Title 22, Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-102
§3947 Entry Levels for Foreign Service Officer Candidates
Title 22 › CHAPTER 52 — FOREIGN SERVICE › SUBCHAPTER III — APPOINTMENTS › § 3947
Summary
Career Foreign Service candidates may not start above salary class 4 unless the Secretary approves for qualifications, including language, and Service needs, or they already hold a career appointment at or above the class 4 minimum.
Full Legal Text
Title 22, §3947
Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
A career candidate for appointment as a Foreign Service officer may not be initially assigned under section 3964 of this title to a salary class higher than class 4 in the Foreign Service Schedule unless—
(1)the Secretary determines in an individual case that assignment to a higher salary class is warranted because of the qualifications (including foreign language competence) and experience of the candidate and the needs of the Service; or
(2)at the time such initial assignment is made, the candidate is serving under a career appointment in the Service and is receiving a salary at a rate equal to or higher than the minimum rate payable for class 4 in the Foreign Service Schedule.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
22 U.S.C. § 3947
Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102