13 FAM 200
LANGUAGE TRAINING
13 FAM 201
Overview
Language Training GENERAL INFORMATION
(CT:TPD-23; 01-04-2024)
(Office of Origin: FSI)
13 FAM 201.1-1 Policy
(CT:TPD-1; 09-18-2019)
13 FAM 201.1-1(A) Language Training for Foreign Service Personnel
(CT:TPD-1; 09-18-2019)
13 FAM 201.1-1(A)(1) Foreign Service Officers (Generalists)
(CT:TPD-23; 01-04-2024)
(State only)
(Applies to Foreign Service and Civil Service Employees)
a. The Department’s objective is that each officer fulfills the language requirements of each position to which they are assigned and, before reaching the senior level, be able to use two foreign languages at a general professional proficiency level of S-3/R-3.
b. A normal sequence of assignments, including occasional assignments to language-designated positions (LDPs), will usually provide each officer with opportunities through job-related language training to meet the two-language objective of the Department prior to reaching the senior level. Language training will be provided, as necessary, to help employees meet the requirements of LDPs. Language training not associated with assignments to LDPs will be afforded, as practicable.
c. Training programs may be provided to assist personnel in non-language designated positions to reach the S-3/R-3 level (or higher), when practicable.
d. Section 191(a)(2) of the Department of State Authorization Act of 1994 stipulates that an employee may not receive long-term training in more than three languages. Moreover, an employee must have achieved advanced professional proficiency (S-4/R-4) in a language to be eligible for a third such training episode. Exceptions may be approved by the Director General, M/DGHR in accordance with priority needs of the Service.
e. On the basis of section 191(a)(3) of the Department of State Authorization Act of 1994, an employee who receives or has received long-term training in a language or who was hired with a hiring preference based on competency in a language should anticipate serving two tours of duty in:
(1) Countries where that language is commonly spoken; or
(2) Language-designated positions (LDPs) in that language, regardless of location (e.g., a Russian LDP in the Nuclear Risk Reduction Center).
f. To achieve the objective of maximizing the U.S. Government’s investment in language-qualified personnel and to provide adequate staffing for its various missions, foreign affairs agencies may require an officer who meets the criteria of this section to take a second or third tour of duty in a position in which the relevant language is required.
13 FAM 201.1-1(A)(2) Foreign Service Specialists
(CT:TPD-1; 09-18-2019)
(State only)
(Applies to Foreign Service and Civil Service Employees)
When assigned to LDPs, specialists will receive preparatory language and area studies training appropriate for the individual employee to attain the proficiency specified for the position (see 13 FAH-1 H-212).
13 FAM 201.1-1(B) Language Training for Civil Service Personnel
(CT:TPD-1; 09-18-2019)
(State only)
(Applies to Foreign Service and Civil Service Employees)
a. Except for Early Morning language programs and self-study/distance learning language courses, the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) is not funded to provide language training for Civil Service employees.
b. Except for language training noted in 13 FAM 201.1-1(B), paragraph a , or when a Civil Service employee has been selected and paneled to a limited noncareer assignment in the Foreign Service, Civil Service employees attend FSI language training on a reimbursable basis only. Funding for such training may derive from the employee’s home bureau or an approved endowment (e.g., the Pat Roberts Intelligence Scholars Program).
c. In all cases, language training for Civil Service employees must be job/career related. Language training, including self-study/distance learning, will not be authorized for purely personal reasons such as personal enrichment.
13 FAM 201.1-1(C) Language Proficiency Testing
(CT:TPD-1; 09-18-2019)
(State only)
(Applies to Foreign Service and Civil Service Employees)
a. The Department’s policy is that only language proficiency tests conducted and certified by FSI shall be recorded in the Language Skills Inventory, and that only test results recorded in the inventory will serve as the basis for determining if an employee possesses a required proficiency level connected to a language designated position (LDP), eligibility for language related incentives, or crossing the senior threshold.
b. Procedural information and policy regarding language testing can be found in 13 FAH-1 H-230.
13 FAM 201.1-2 Authorities
(CT:TPD-1; 09-18-2019)
(State only)
(Applies to Foreign Service and Civil Service Employees)
The statutory authorities are:
(1) Section 702 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4022); and
(2) Subpart 2, section 191-93 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 (22 U.S.C. 3926 note, 22 U.S.C. 4021 note, 22 U.S.C. 2695a).
13 FAM 201.1-3 responsibilities
(CT:TPD-1; 09-18-2019)
13 FAM 201.1-3(A) Foreign Service Employees
(CT:TPD-23; 01-04-2024)
(State only)
(Applies to Foreign Service and Civil Service Employees)
a. It is a responsibility of the Department to provide suitable opportunities for Foreign Service (FS) personnel to acquire foreign language proficiency in preparation for new assignments throughout their careers.
b. It is a FS employee’s responsibility to acquire and maintain foreign language competence. All FS employees are expected to use the appropriate language with whatever degree of proficiency their jobs require. Where the position does not require use of the language, the employee is expected to acquire a minimum courtesy level proficiency.
c. The Office of Career Development and Assignments (GTM/CDA) is responsible for ensuring that language training is part of an employee’s onward assignment when required for performance of duty.
13 FAM 201.1-3(B) Civil Service Employees
(CT:TPD-23; 01-04-2024)
(State only)
(Applies to Foreign Service and Civil Service Employees)
a. It is a Civil Service applicant/employee’s responsibility to possess and maintain foreign language competence when it is a qualification requirement of the position to which they are assigned.
b. The Office of Civil Service Talent Management (GTM/CSTM) is responsible for ensuring that applicants for hire into and employees encumbering positions with a foreign language qualification requirement (speaking and/or reading) possess a requisite proficiency.
13 FAM 201.1-4 Assignment to Language Training
(CT:TPD-1; 09-18-2019)
(State only)
(Applies to Foreign Service and Civil Service Employees)
See 13 FAH-1 H-200 for procedural information and policy relating to assignment to language training.