A Career in the Foreign Service

The U.S. Department of State is the United States’ premier diplomatic institution, with opportunities for engineering and technical professionals to serve our country overseas and domestically. If you are interested in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, we are now hiring Foreign Service Diplomatic Security, Security Engineering Officers.

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.

To learn more about the Department of State and a career in the Foreign Service, please visit us at careers.state.gov. For information on Diplomatic Security positions in the Department of State, please visit us at careers.state.gov/ds.

U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security, Security Engineering Officer Test (DSSEOT)

The Diplomatic Security, Security Engineering Officer Test (DSSEOT) is a key step in the Foreign Service Security Engineering Officer (SEO) selection process, covering job knowledge, English expression, and situational judgment necessary to work as a Security Engineering Officer. You can view complete information on the DSSEO Selection Process.

The DSSEOT is conveniently offered throughout the U.S., 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. Click here to find a test center near you.

Please note: New candidates must create a web account before they can submit an application.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible, the U.S. Department of State requires that each candidate:

• Be a U.S. citizen and accept assignments based on the needs of the Foreign Service.
• Be able to obtain/maintain a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance.
• Be able to meet the minimum medical qualification standard.
• Be able to meet the supplemental physical qualification standard for the SEO position.
• Be able to obtain a favorable Suitability Review Panel determination.
• Be at least 20 years old at application and 21 years old to be appointed.
• Be appointed prior to age 60 (preference eligible veterans excepted).
• Possess and maintain a valid/current U.S. Driver’s License.

Education and Experience Requirements

At the time of application, candidates must have a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree, Master of Science (MS), or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Engineering, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or Physics, from a school with at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), or evidence of successfully passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by a state, District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico engineering licensure board. A current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any state, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico may also be used to fulfill the education requirement.

Candidates entering their junior year in the fall of 2024, or entering an engineering, computer science, cybersecurity, or physics master’s degree program beginning the fall of 2024 may apply as long as the school has at least one program accredited by ABET. Degrees must be granted by December 31, 2026.

In addition to meeting the education requirement, candidates must meet the experience requirements below for the following grade levels:

• FP-06   0-2 years of experience
  
• FP-05   3-4 years of specialized experience; or Masters in one of the required degrees and at least one year of specialized experience
• FP-04   4+ years of specialized experience; or PhD in one of the required degrees and at least one year of specialized experience
  

Candidates for this position should have academic achievements and/or job-related experiences that reflect the following knowledge and skills. For experienced candidates, showing progressively increasing levels of performance and responsibility is required. Please refer to the vacancy announcement for examples of specialized experience.
You must submit a copy of your official or unofficial university transcript(s) with your application. Education from a program or institution within the United States must be accredited at the time of program completion by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation. Transcripts must include candidate’s name, school’s name, degree and date awarded/conferred, have no missing pages, and be legible. A transcript missing any of these elements will not pass the minimum qualifications and the candidacy will not continue. Copies of diplomas will not be accepted in lieu of higher education transcripts. PDF documents are required and must be sent as an attachment. Documents sent via link, via a secured message, or any other non-attachment format will not be accepted.

Please refer to the Vacancy Announcement for complete information on eligibility requirements and qualifications.

If you have questions about the DS SEO Selection Process, please email us at DSFSApplicants@state.gov.

Collection of No-Show Fees

The DSSEOT is offered for free. However, please note that Department of State requires that candidates provide credit/debit card information to Pearson VUE (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.

Registering for the DSSEOT

Candidates must complete two registration steps: submitting an application and selecting an appointment. Applicants have six months to schedule an appointment for the gateway test, however due to required administrative processes, the appointment must be made within eight weeks of the desired testing date. If you would like to schedule an appointment further than eight weeks out, you will need to log back into this system closer to the date you wish to schedule the test to make a request. Once an application is submitted it cannot be changed until the six months have passed. Candidates may test only once in a 12-month period.

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 DSSEO Test, to register for the DSSEO Test, to assess qualifications for selection as a Diplomatic Security, Security Engineering Officer, and to ensure the integrity of the examination process.