---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 3947"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "3947"
heading: "Entry levels for Foreign Service officer candidates"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/3947"
units:
  - "Chapter 52 — Foreign Service"
  - "Subchapter III — Appointments"
---

# §3947. Entry levels for Foreign Service officer candidates


A career candidate for appointment as a Foreign Service officer may not be initially assigned under [section 3964 of this title](/usc/22/3964.md) to a salary class higher than class 4 in the Foreign Service Schedule unless—

- (1) the [Secretary](/usc/22/3902.md?p=10) 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.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, § 307, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2086.)