The U.S. Department of State is developing a rank-ordered list of eligible hires for a limited number of Family Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant/Associate, Foreign Service Medical Provider (MP) positions. Learn more about Foreign Service medical careers at https://careers.state.gov.
There is more to joining the Foreign Service than just salary. Refer to the Benefits section for more information on total compensation.
Summary
The U.S. Department of State is developing a rank-ordered list of eligible hires for a limited number of Family Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant/Associate, Foreign Service Medical Provider (MP) positions. Learn more about Foreign Service medical careers at https://careers.state.gov.
There is more to joining the Foreign Service than just salary. Refer to the Benefits section for more information on total compensation.
Yes—Upon completing orientation and initial training in Washington, D.C., employees are assigned to two sequential tours, typically two-years each, directed by the Department. These entry-level assignments may be overseas or in the United States. After the initial two tours, employees have greater choice as to the location, length, and substantive nature of assignments.
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Foreign Service Specialists generally spend the majority of their careers assigned to overseas posts and may, at times, live away from family and/or in difficult or isolated conditions.
Appointment type
Permanent - Permanent after tenure is granted by a Foreign Service Specialist (FSS) Tenure Board.
Must be a U.S. citizen. Candidates should read entire announcement to ensure they meet all requirements.
Candidates may reapply one year after most recent date of application submission for the same position.
Candidates may not apply if a DOS Suitability Review Panel denied suitability in the last two years for any position. An exception to this two-year rule is allowed if the denial was for a DS Special Agent candidacy and that denial was based solely on the unique requirements for SAs.
The Bureau of Medical Services (MED) maintains and promotes the health of employees who represent U.S. government agencies abroad and their eligible family members. DOS assigns Family Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants/Associates as Foreign Service Medical Providers (MPs), to overseas posts. Many posts have significant health risks; local medical care often inadequate by U.S. standards. MPs works either independently or as a member of a team of Medical Specialists to provide medical support, is considered essential personnel, and is expected to be available on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. MP duties may include, but are not limited to:
Providing Primary Health Care Services Provides primary care and counseling to all patients regardless of age, sex, race, ethnicity, national origin, language, disease, disability, or religion Collects patient medical information Performs adult and pediatric medical examinations Provides prenatal, well/sick infant, child, and adolescent care; manages well-women care and gynecological complaints Performs medical clearance examinations Orders and analyzes diagnostic tests Prescribes treatment and writes prescriptions Performs therapeutic procedures Documents patient information; maintains medical records Uses computer software to provide services Consults with healthcare team; advises patients on medical concerns; acts as patient advocate Assists employees with lifestyle and cultural adjustment Offers mental health support with regional psychiatrist Provides routine and travel vaccinations; manages immunization program Provides emergency care on U.S. government property Evaluates and coordinates local medical resources; establishes networks of local healthcare providers Maintains credentials, licensure, and continuing medical education Provides long-distance triage and care via telephone, radio, telemedicine, and email Managing Occupational Health and Preventive Medicine Programs Identifies endemic conditions; provides disease prevention programming and guidance Performs health maintenance; establishes wellness programs Acts as occupational health advisor with Post Safety and Health Officer (POSHO) Maintains basic life support certification; conducts training Ensures safe drinking water; monitors food safety with laboratory specialists Oversees pre-employment and fitness-for-duty evaluations of local employees Orients new personnel; updates post medical information Adheres to quality assurance procedures; submits reports Administering Health Unit Functions Manages health unit resources: orders supplies, maintains inventory, inspects and evaluates local hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and clinicians in hazardous or difficult-to-access environments Hires and manages local employees Communicates regularly with post community and leadership Develops training programs for health unit and post staff Exercises fiscal responsibility; follows U.S. laboratory protocols Participates in post's family advocacy program; facilitates military access to care; advises consular personnel Develops, coordinates, and administers healthcare delivery programs including health promotion and disease prevention Organizes and supervises diverse healthcare providers with varying expertise, education, and English proficiency Counsels employees and family members on adjustment to Foreign Service lifestyle Identifies and manages tropical diseases (e.g., malaria, dengue) without sophisticated laboratory or specialty consultation Monitors food and water safety through inspections and sample reviews Ensures emergency preparedness for crises via guidelines, procedures, and direct training Serves as consultant to embassy management on post morale; provides medical input on diplomatic issues Cares for patient populations of 40–1,000; works as one-person unit or with large multidisciplinary staff Travels occasionally to provide medical and administrative oversight for regional embassies and consulates Coordinating Emergency Medical Response Provides medical leadership in crises; advises post leadership Initiates medical evacuations; updates emergency action plan Manages health unit emergency response programs; provides emergency medical training Coordinates post's epidemic medical response Embassy/Department-Specific Responsibilities Arranges medical evacuations; oversees care for patients awaiting evacuation Liaises with regional medical officers and local/international experts to support patient care Assists with regional travel to support consulates and embassies Advises ambassador/consul general on medical matters Supports occupational safety efforts; assists POSHO with adverse occurrence reporting Communicates with medical headquarters; participates in medical clearance decisions Interfaces with local healthcare officials; serves on Country Team as medical expert Represents USG interests to host government; organizes medical representational events Ensures health unit security
Be a U.S. citizen and accept assignments based on the needs of the FS.*
Be able to obtain a Top Secret Security Clearance.
