The U.S. State Department primarily uses the Interagency Language Roundtable to certify proficiency in a foreign langauge.
Foreign language skills are not mandatory for working at the U.S. State Department, but some positions require proficiency in certain languages. In addition, the ability to speak a foreign language is a desirable skill, particularly if it is in a language identified as a critical needs language, such as Arabic, Chinese, Dari, Farsi, Hindi and Urdu. The State Department primarily uses the Interagency Language Roundtable scale to establish candidates' levels of proficiency.
Primary Certification
The State Department takes into account a candidate's prior language training, so one way for a candidate to establish proficiency in a language is to present education records that indicate a certain level of achievement in that language. For example, an undergraduate degree with a major in a foreign language will afford certification at a certain level. However, for language-designated positions within the department, candidates will first be required to take a State Department proficiency examination.
Telephonic Proficiency Test
Candidates for foreign service officer or foreign service specialists in language-designated areas may then be asked to take a telephonic proficiency test once they pass the oral proficiency examination. This test consists of speaking, reading, writing and listening sections. Passing for a civil service officer means obtaining a "2" on the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) five-point scale.
ILR Scale
Level 1, or S-1 of the ILR scale establishes "elementary proficiency, meaning that the test-taker can articulate basic needs and perform basic functions, such as during short-term travel. Level 2, limited working proficiency, means that the candidate can handle some work requirements and can handle elementary sentence construction with some errors in grammar. Achieving Level 3, professional working proficiency, suggests the candidate is able to speak the language well enough to effectively engage in most conversations on professional topics and in social interactions. Level 4 establishes that the candidate can use the language fluently in all professional situations. Level 5 reaches native level proficiency.
Translation and Interpretation
There are separate tests and skill levels for State Department translators and interpreters. For interpreters, there is a three-test series, the first is in simple consecutive interpreting designed for escorting officials. The second is in simultaneous interpreting for court or seminar work. The third qualifies a candidate for conference-level interpreting. The scales for interpreters and translators are also five levels.
Outside Certifications
There are a number of outside language certifications that are viewed positively by the State Department. For example, the International Association of Conference Interpreters offers certification for conference interpreters that would qualify a candidate as proficient in a foreign language.
