Checked on October 23, 2026, against the Pearson VUE FSOT page (last updated September 25, 2026). Pearson VUE posts each testing window there. Confirm your dates in your Pearson account before you plan around them.
This page lists the FSOT test dates for 2026 and 2027 as Pearson VUE prints them and explains how registration works. Pearson VUE runs registration and testing for the U.S. Department of State, and the Foreign Service Officer Test is given in set testing windows, not year-round. Three rules trip up candidates: an application is good for one window only, it cannot be changed after you submit it, and you may test only once in any 12-month period.
FSOT test dates (as of October 2026)
These are the windows on the Pearson VUE page as of October 23, 2026. No window after February 2027 had been posted.
| Window | Test dates | Registration opens | Registration closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | October 10-31, 2026 | September 10, 2026 | October 30, 2026 |
| February 2027 | January 30 - February 6, 2027 | December 31, 2026 | Not clear (see below) |
The State Department's other pages send readers to the Pearson VUE page for "more information and updates," so treat that page as the place to check. We update this table when Pearson VUE posts a new window.
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The February 2027 registration close date
Pearson VUE's table prints the registration close date for the February 2027 window (January 30 - February 6) with the year 2026. That date falls before registration opens on December 31, 2026, so the year is a misprint, and Pearson VUE has not published a corrected date. Its text says registration "closes three days prior to the opening of the testing window," but its own table does not always follow that rule: the October 2026 window lists a close date of October 30, inside the window.
The safe plan: register early in the period that opens on December 31, 2026, and confirm the closing date in your Pearson account or by email at FSOTQuestions@state.gov.
Past FSOT windows since the October 2025 revision
Pearson VUE removes old windows from its page. Archived copies of the page show these windows for the new test format:
| Test dates | Registration |
|---|---|
| October 18-25, 2025 | September 5 - October 16, 2025 |
| February 28 - March 7, 2026 | February 16-26, 2026 |
| May 16-23, 2026 | March 30 - May 14, 2026 |
| July 11-18, 2026 | May 25 - July 9, 2026 |
With the October 2026 window above, that is five windows from October 2025 to October 2026, most of them one week long. The pattern is not a promise: Pearson VUE and the State Department do not publish a yearly calendar, so we never list a window before Pearson VUE posts it.
How FSOT registration works
- Create a Pearson VUE web account if you are a new candidate.
- Submit your application during the registration period for the window you want. Pearson VUE describes it as the five-week period immediately before a testing window.
- Select a seat (a date, time and place) in the same period.
An application is valid only for the window you apply for, and it cannot be changed once you submit it, so check every entry first. The State Department advises using a personal email address you will keep for a long time; current federal employees may not use a government email. If you need a testing accommodation, request it and get approval before you schedule. Pearson VUE asks you to allow 10 business days.
To register you must be a U.S. citizen and at least 20 and no older than 59 on the day you register. The full eligibility rules are in the how to become a Foreign Service Officer guide.
Testing at home or at a test center
- At home: OnVUE online proctoring. Log in 30 minutes early. The "Begin Exam" button appears 30 minutes before your appointment and stays until 15 minutes after it; after that you are a no-show. Check-in takes about 15 minutes after a system test and includes photos of you, your ID and your room.
- At a test center: Pearson VUE centers in the United States and overseas, including about 130 On Base Test Centers on U.S. military installations. Embassies and consulates "may continue to offer the test as their resources permit."
- ID: one valid, unexpired, government-issued ID with your photo and signature. The name must match your registration exactly. If you test outside the United States, your ID must be your U.S. passport.
The test is closed book, with no calculator and no breaks. Our guide to what is on the new FSOT explains the sections and timing.
Rescheduling, canceling and missing the test
You can reschedule or cancel up to your appointment time in your Pearson account or by phone at (888) 572-2276. If you do not show up, you "forfeit your entire exam fee" unless you send documentation of extenuating circumstances (such as a death in the family, serious illness or military duty) to FSOTQuestions@state.gov within 10 days.
The fee amount itself is not published. Pearson VUE's pages mention an exam fee but state no amount, and the State Department's pages state none either.
How often can you take the FSOT?
Pearson VUE says "candidates may test only once in a 12-month period." If you test in the October 2026 window, you cannot test again in any window in the 12 months that follow. Plan your window with that in mind, and take it when you are ready rather than as a trial run.
When do results come?
Your score report, available right after the test, says whether you passed or failed. A profile status of "scores are under review" is not your result. When invitations to the next stage go out is not published. The FSOT score and next steps guide covers scoring and the stages after the test.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next FSOT?
See the FSOT test dates table above, which lists every window Pearson VUE had posted as of October 2026.
When does registration open for the February 2027 FSOT?
For the window of January 30 - February 6, 2027, Pearson VUE lists December 31, 2026.
What is the FSOT registration deadline?
Each window has its own close date in the table above. For February 2027, Pearson VUE's printed close date has the wrong year, so confirm it in your Pearson account or at FSOTQuestions@state.gov.
Are there more FSOT dates in 2027?
Not yet. No window after February 2027 had been posted on the Pearson VUE page as of October 23, 2026.
How much does the FSOT cost?
The fee is not published. Pearson VUE mentions an exam fee that a no-show forfeits but gives no amount.
Can I change my application after I submit it?
No. Pearson VUE says an application cannot be changed once submitted, and it is valid only for the window you applied for.
Can I take the FSOT overseas?
Yes, at Pearson VUE test centers outside the United States, on-base centers and, where resources permit, embassies and consulates. You must use your U.S. passport as ID.
Who do I contact with questions?
The State Department at FSOTQuestions@state.gov, or Pearson VUE at (866) 389-8339, Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM Central Time.
Official sources
- Pearson VUE: The Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) (last updated September 25, 2026)
- Pearson VUE: Online testing for the FSOT (OnVUE)
- Pearson VUE: Accommodation process for the FSOT
- U.S. Department of State media note: Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) Updates (September 5, 2025)
PrepRaven is an independent exam-prep site. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of State or Pearson VUE. Always confirm dates and rules on the Pearson VUE FSOT page and the State Department's careers site.
Last updated October 2026