Meet the minimum medical qualification standard.
Be able to obtain a favorable Suitability Review Panel determination.**
Be at least 20 years old and at least 21 years old to be appointed.
Be appointed prior to age 60 (preference eligible veterans excepted).***
Essential Physical Requirements
The most important physical requirements of the job are speaking, hearing, vision, mental endurance, tolerance for extreme environmental conditions, physical endurance, dexterity, and mobility.
MPs may need to perform essential functions effectively in environments that pose physical or other occupational challenges. These duties may include:
Provision of direct patient care that may require heavy lifting, pulling, stooping, bending, and twisting in tight and limited spaces.
Travelling independently to posts utilizing commercial air carriers or other transportation types and facilities that may be difficult to access.
Provision of emergency care in any location following an accident, natural disaster, or attack in potentially hostile or physically challenging environments, such as in buildings without elevators or in areas with irregular spaces that require kneeling, bending, stooping, lifting, walking, and running over uneven terrain.
Transportation of self or patients via small aircraft, helicopters, ambulances, or other non-standard modes of transportation with small entrances and high floors, such as high-axle armored vehicles.
Assistance with evacuation via land, sea, or air in the event of political unrest.
Qualifications
Licensure and Certification
The candidate must be currently licensed as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) or Physician Assistant/Physician Associate (PA) in a state, a territory of the U.S., Puerto Rico, or the District of Columbia and must have current national certification as an FNP or the PA-equivalent from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, or the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants/Associates. Applications will not be accepted from Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants/Associates who are not currently licensed and certified. Licenses and national board certification and re-certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant/Associate must be maintained during employment with the Department's Bureau of Medical Services. Once hired, the candidate will be required to obtain and maintain a District of Columbia license.
Additional Certifications Upon Hire and During Duration of Career
Valid American Red Cross or American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) certification are required 90 days after hire and must be maintained throughout employment with the Department. If a candidate does not have BLS and ALS certification at the time of hire, MED will provide the course and certification after onboarding.
Specialized Experience
The candidate must have a minimum of five (5) years of full-time clinical experience within the past seven (7) years across the lifespan in addition to primary care, post NP or PA family practice certification. Full-time is defined as a minimum of 40 hours per week with at least 75 percent of the time involved in direct primary care, or 30 hours per week with 100 percent of time involved in direct primary care. Qualified Family Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants/Associates who have practiced primarily in emergency medicine, hospital-based practice, or other non-ambulatory settings must demonstrate a thorough understanding of primary care practice fundamentals as defined in the following paragraph.
"Primary care" encompasses adult and pediatric diagnosis and treatment of acute illness and management of chronic diseases, routine gynecologic care, prenatal care, adult health maintenance and preventive health care, well child care, and immunization management. It embraces the total family unit across the lifespan, including emotional and physical aspects that impact overall well-being. The Medical Provider utilizes and coordinates sub-specialty professional consultations when needed.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
The Department will consider a candidate's education level, work experience, and other qualifications as part of the hiring decision-making process based on these KSA criteria.
Demonstrate a high degree of clinical and management expertise. The patient population covered is unique because of background and lifestyle as part of a diplomatic community overseas. This population also differs in terms of clinical and administrative needs and the national security concerns inherent in their employment. Previous experience working in similar occupational settings and/or in an overseas setting is advantageous.
Demonstrate the ability to manage administrative aspects of a Health Unit as well as the ability to cope with extraordinary medical crises, often in remote and isolated settings. Education and experience must demonstrate that the candidate can function as a public/community health provider.
