PART 11—APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICERS Authority: 22 U.S.C. 2651a, 3926, 3941. Source: 80 FR 64320, Oct. 23, 2015, unless otherwise noted. § 11.10 Links to relevant provisions of the Foreign Affairs Manual. (a) The Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) is the formal written document for recording, maintaining, and issuing Department of State (Department) directives that address personnel and other matters. It is the primary authority for appointment of current Department employees to the Foreign Service. This part is the primary authority for the appointment of non-employees to the Foreign Service. The FAM provides Department procedures and policies that are not repeated in this part. It is an important resource for understanding the provisions of this part. (b) The two FAM volumes relevant to this part are Volume 3, Personnel, and Volume 16, Medical. FAM provisions are cited by volume followed by chapter or subchapter—for example, Chapter 210 of Volume 16 would be cited 16 FAM 210. All of the relevant FAM provisions are on the Department's public Web site. The links for the relevant FAM provisions are as follows: 3 FAM 2215 http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/84854.pdf. 3 FAM 2216.2 3 FAM 2216.3 3 FAM 2217 3 FAM 2218 3 FAM 2245 http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/84851.pdf. 3 FAM 2250 http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/84850.pdf. 3 FAM 2251.3 3 FAM 2290 http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/84846.pdf. 16 FAM 210 http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/89692.pdf. § 11.20 Entry-level Foreign Service Officer career candidate appointments. (a) General considerations Authority. (2) Veterans' preference. (3) Policy. (b) The Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT). (1) Purpose. (2) Eligibility. (3) When and where given. careers.state.gov. (4) Scoring. (c) Qualifications Evaluation Panel (QEP). (1) Purpose. (2) Panels. (3) Eligibility. (4) When administered. (5) Scoring. (i) The Board of Examiners may authorize QEPs to give special consideration in the selection of candidates to certain factors, e.g., demonstrating language ability, which the Board will publicly announce on careers.state.gov. (ii) The Board of Examiners may choose to verify accounts given by candidates in their personal narratives. (d) Foreign Service Oral Assessment (FSOA). (1) Purpose. careers.state.gov. (2) Eligibility Through the FSOT and QEP review. (B) Candidates must schedule the FSOA within 12 months of receiving their invitation to take the FSOA unless they receive an extension of time. Candidates may request an extension of up to an additional 12 months. Active duty military have unrestricted time to take an FSOA if they notify the Board of Examiners of their active duty status. Failure to take the FSOA within 12 months of the invitation will result in the cancellation of the candidacy, unless the candidate has requested and obtained an extension of eligibility. The candidacy of anyone for whom the scheduling period is extended by the Board due to being outside of the United States will automatically be terminated if the candidate fails to notify his or her registrar of the change in status within three months of returning to the United States. The candidate must schedule an FSOA, but if a candidate fails to appear for a scheduled FSOA, the candidacy is automatically terminated. The Director of the Office of Recruitment, Examination, and Employment in the Bureau of Human Resources, or his/her designee, will consider requests to reschedule on a case-by-case basis if a candidate so requests prior to his/her scheduled FSOA. (ii) Through the Mustang Program. (iii) Through a mid-level conversion program. (iv) Through other programs. (B) Under any other special entry programs created by the Department to meet specific needs of the Foreign Service. (3) When and where given. (4) Assessment panel. (ii) Service as an assessor shall be limited to a maximum of 5 years, unless a further period is specifically authorized by the Board. Normally assessment panels shall be chaired by a career officer of the Foreign Service, trained in personnel testing and evaluation. Determinations of duly constituted panels of assessors are final unless modified by specific action of the Board of Examiners. (5) Scoring. careers.state.gov. (e) Background investigation. (f) Medical examination Eligibility. (2) [Reserved] (g) Suitability Review Panel. (h) Certification for appointment Eligibility. (ii) Except for preference eligible individuals, career candidate appointments must be made before the candidate's 60th birthday. Preference eligible individuals must be appointed before their 65th birthday. The maximum age for appointment under this program is based on the requirement that all career candidates must be able to: (A) Complete at least two full tours of duty, exclusive of orientation and training; (B) Complete the requisite eligibility period for tenure consideration; and (C) Complete the requisite eligibility period to receive retirement benefits, prior to reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65 prescribed by the Act. (iii) A candidate may be certified as eligible for direct appointment to classes FS-6, FS-5 or FS-4 based on established, publicly available, criteria. (iv) Employees who receive a career candidate appointment, i.e., (2) Career-track rank-order registers. (3) Special programs. (4) Foreign language requirement. (i) Termination of eligibility Time limit. (2) Extension. (3) Postponement of entrance on duty. (j) Travel expenses. § 11.30 Mid-level Foreign Service Officer career candidate appointments. [Reserved] § 11.40 Senior Foreign Service Officer career candidate appointments. [Reserved] § 11.50 Foreign Service specialist career candidate appointments. (a) General considerations. i.e., (2) Veterans' preference shall apply to the selection and appointment of Foreign Service specialist career candidates. Veterans' preference is an affirmative factor once the candidate has been qualified for the position. As soon as veterans go on the Hiring Register, they may apply for additional points to increase their rank order standing. (b) Specialist career candidate appointments Certification of need. (ii) Candidates who receive a career candidate appointment, i.e., (2) Eligibility. (i) Complete at least two full tours of duty, exclusive of orientation and training, (ii) Complete the requisite eligibility period for tenure consideration, and (iii) Complete the requisite eligibility period to receive retirement benefits, prior to reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65 prescribed by the Act. (3) Screening. (ii) Based on a job analysis, the Board of Examiners, in coordination with any bureau responsible for the specialty, will establish the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform successfully the tasks and duties of Foreign Service specialists in that functional field. Assessors working for the Board of Examiners will screen applications under those approved criteria and select those who meet the requirements to invite to an oral assessment. (4) Oral assessment. (5) Background investigation. (6) Medical examination. (7) Suitability Review Panel. § 11.60 Limited non-career appointments. Consistent with section 303 of the Act (22 U.S.C. 3943), the Secretary of State may also appoint Civil Service employees and other individuals to the Foreign Service, and, consistent with section 309 of the Act (22 U.S.C. 3949), such appointments may include limited non-career appointments (LNAs). After meeting the job specific requirements, candidates must meet applicable medical, security, and suitability requirements. Limited non-career appointments are covered under 3 FAM 2290.