Foreign Service Mentors

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Medical Clearance
User: LLR
Date: 5/6/2011 9:16 pm
Views: 44772
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I am 36 years old, and I'm seriously considering a career in the foreign service after spending the past 12 years as a journalist.

I have had several bouts with mild/situational depression over the past ten years, mainly after the death of a family member and later dealing with some heavy duty pressures. I was treated with an anti-depressant in all of the instances.  I'm fine now and no longer taking any sort of medication.

Will this past medical history eliminate me from consideration for the Foreign Service?  Will it in any way jeopardize my chances of acceptance?  

 

 

 

 

 

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Re: Medical Clearance
PAB_SME
User: PAB_SME
Date: 5/7/2011 9:04 am
Views: 15766
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A determination of eligibility for the required Foreign Service medical clearance cannot be made absent the pre-employment medical exam, and the exam cannot commence unless one passes the Oral Assessment process. Each case is reviewed on an individual basis, based on the results of the exam. There is no list of conditions that absolutely preclude consideration. We hope, however, that the following information will be useful.

 

In order to be hired into the Foreign Service you must be “worldwide available” and not have any medical condition that would preclude worldwide availability.  There are some countries where medical/hospital care is very poor.  There are places where there are no medical emergency facilities.  You should therefore review your medical condition with your own physician first to get his/her opinion on your suitability for worldwide assignment.  Should your application for the Foreign Service reach the point where a Department of State pre-employment medical examination is required, your medical condition and pre-employment medical exam results will be carefully reviewed by the  Medical Clearance Office  which will determine if you are able to serve worldwide.  Absent a Department of State pre-employment medical exam, the  Medical Clearance Office  cannot make a determination.  Please also review the information at this link:

 

http://careers.state.gov/officer/selection-process

Then scroll down to # 6: CLEARANCES: MEDICAL AND SECURITY

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