Applying

How do I find a position that fits my skills and interests?

Take the 10-minute Find the Right Fit quiz to compare what you'll do, how you'll serve, the benefits of service, and more.

What are the basic requirements for Peace Corps service?

You must be a U.S. citizen who is at least 18 years old to serve. Recent college graduates, working professionals, and retirees can serve, committing to 2 years of service, plus 3 months of training for traditional Volunteer opportunities.

After being conditionally invited to serve, applicants must be medically and legally cleared for service. This requires them to be generally healthy, vaccinated, and ready to work. There are a few limitations that exist for individuals with military obligations or intelligence connections. Read more about the application process.

For Peace Corps Response opportunities, Volunteers generally must have a 4-year undergraduate degree and at least 2-5 years of professional experience to serve in 6-12-month projects abroad.

Virtual Service engagements are open to qualified U.S. citizens who have skills our host country partners are requesting. Participants donate 5-15 hours each week to their engagement and must have internet and computer access. Engagements typically last 3-6 months.

Do I need to be an American citizen to serve as a Volunteer?

Yes. One of the mandatory eligibility requirements for Peace Corps service is that the applicant must be a U.S. citizen.

Can I be a green card holder and qualify for Peace Corps service?

No. One of the mandatory eligibility requirements for Peace Corps service is that the applicant must be a U.S. citizen. Green card holders are not eligible to apply or serve as Volunteers until they become U.S. citizens.

Is there an age limit to serving in the Peace Corps?

You must be at least 18 years old to serve, but there is no upper age limit.

Do I need to speak a foreign language?

Some positions require knowledge of Spanish, but most positions do not require a language. Overall, a willingness to learn new languages is an important trait for a Peace Corps Volunteer no matter what they do or where they serve.

Do I need a college degree?

While some positions require at least four years of college or the equivalent, many opportunities are open to candidates with two to four years of post-high school work experience, or who can demonstrate a combination of education and work experience. For many positions, four years of professional experience or a combination of an associate's degree and two years of work experience are the minimum qualifications. Read more here.

How can I find my local recruiter?

Recruiters are spread across the country and there may be one close to you. To connect with a recruiter, fill in this form.

I don't live in the United States. How do I reach a recruiter?

To connect with a recruiter, fill in this form. A recruiter will contact you via email, phone or video call (like Zoom) to answer your questions.

When will I know where in the country I will be placed?

Before your arrival, staff work to establish Volunteer sites. Once you accept an invitation, you’ll connect with staff over Zoom in the months before departure. These conversations help staff get to know you, but site placements are not finalized until after you arrive in country and meet in person. At that point, staff consider each Trainee’s strengths, health, and religious needs, and other preferences to match you with appropriate work partners and housing. Please note that not all preferences can be accommodated, and the needs of the community are our first priority in determining site assignments. You will be informed of your assigned site about one to two months after arriving in country.

Learn more about the in-country placement process.

I accidentally deleted or lost an email communication directing me to the next step in the application process. How do I find what I need to do?

Log in to your applicant portal and navigate to the email history page. There, you'll see the next task you need to complete.

I have a question about a task in the Onboarding Portal.

Email the respective contact for the activity or form you have a question about. If there isn't a specific contact email, send your question to [email protected].

How are assignments determined? What happens when I choose to “serve where needed most”?

When beginning your application, you’ll have an option to choose a specific assignment, or to “serve where you’re needed most.” To choose a specific assignment, search our current openings to find the best fit for your skills and interests. Be sure to note the required skills, as well as the “apply by” and “depart on” dates. Alternatively, if you are open to Peace Corps matching you with a country and sector based on your skills, we encourage you to apply to serve where needed most. We will match your skills and preferences to a position. Check out this blog to learn more.

I have an active application and a medical question. Who should I talk to?

If you have an active application, you may log into your Medical Portal for any medical questions. Please note that no member of the Peace Corps staff has any knowledge about your medical history except medical professionals in the Peace Corps Office of Volunteer Health. Please do not share personal medical information with staff members other than the Peace Corps nursing team.

