management, Political and Public Diplomacy.  More information on these career tracks can be found at https://careers.state.gov/work/foreign-service/officer/career-tracks/ After you’ve chosen a career track, the next step is to register for the Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT).  The FSOT is offered in February, June and October.  Registration for the FSOT typically occurs during a five week window that closes approximately ten days before the test date.

Information Management Specialists manage and operate worldwide information technology infrastructure, including PC local and wide area networks, telecommunications systems, telephone and UHF/VHF programs, and diplomatic pouch and mail services. The first step to becoming an Information Management Specialist is to complete the online application by registering for the Information Management Specialist Test (IMST).

Foreign Service Consular Fellows serve in U.S. embassies and consulates overseas alongside Foreign Service Officers, other U.S. agency personnel, and locally-employed staff. Using their language skills in Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin Chinese, or Arabic, their primary duty is to adjudicate visas for foreign nationals. Duties and responsibilities are similar to those of entry-level career Foreign Service Officers. The first step to becoming a Consular Fellow is to complete the online application by registering for the Consular Fellows Program Test (CFPT).