What is the difference between a Foreign Service Specialist and a Foreign Service Officer Generalist?
Both Foreign Service Specialists and Generalists are direct hire career employees of the Department of State. Foreign Service Specialists provide important technical, support or administrative services in 19 career categories, including Doctors and Physician Assistants, Office Management Specialists, Information Management Specialists, Diplomatic Security Agents, Human Resource Specialists. Each category has specific requirements regarding education and experience. Details are available at: http://careers.state.gov/specialist. Foreign Service Officers, also referred to as Foreign Service Generalists, enter in one of five career tracks – Consular, Economic, Management, Political, or Public Diplomacy. There is no specific requirement for education or experience. More information is available at: http://careers.state.gov/officer. Employment benefits for Specialists and Generalists are the same. All serve in a series of overseas assignments at U.S. embassies and consulates around the world