What is involved in the legal clearance process?

Most of the legal clearance process takes place after you’re conditionally invited to serve. You will need to submit fingerprints and undergo a background investigation. You can’t depart for Peace Corps service until you are legally cleared by Peace Corps’ Legal Eligibility team. The Peace Corps will reach out by email with additional information and reminders as you work through the required tasks. You will receive a notification once your legal clearance process has been initiated and another notification with the final outcome of your legal clearance determination. Learn more here.

Can I postpone my service after I've been accepted?

No. Applicants cannot postpone or defer their service once invited to serve in the Peace Corps. Volunteers travel as a group to their country of service. If you decline your invitation, you may reapply later. Placement in future programs is possible but not guaranteed, and flexibility regarding country and sector preferences may be required. If you choose to decline your invitation and want to reapply later, read this blog post for tips on reapplying.

How can I gain experience for the Peace Corps?

As an applicant to the Peace Corps, you must demonstrate that you have the required skills and knowledge to successfully perform the tasks of your Peace Corps assignment. It’s advisable to gain experience well before you plan to apply. Your own community often offers many opportunities to gain experience, whether through volunteering at a local nonprofit, tutoring a student, or helping out at a community garden. For more ideas about how to gain experience, check out this blog post.

What is a conditional invitation to serve?

A conditional invitation is the Peace Corps’ way of offering you a Volunteer position while making clear that several required steps remain before you can depart for service. After accepting, you must complete medical and legal clearances, passport and visa processing, and other pre-departure requirements. The invitation is called conditional because your service depends on successfully completing these steps. Once all requirements are met, your invitation becomes final and you are officially ready to serve.

Will a rejection for medical reasons ever be reversed?

If you are not medically cleared, you have the right to appeal the decision by requesting an additional review and clearance determination from the Pre-Service Review Board, which is made up of providers and clinicians who were not involved in your original clearance determination.

For more information, contact the Office of Volunteer Health by calling 202-692-1504. Alternatively, email [email protected] or email your nurse through the Medical Applicant Portal.

What happens if my program gets cancelled before I depart?

On rare occasions, the Peace Corps must cancel or postpone a program due to current circumstances—for example, political unrest in the host country. We understand how disruptive and disheartening this can be, especially for those who have completed medical and legal clearances and have made personal arrangements for two years of service.

The Peace Corps takes these situations very seriously. If your program is canceled, our highest priority is to identify alternative placement options for you as quickly as possible. While specific timelines and opportunities vary, we will work closely with you to explore other programs that align with your skills, preferences, and the agency’s needs.

How do I appeal Peace Corps' decision?

The Peace Corps may withdraw a candidate’s application for a variety of reasons throughout the various steps of the application process. We understand this can be frustrating or heartbreaking for some candidates. If an applicant feels a decision was made in error, or if they wish to appeal a decision for any other reason, they may contact the relevant department (placement, legal or medical) directly.

If an applicant would like to appeal a decision for medical reasons, see “How can I appeal the medical determination that I am not medically cleared for service?” in the Medical and Health FAQs.

Please note that reversals are uncommon. Applicants are also welcome to reapply if they wish. To determine what skills, experience or improvements to your application might be needed when reapplying, we recommend working with a recruiter. Read this blog as another resource when reapplying.

What considerations are there for applying to serve while outside of the U.S., especially regarding medical and legal clearance?

Many U.S. citizens successfully complete the process for Peace Corps service while living abroad. The application and interview may be completed from anywhere, and your location generally poses no issues.

Special considerations begin once you are invited to serve and must start the medical and legal clearance.

Medical clearance: All medical evaluations and documentation must be completed and submitted in English. This can pose challenges if you are accessing health care outside the U.S. Please read “Can I complete the medical clearance process while abroad?” in the Medical and Health FAQs to learn more.
Legal clearance: Fingerprints must be submitted as a part of the legal clearance process. If applying while outside of the U.S., please contact legal eligibility immediately at [email protected] for guidance on how to seamlessly complete this task.
Departure: All Invitees, regardless of where they live, must return to the U.S. to attend the required pre-departure orientation (called “staging”) and will depart for their country of service from the U.S.

