A Career in the Foreign Service

The U.S. Department of State is the United States’ premier diplomatic institution, with opportunities to serve our country overseas and domestically. If you are interested in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, we are now hiring Office Management Specialists for Foreign Service careers.

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 careers.state.gov.

U.S. Department of State Office Management Specialist Test (OMST)

The Office Management Specialist Test (OMST) is a key step in the Foreign Service Office Management Specialist (OMS) selection process, covering English expression, reading comprehension, and situational judgment necessary to work as an OMS. Learn more about the OMS selection process.

The OMST is conveniently offered throughout the United States and worldwide, 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 FS.*
• Be able to obtain a Top Secret Security Clearance.
• Be able to meet the minimum medical qualification standard.
• Be able to obtain a favorable Suitability Review Panel determination.**
• Be at least 20 years old to apply; at least 21 years old to be appointed.
• Be appointed prior to age 60 (preference eligible veterans excepted).***

Education Requirements

At the time of application, candidates must possess:

• A high school diploma or equivalent and three years of specialized experience in the last 10 years; or
• An associate’s degree and two years of specialized experience in the last 10 years; or
• A Bachelor’s or higher degree in any major and one year of specialized experience in the last 10 years.

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

If you have questions about the OMS selection process, please email us at OMSVacancyInfo@state.gov or search our FAQs.

Collection of No-Show Fees

The OMST 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) in order 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 OMST

Candidates must complete two registration steps: submitting an application and selecting an OMST Test appointment. Candidates 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. To schedule an appointment further than eight weeks out, please log back into this system closer to the desired test date. Applications expire six months from the submission of the eligibility verification date at 11:59 p.m. CT.  The application expiration date is shown in the portal.  Candidates should schedule their OMST test well in advance of the application expiration deadline.  Candidates cannot select a testing date past the application expiration date and will need to submit a new application.  Exams may not be scheduled and taken on the same day.  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 Foreign Service Officer Test, to register for the Foreign Service Officer Test, to assess qualifications for selection as a Foreign Service Officer, and to ensure the integrity of the examination process.

ROUTINE USES: The information solicited on this form may be made available to prepare statistical reports and analyses at the Department of State. Such reports and analyses, which are prepared in such a way that they are not individually identifiable, may be shared outside the Department. This information may also be shared with other federal agencies in response to request for information about hiring or retention of an employee or to Members of Congress in response to an inquiry on behalf of the applicant. More information on the Routine Uses for the system can be found in the System of Records Notice State-31, Human Resource Records.

DISCLOSURE: Providing this information is voluntary. Failure to provide the information requested on this form may result in the user’s inability to submit appropriate responses to the FSOT questionnaire and/or the FSOT and oral exam.