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How to Become a Consular Officer

To be considered or eligible applicants must be U.S. Citizens, at least 20 yrs of age and no older than 59 yrs of age when applying and be willing to work anywhere in the world (it is not looked upon very highly if a new hire or junior officer declines an assignment). These are the basic eligibility requirements. Learn more about the application process and additional requirements in this article: Foreign Service Officer Careers

Though there are no education requirements for applicants, a many Foreign Service Officer (FSO) applicants are coming in with advanced degrees. In the past, applications for Consular Officers have been down and not nearly as competitive as the Political Officers and Public Diplomacy Officers career tracks. Now, competition for jobs has increased and those with advanced degrees and foreign language skills are finding the best opportunities. The current economy and climbing jobless rate is resulting in the State Department receiving applications from extremely well qualified and educated applicants.

A bachelor's degree is a good place to start and based on the Consular Officer pay scale, will be more financially rewarding sooner than becoming a Consular Officer without a bachelor's degree. According to the US State Department website, entry-level Foreign Service Officers with a bachelor's degree and no work experience start out at $42,576 and those with no degree and 6 years or less of work experience start out at the same salary. An example the State Department website gives is that a FSO with a bachelor's degree and 5 years work experience will make the same amount as an FSO with no degree and 11 years experience.(1)

Bachelor's degrees that current Consular Officers hold include political science, economics, history, sociology, geography, anthropology, law, criminal justice, business, accounting, statistics, international relations or another liberal arts area of study. Colleges and Universities offering these and related programs are listed below. Use the provided information to contact these schools and learn more about their programs.

What Does a Consular Officer Do?

Consular Officers are Foreign Service Officers working for the United States Department of State. Consular Officers are assigned to U.S. embassies and consulates around the world. They most often receive, review and adjudicate visa applications. Consular Officers may also provide a wide range of services for U.S. citizens traveling or living overseas including maintaining their welfare, assisting in locating missing citizens, helping US citizens get appropriate health care, and assisting with legal matters such as imprisonment. Other duties may include analyzing the country's public opinion and attitudes, developing policies, evaluating a foreign country's economic or political conditions and trends, analyzing a foreign country's specific forces, protecting American citizens, property or interests in a foreign country and related duties.(2)

Consular Officers are expected to be efficient in processing visas, be knowledgeable of current U.S. foreign policy objectives and programs and be able to communicate well with others.
(Sources: (1) - U.S. State Department website - FSO career, (2) - American Foreign Service Association website)

Consular Officer Related Education Programs

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University of Phoenix Online: University of Phoenix will help thoroughly prepare you for careers in the field of criminal justice. University of Phoenix is the largest private university in the country and is dedicated to their students.

BS in Psychology
BS in Business/Administration
BS in Business/Accounting
BS in Business/Finance
BS in Criminal Justice
BS in Organizational Security & Management
MS in Administration of Justice and Security
MBA

Walden University Online: Regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, which is one of six accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

B.S. in Communication - Organizational Communications
B.S. in Criminal Justice - CJ Management and Administration
B.S. in Criminal Justice - Computer Info Systems & Security
B.S. in Business Administration - Finance
B.S. in Communication - Public Relations
Master of Public Admin - Homeland Security and Policy Coordination
Master of Public Admin - Law and Public Policy
Master of Public Admin - Local Government Management
M.S. in Psychology - Terrorism and Security

Capella University:

BS in Criminal Justice
BS in Public Safety - Emergency Management
BS in Business - Accounting
BS in Business - Business Administration
BS in Business - Finance
BS in Business - Management and Leadership
MS in Public Safety Leadership
PhD Programs - Criminal Justice, Emergency Management, and Public Safety Leadership

Request free information from Capella University to learn more.

Virginia College:

Business Administration - BS
Bachelor's in Criminal Justice
Master's in Business Administration
Master's in Criminal Justice
Master's in Cybersecurity

Request information to learn more about these as well as other Criminal Justice Programs at Virginia College.

Lincoln College Online:

B.S. in Criminal Justice and the Criminal Mind
B.S. in Business Management
B.S. in Information Management and Security

Ashford University:

BA/Organizational Management - Sociology
BA/Organizational Management - Liberal Studies
BA/Organizational Management - Management
BA/Organizational Management - Political Science
BA/Organizational Management - Psychology
BA/Psychology
BA/Social Science - Anthropology
BA/Social Science - Economics
BA in Social Science - Criminal Justice

American InterContinental University:

Bachelor's - International Business
Bachelor's - Accounting & Finance
Bachelor's - Organizational Psychology & Development
Bachelor's - Computer Forensics
BSCJ - Law Enforcement
BSCJ - Forensic Science
BSCJ - Special Populations

Request free information from AIU to learn more about these programs.

Kaplan University:

AAS in Criminal Justice
AASCJ - Corrections, Law Enforcement, Private Security
BS in Criminal Justice
BSCJ - Law Enforcement, Computer Crime, Corrections, Homeland Security...

Request information to learn more about these as well as other Criminal Justice Programs at Kaplan University.

Herzing University:

BS in Accounting
BS in Legal Studies
BS in Business Administration
BS in Technology Management - Computer Science
BS in Criminal Justice
BS in Criminal Justice - Homeland Security
BS in Homeland Security
MBA in Business Management

Request free information from Herzing University Online to learn more.

University of the Rockies: Online

Master of Arts in Psychology, Business Psychology Specialization
Master of Arts in Psychology, Evaluation, Research & Measurement Specialization
Master's in Psychology - Criminology and Justice Studies
Doctor of Psychology - Criminology and Justice Studies

Florida Tech University Online:

BA Accounting
BA in Criminal Justice
BA Business Admin Accounting
BA Business Admin Management

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