Be skilled and experienced primary health care practitioner with excellent interpersonal skills, able to function well within a complex organization, and have experience working in a high-stress environment. The candidate must also be able to recognize and understand the problems of delivering healthcare to Americans posted in locations where local medical resources are limited or non-existent. The ability to logically and objectively analyze patient problems and apply sound clinical judgment is required. Experience in providing long-distance triage and care via electronic communications such as telephone, telemedicine, radio, and email is preferred.
Gain the cooperation and confidence of patients, co-workers, supervisors, and subordinates. Candidates must have experience working in a multidisciplinary practice as well as experience in team building, leadership, and management. Effective written and oral communication skills are essential, as well as the ability to present medical findings in a clear and concise manner to medical and non-medical personnel. Demonstrated ability to teach or lecture groups on medical issues is preferred.
Develop, coordinate, and administer healthcare delivery programs, including but not limited to individual and community health promotion and disease prevention programs, including teaching health topics to both small and large groups.
Organize and supervise a varied group of health care providers with different degrees of expertise, education, and command of English. The candidate must understand the unique cultural differences related to healthcare delivery in different countries and address these differences in a positive manner. The candidate must be able to assess, diagnose, and treat infectious diseases.
Possess a high degree of integrity, decisiveness, and fairness to fairly apply the regulations and policies of the medical program to all eligible persons.
Knowledge and hands-on familiarity with computer systems are preferred.
Specific medical knowledge areas include: family practice, pediatrics, women's health issues, obstetrics, infectious disease, orthopedics, dermatology, gastroenterology, neurology, urology, laboratory/radiology/other diagnostic testing, pharmacology, general surgery, mental health conditions, alcoholism and drug abuse, nutrition, emergency medical techniques, immunizations, health-related environmental factors, food and water safety, occupational safety and health, and quality assurance procedures.
Specific medical skills include: family practice, clinical interviewing, physical assessment, performing medical clearance examinations, performing medical procedures, operating medical equipment, planning of evaluation and treatment, triage, data interpretation, and research techniques. Candidates must provide comprehensive health assessments and medical care to individuals and families across the lifespan.
Management skills include: supervision, leadership, teaching others, managing personnel and financial resources, contingency planning and crisis management, organizing and managing events/programs/projects, time management, collaborating, working with limited resources, acclimating to different cultures, and computer use.
Personal skills include: reading comprehension, active listening, oral and written communication, public speaking, active learning, complex problem identification, critical thinking, judgment and decision making, math, social perceptiveness, interpersonal skills, persuasion, service orientation, monitoring, coordination, and process operation and control.
Other attributes include: compassion, resilience, self-confidence, firm convictions, independence integrated with the Department, interest in continuous learning and change, interest in Foreign Service (FS) work, tolerance of on-call and emergency demands, tolerance of travel, worldwide availability, and tolerance of living away from family.
Demonstrate a strong command of the English language, including grammar, spelling, and punctuation. FS Specialists must consistently meet a high standard for English, both written (overall structure as well as grammar, spelling, and punctuation) and spoken (overall structure as well as delivery, clarity, and succinctness).
Openness to an international career: accepting assignments based on the needs of the FS and experiencing frequent global travel.
Education
At the time of application, the candidate must possess:
Family Nurse Practitioner: A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree through a Family Nurse Practitioner program recognized by a U.S. accrediting body in the year of the candidate's graduation.
Physician Assistant/Associate:
A Master's degree in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) or a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MS-PA) degree from an accredited Physician Assistant/Associate program recognized by a U.S. accrediting body in the year of the candidate's graduation; or
A Bachelor's degree in Physician Assistant Studies and a Master of Science degree in a health-related field from a school recognized by a U.S. accrediting body in the year of the candidate's graduation.
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.
Foreign Education
Foreign education acquired outside of any state of the U.S., the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, or any territory or possession of the U.S. must be evaluated by a member organization of one of the two national associations of credential evaluation services (NACES or AICE) to be given credit towards qualification.
The accredited interpretation must include the summary and the foreign education transcripts.
The Department of State will not accept foreign education transcripts that have not been evaluated by a credential evaluation service and will terminate the candidacy.
For further information on the evaluation of foreign education, please refer to the Office of Personnel Management, Foreign Education section, and the U.S. Department of Education. The U.S. Department of State neither endorses nor recommends any individual evaluation service.
Please refer to the Required Documents section on how to submit the required educational documentation for this position.
Additional information
EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION PROGRAM (E-Verify) – Verification of employment eligibility in the United States is required.
