High School

Those who work for the Foreign Service will need to call on a great deal of general knowledge about the world and its history. Take courses such as social studies, history, American government, and English literature. English composition will help you develop writing and communication skills. Any foreign language courses will give you a good foundation in language study—and good foreign language skills can help in getting a job with the Foreign Service and make you eligible for a higher starting salary. Take a journalism course in which you'll follow current events and world news, as well as develop your writing and editing skills. Accounting, math, business, and economics classes will give you a good background for dealing with foreign trade issues.

Postsecondary Training

Though the Foreign Service is open to any United States citizen between the ages of 21 and 59 who passes the written, oral, and physical examinations, you'll generally need a master's degree for consideration and to have the knowledge necessary for completing the exam. Candidates are expected to have a broad knowledge of foreign and domestic affairs and to be well informed on U.S. history, government, economics, culture, literature, and business administration. The fields of study most often chosen by those with a higher education include history, international relations, political science, economics, law, English literature, and foreign languages. The Georgetown University Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service (http://sfs.georgetown.edu) has undergraduate and graduate programs designed to prepare students for careers in international affairs. Many luminaries have graduated from the school, including Bill Clinton in 1968. Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright served as a member of the school's faculty.

The Foreign Service offers both paid and volunteer internship opportunities for college students in their junior and senior years, and to graduate students. About half of these internships are based in Washington, D.C., while the other half are at U.S. embassies and consulates overseas. As an intern, you may write reports, assist with trade negotiations, or work with budget projects. You may be involved in visa or passport work. The Foreign Service also offers fellowship programs (https://careers.state.gov/work/fellowships), which provide funding to undergraduate and graduate students preparing academically to enter the Foreign Service.

Certification or Licensing

There are no certification or licensing requirements for Foreign Service officers.

Other Requirements

The Foreign Service requires that applicants be between the ages of 21 and 59 on the day you are appointed as a Foreign Service Officer.

Aspiring Foreign Service officers should gain experience in foreign affairs (including in other government positions, teaching, or volunteering overseas).

As you can tell from the education and examination requirements, you must be very intelligent and a quick learner to be a successful Foreign Service officer. You should be flexible and adaptable to new cultures and traditions. You must be interested in the histories and traditions of foreign cultures and respectful of the practices of other nations. You should try to learn the language of the country where you are posted in order to be able to connect with the locals on a more personal level.

Good people skills are important because you'll be expected to work as a member of a team and deal diplomatically with people from other countries. But, you'll also be expected to work independently. You should be in good physical condition, so that you can handle the climate variations and sometimes unhealthy conditions of different countries.

Those people interested in protecting diplomacy and the strength of the Foreign Service need to closely follow relevant legislation, as well as promote the importance of international affairs to their fellow citizens.