What can I do to be a competitive applicant?

If you know you want to apply to the Peace Corps, it’s good to think about what you can do to prepare early. If you are in college, the Peace Corps Prep program offered at many schools builds intercultural competency and other skills necessary for successful service abroad. But there are many other ways to gain skills and experience, both on college campuses as well as in communities—as part of a job, internship or volunteer opportunity. It’s also helpful to learn more about the Peace Corps, including how to ace the application and interview process. Check out these blogs to get a leg up on the competition!

How are candidates notified of an invitation to serve?

Candidates who complete an interview may receive an invitation via email. Candidates must respond within three days of receiving the invitation email. Should you have questions or concerns about your invitation, contact your placement officer promptly. All invitations are conditional pending successful completion of the next steps in the process.

How do I check the status of my Peace Corps application?

What types of references does the Peace Corps require?

Peace Corps expects three references as part of your application. At least one reference must be professional, preferably a current or former work or volunteer supervisor or someone else who can speak to your professional experience. The other two references can include mentors, professors, academic counselors, other supervisors, co-workers, or close friends. If a close friend is listed as a reference, this person should know you well and for an extended amount of time. Only one of the three references should be in the “close friend” category. A family member cannot be listed as a reference, regardless of the relation. For more information about references read this blog.

Should I talk to a Peace Corps recruiter first, or just apply?

I'm having technical difficulties completing my application. What do I do?

Click on the “Help” tab in the applicant portal, or send an email describing your exact technical difficulties to [email protected].

Are summer positions available?

Due to the time it takes to integrate into a community, the shortest in-person service assignment requires a minimum commitment of 6 months. However, experienced professionals interested in supporting Peace Corps partners during the summer months are encouraged to consider participating in the Virtual Service Pilot. Projects last 3-6 months and require 5-15 hours each week.

Are there any costs associated with applying to the Peace Corps?

There is no application fee to apply to the Peace Corps. Eligible expenses incurred during the medical clearance process are now fully reimbursable. See detailed information on medical reimbursements.

Once cleared to serve, there are no fees associated with service. Costs for visas, passports, and plane tickets are covered by the Peace Corps for invited candidates or Peace Corps Volunteers.

What level of security clearance is required to serve with the Peace Corps?

A security clearance is not required to serve with the Peace Corps.

I've logged into my Medical Portal before, but I forgot my password.

Use the Reset Your Password link, just below the entry field for your login and password. You will need your username (your email address) and your candidate reference number to reset your password. If you attempt to login unsuccessfully more than six times, your account will be locked, and you will need to email [email protected] to have it unlocked. When contacting us, include your name and your seven-digit candidate reference number. The most common mistake is using a different email address, so please make note of which email you used to register.

Should I select all Peace Corps sectors I'm interested in, or just the ones where I have experience?

Whether applying to a specific country or to "serve where needed most," all applicants will be asked to share their job sector preferences. Select each sector you'd be excited to serve in, not only those you have experience in. The Peace Corps considers transferable skills and provides training, so direct experience isn't always required. Being open to multiple sectors expands your options and makes it easier to match you with a program that fits.

How many active applications can I have?

For in-person service, an active application is any application that has been submitted. If you withdraw the application, or the Peace Corps withdraws it, it is no longer considered active. You can check the status of your application(s) anytime in your Applicant Portal.

Two-year Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV): You may have one active application at a time, either for a specific position or when selecting to “serve where you’re needed most.”
Peace Corps Response (PCR): You may have up to two active applications at a time.
If you are applying to both programs: You may hold one active PCV application and up to two active PCR applications at the same time. You’ll be asked to indicate your preferences so that your applications can be reviewed in that order.

If you are not selected for your current application (status: “withdrawn”), you are eligible to apply again. Search Volunteer Openings for available Volunteer opportunities.

Let us help you find the right position.