U.S. law requires companies to employ only individuals who may legally work in the U.S. – either U.S. citizens, or foreign citizens who have the necessary authorization. This agency utilizes E-Verify to compare information from the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) records to confirm employment eligibility. If the employee's information does not match DHS and/or SSA records, the employee is given an opportunity to resolve the problem. If eligibility cannot be verified, the Department will terminate employment.
**The U.S. Department of State Suitability Review Panel and standards are defined in Chapter 3 of the Foreign Affairs Manual. For more information, please visit: https://fam.state.gov/
No candidate will be considered who has previously been separated from the Foreign Service under §607, §608, §610, or §612 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended, or who resigned or retired in lieu of separation under these provisions. In addition, no candidate will be considered who has previously been separated for failure to receive a career appointment under §306 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended, or who resigned or retired in lieu thereof.
A Foreign Service Specialist separated pursuant to §306, 607, 608, 610, or 612 may not reapply to be in the same skill code but may apply for another skill code or to be a Foreign Service Generalist. A Foreign Service Generalist separated pursuant to §306, 607, 608, 610, or 612 may not reapply as a Generalist but may apply to a Foreign Service Specialist vacancy.
Executive Branch agencies are barred by 5 U.S. Code §3303, as amended, from accepting or considering prohibited political recommendations and are required to return any prohibited political recommendations to sender. In addition, as mandated by 5 U.S. Code §3110, relatives of federal employees cannot be granted preference in competing for these employment opportunities.
It is the policy of the federal government to treat all employees with dignity and respect and to provide a workplace that is free from discrimination and retaliation, in accordance with the standards set forth by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The Department of State provides reasonable accommodation to qualified candidates with disabilities. Procedures vary by test type, and all candidates must request reasonable accommodation in advance. For information on requesting reasonable accommodation, please visit: https://careers.state.gov/requesting-reasonable-accommodations/ Decisions for granting reasonable accommodation are made on a case-by-case basis.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits include health and medical coverage, federal retirement benefits, and paid leave. Overseas benefits include tax-free housing and a tax-free education allowance for dependent children between K–12 overseas, and an unrivaled opportunity to see the world and experience different cultures.
The salary range listed comes from the Foreign Service Overseas pay scales. The starting salary for MPs is FP-03, steps 5 through 14. The Department determines the starting step in part by the highest educational level achieved and professional experience level beyond the minimum qualifications. The Department may grant additional steps based on the following: one step for a master's degree in public health from a program accredited by a nationally recognized U.S. accrediting agency. Individuals already working in government positions may be appointed based on their highest previous rate as a federal employee.
Candidates are eligible for a 10% recruitment bonus and a 10% retention bonus.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
The Department of State will evaluate candidates on their total background including experience, education, awards, training, and self-development as it relates to the position. The Department will select only from among candidates possessing the best qualifications for this position. Part-time work experience will be prorated.
The Department of State prohibits candidates from plagiarizing any portion of their employment application materials, including responses to questions in which candidates must provide a narrative response. Candidates must create their own responses originally and not copy or adapt them from other sources. The Department analyzes candidate submissions for plagiarism and will discontinue any individual's candidacy if found to have violated this plagiarism policy.
While the Department of State encourages candidates to create their narratives with great care, including correct use of grammar and style, candidates are prohibited from using any artificial intelligence (AI) tool, including but not limited to ChatGPT, to aid in their written responses. The Department will discontinue any individual's candidacy if found to have violated this prohibition on use of AI tools in the application process.
The Department of State reserves the right to cancel and/or disqualify any application or to withhold test results when, in its judgment, a testing irregularity occurs. Testing irregularities include, but are not limited to, candidate misconduct, plagiarism as mentioned above, and/or misrepresentation of material fact, including in narrative descriptions of accomplishments. The Department may verify content provided by candidates by contacting references. It also conducts extensive background checks of work and education history of candidates offered employment.
Medical Credential Verification and Indemnification
Candidates are subject to a credential verification process conducted by the Quality Management Staff Unit of the Bureau of Medical Services. This process includes a query of the National Practitioner Data Bank and independent verification of state licenses and national certifications. Once hired, medical personnel are indemnified for official duties only through the U.S. Federal Tort Claims Act, so long as they are acting within their scope of work.
Active Bureau of Medical Services clinical privileges, specific to the position, are a condition of employment for all Foreign Service Medical Specialists.
Benefits include health and medical coverage, federal retirement benefits, and paid leave. Overseas benefits include tax-free housing and a tax-free education allowance for dependent children between K–12 overseas, and an unrivaled opportunity to see the world and experience different cultures.
The salary range listed comes from the Foreign Service Overseas pay scales. The starting salary for MPs is FP-03, steps 5 through 14. The Department determines the starting step in part by the highest educational level achieved and professional experience level beyond the minimum qualifications. The Department may grant additional steps based on the following: one step for a master's degree in public health from a program accredited by a nationally recognized U.S. accrediting agency. Individuals already working in government positions may be appointed based on their highest previous rate as a federal employee.
Candidates are eligible for a 10% recruitment bonus and a 10% retention bonus.
When requested, candidates with qualifying scores must submit the following documentation to demonstrate they possess the educational level and specialized skills required for this position. Candidates
should add @state.gov
as a trusted sender. Neither the Department of State nor Pearson VUE is responsible for the failure of a candidate's internet service provider to deliver email messages.
PDF documents are required. The Department of State will terminate the candidacy if the required documents do not meet the requirements below or if the application is incomplete.
1. Resume that clearly outlines the dates of employment and specifies all relevant experience for the position, including at least 10 years of work history.
2. Education Documents:
o Family Nurse Practitioners: Unofficial or official transcripts from a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from a Family Nurse Practitioner program recognized by a U.S. accrediting body in the year of the candidate's graduation.
o Physician Assistants/Associates: Transcripts from an undergraduate Physician Assistant/Associate program and transcripts from a Master's degree in a health-related field from a school that was recognized by a U.S. accrediting body in the year of the candidate's graduation.
3. Certifications and Licenses must adhere to the same requirements as transcripts.
Attach the required certifications listed in the Qualifications: Licensure and Certification section.
o Current Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) or Physician Assistant/Associate (PA) license.
o Current national certification as an FNP from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). Proof of certification should be obtained from the ANCC or AANP website via the "verification of current certification status" option. The verification document can be emailed to your personal email address and then uploaded as a PDF attachment.
OR
o Current national certification as a Physician Assistant/Associate from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants/Associates (NCCPA). Proof of certification should be obtained from the NCCPA website via the "verification of current certification status" option. The verification document can be emailed to your personal email address and then uploaded as a PDF attachment.
o Standard Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certificate, if applicable, and other required documentation to demonstrate U.S. equivalency of a foreign degree.
All documents must comply with the following requirements to be accepted:
o Be in PDF format. The Department will reject other formats.
o Be an attachment. The Department will reject documents sent via link, secured message, or in any other non-attachment format, or sent directly from credential evaluation services.
o Be complete with no missing pages.
o Be legible.
o Transcripts must include the candidate's full name, the school's name, and the degree and date awarded/conferred. Candidates with a name change should submit an official document reflecting the change.
o All foreign education transcripts must adhere to additional requirements. See Foreign Education Information in the Education Requirements section.
4. Veterans' Preference Documentation for candidates aged 60 to 64. If claiming Veterans' Preference, a copy of the candidate's DD-214 "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty" — which must include the candidate's Character of Service — must be submitted with the application. If claiming a 10-point Veterans' Preference, the candidate's VA letter and SF-15 must be submitted in addition to the DD-214. A certification from the armed forces is required only if a veteran has not yet received their DD-214. It must confirm that the service member is expected to be discharged under honorable conditions within 120 days and include service dates, expected discharge date, character of service, and any applicable disability rating.
The application submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement.
It is the candidate's responsibility to complete and submit the application and all required documents before the closing deadline. There are no exceptions.
Submit your application and register to take the online skills test as indicated in the steps below. Do not apply through USAJobs.
2. Follow the instructions to complete and submit the online application.
3. Answer all self-assessment questions. Your application is automatically saved as you proceed. You may interrupt the application process and return to it at any time until you submit.
4. Complete, review, and submit the application. Once submitted, your application will be used to evaluate your qualifications for this position.
Candidates have until two weeks after the closing date of the vacancy announcement to register with Pearson VUE and complete the online skills test. The test is an important part of the selection process, covering the Job Knowledge, English Expression, and Situational Judgment necessary to perform the functions of this position.
If you are having technical difficulty with the application process, please contact the Pearson VUE Customer Service Desk by calling 1-888-671-2197 (toll free). The Help Desk is available Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Central Time and is closed on local holidays.
U.S. Department of State
2401 E Street, NW
SA-01
Washington, DC, District of Columbia 20522
United States
Next steps
Pearson VUE forwards candidates' test results and applications to the Department of State. After the Department of State receives the information, it will notify all candidates via the email provided during the application process of the next steps. Candidates should add the Department of State domain (@state.gov) and @e.pearson.com as trusted senders.
Due to the high volume of applications, we ask all candidates to remain patient and await communication. It is not uncommon for several months to pass before candidates are informed of the application results.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
When requested, candidates with qualifying scores must submit the following documentation to demonstrate they possess the educational level and specialized skills required for this position. Candidates
should add @state.gov
as a trusted sender. Neither the Department of State nor Pearson VUE is responsible for the failure of a candidate's internet service provider to deliver email messages.
PDF documents are required. The Department of State will terminate the candidacy if the required documents do not meet the requirements below or if the application is incomplete.
1. Resume that clearly outlines the dates of employment and specifies all relevant experience for the position, including at least 10 years of work history.
2. Education Documents:
o Family Nurse Practitioners: Unofficial or official transcripts from a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from a Family Nurse Practitioner program recognized by a U.S. accrediting body in the year of the candidate's graduation.
o Physician Assistants/Associates: Transcripts from an undergraduate Physician Assistant/Associate program and transcripts from a Master's degree in a health-related field from a school that was recognized by a U.S. accrediting body in the year of the candidate's graduation.
3. Certifications and Licenses must adhere to the same requirements as transcripts.
Attach the required certifications listed in the Qualifications: Licensure and Certification section.
o Current Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) or Physician Assistant/Associate (PA) license.
o Current national certification as an FNP from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). Proof of certification should be obtained from the ANCC or AANP website via the "verification of current certification status" option. The verification document can be emailed to your personal email address and then uploaded as a PDF attachment.
OR
o Current national certification as a Physician Assistant/Associate from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants/Associates (NCCPA). Proof of certification should be obtained from the NCCPA website via the "verification of current certification status" option. The verification document can be emailed to your personal email address and then uploaded as a PDF attachment.
o Standard Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certificate, if applicable, and other required documentation to demonstrate U.S. equivalency of a foreign degree.
All documents must comply with the following requirements to be accepted:
o Be in PDF format. The Department will reject other formats.
o Be an attachment. The Department will reject documents sent via link, secured message, or in any other non-attachment format, or sent directly from credential evaluation services.
o Be complete with no missing pages.
o Be legible.
o Transcripts must include the candidate's full name, the school's name, and the degree and date awarded/conferred. Candidates with a name change should submit an official document reflecting the change.
o All foreign education transcripts must adhere to additional requirements. See Foreign Education Information in the Education Requirements section.
4. Veterans' Preference Documentation for candidates aged 60 to 64. If claiming Veterans' Preference, a copy of the candidate's DD-214 "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty" — which must include the candidate's Character of Service — must be submitted with the application. If claiming a 10-point Veterans' Preference, the candidate's VA letter and SF-15 must be submitted in addition to the DD-214. A certification from the armed forces is required only if a veteran has not yet received their DD-214. It must confirm that the service member is expected to be discharged under honorable conditions within 120 days and include service dates, expected discharge date, character of service, and any applicable disability rating.
The application submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement.
It is the candidate's responsibility to complete and submit the application and all required documents before the closing deadline. There are no exceptions.
Submit your application and register to take the online skills test as indicated in the steps below. Do not apply through USAJobs.
2. Follow the instructions to complete and submit the online application.
3. Answer all self-assessment questions. Your application is automatically saved as you proceed. You may interrupt the application process and return to it at any time until you submit.
4. Complete, review, and submit the application. Once submitted, your application will be used to evaluate your qualifications for this position.
Candidates have until two weeks after the closing date of the vacancy announcement to register with Pearson VUE and complete the online skills test. The test is an important part of the selection process, covering the Job Knowledge, English Expression, and Situational Judgment necessary to perform the functions of this position.
If you are having technical difficulty with the application process, please contact the Pearson VUE Customer Service Desk by calling 1-888-671-2197 (toll free). The Help Desk is available Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Central Time and is closed on local holidays.
U.S. Department of State
2401 E Street, NW
SA-01
Washington, DC, District of Columbia 20522
United States
Next steps
Pearson VUE forwards candidates' test results and applications to the Department of State. After the Department of State receives the information, it will notify all candidates via the email provided during the application process of the next steps. Candidates should add the Department of State domain (@state.gov) and @e.pearson.com as trusted senders.
Due to the high volume of applications, we ask all candidates to remain patient and await communication. It is not uncommon for several months to pass before candidates are informed of the application results.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
