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The application process begins by selecting a service model and finding an open position.

Peace Corps Volunteer
2 years, 3 months
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Log in/check status
Peace Corps Response
Up to 12 months
Find a position and apply
Log in/check status
Virtual Service Pilot
3-6 months
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Let us help you find the right position.

If you are flexible in where you serve for the two-year Peace Corps Volunteer program, our experts can match you with a position and country based on your experience and preferences.

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Life After the Peace Corps

I need a copy of my medical and vaccination records.

To make your request, download and complete the Authorization for Release of Medical Information Form [PDF]. Send the completed form to Office of Volunteer Health (OVH) at [email protected]. For additional questions or concerns, contact OVH at 202.692.1540.

Am I eligible for unemployment as a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer?

Returned Volunteers are not eligible for unemployment benefits. The Department of Labor has ruled that individuals enrolled in the Peace Corps are Volunteers who perform services under terms and conditions that do not rise to the legal relationship of employer and employee and, therefore, are not considered in employment covered under Title II of the Emergency Jobs and Unemployment Assistance Act of 1974, Public Law 93-567.88, Stat. 1845. 

I'm a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer. How do I update my contact information?

Returned Volunteers should update their contact information through the RPCV portal. If you encounter any problems submitting the form, contact [email protected].

My health care provider did not receive full payment from the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) and now I am being billed. What do I do?

OWCP uses a schedule of maximum allowable medical charges. Providers agree to comply with the OWCP medical fee schedule. You do not have to pay the difference between the maximum charge set by the schedule and the charge made by the provider.

I have questions about the PC-127C form.

For questions about using your PC-127C form, visit the RPCV support page. To request a replacement PC-127C form, contact the Post-Service Medical Unit at 855.855.1961 ext. 1540 or 202.692.1540. Or, email the Post-Service Medical Unit at [email protected].

Why can’t the Peace Corps provide treatment for my service-related conditions after I finish my service?

In accordance with the federal regulations of the Peace Corps Act of 1961, treatment of Peace Corps-related medical and dental conditions for Volunteers who have closed service falls under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act as administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP). The Peace Corps does not have the legal authority to pay for or provide health care for Returned Volunteers. If you require ongoing medical treatment due to a service-related injury, the Post-Service Unit will assist you in filing a claim for FECA benefits. All entitlement decisions rests with OWCP and not the Peace Corps.

The U.S. Department of Labor Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) is asking me for a job description for my Peace Corps service. What do I do?

The description of service (DOS) completed by you and signed by your country director is considered your job description. If you did not complete a DOS, contact the desk officer for your country of service to initiate the process. If you completed a DOS but have not received a copy, log in to the RPCV Portal and submit your request.

What about my medical coverage and insurance after my Peace Corps service is over?

Returned Volunteers are eligible for three months of coverage by a private health insurance called Short-term Health Insurance for Transition and Travel. The Peace Corps pays the first month’s premium and you have the option to purchase two additional months for yourself and for any qualified dependents. If you have service-related conditions that need an evaluation, your medical officer or the Office of Medical Services at the Peace Corps’ Headquarters will provide an authorization form for this evaluation. If an illness or injury was related to your Volunteer service, you may be eligible for benefits under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) through the Department of Labor. If you require ongoing medical treatment due to a service-related injury, the Post-Service Unit will assist you in filing a claim for FECA benefits. All entitlement decisions rest with the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) and not with the Peace Corps.

A prospective federal employer is asking for an SF-50 form and/or a performance appraisal. What do I do?

The SF-50 is a "Notification of Personnel Action," and serves as a permanent record of a federal employee's promotions, pay-grade increases, or other administrative matters. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, you were not a federal employee and therefore do not have an SF-50. You can submit your description of service as a performance appraisal. If you need a copy, log in to the RPCV Portal and submit your request.  

How do I obtain a copy of my description of service?

Please log in to the RPCV Portal and submit your request.

Are RPCVs eligible for any other educational benefits outside of the Coverdell program?

Some states, such as Colorado and Maryland, provide an in-state tuition benefit for out-of-state RPCVs who want to pursue studies at colleges and universities in these states.

How do I know if I qualify for non-competitive eligibility?

Generally, Returned Volunteers must have successfully completed a full 27 months of Peace Corps service to receive non-competitive eligibility. Country directors may choose to issue this certification to a Volunteer who, for reasons beyond their control, does not complete service, but who has satisfactorily served for a sufficient duration (normally at least 12 months) to demonstrate the capability to serve a full term. Volunteers who resign from Peace Corps service are not eligible for non-competitive eligibility regardless of how long they served.

Peace Corps Response Volunteers who complete two consecutive years of service are eligible for non-competitive eligibility for employment opportunities at the Peace Corps and other federal agencies as they determine.

Learn more about non-competitive eligibility and how it can help you get hired by federal agencies.

I would like to connect with other Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs). Can I do so through the Peace Corps?

Due to the Privacy Act, the Peace Corps is not permitted to disclose personal contact information for Returned Volunteers.

The National Peace Corps Association is a group that enables RPCVs to connect with each other, including via a directory of affiliated RPCV groups across the country.

Are educational benefits available to Returned Volunteers forever?

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers earn lifetime eligibility for the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows program if they fall into one of the following categories:

  1. Peace Corps Volunteers who complete the full tour of Peace Corps service or are otherwise given “completion of service” (COS) status
  2. Peace Corps Volunteers who are medically separated
  3. Peace Corps Volunteers who are given "interrupted service" status because of circumstances beyond their control
  4. Peace Corps Response Volunteers or Advancing Health Professionals who complete 12 months of service within a 24-month period
    Exception: The 12-month requirement was waived for all Peace Corps Response Volunteers evacuated in March 2020 due to COVID-19

Volunteers who resign or are administratively separated are not eligible for Coverdell Fellows unless they had already earned eligibility through a previous Peace Corps tour.

Learn more about the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program and see the list of participating colleges and universities for details.

Keep a signed copy of your description of service (DOS). Coverdell programs will request this during your application process as it is an official record of your Peace Corps activities. If you lose your DOS, you may request a copy via the certification of service process.

What benefits will I get when I finish my service?

There are many benefits you will receive after you complete your two years of Peace Corps service including: over $10,000 (pre-tax) service award*, one year of federal hiring advantages, qualifying for free or reduced tuition through the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows program, access to a community of hundreds of thousands of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, and eligibility for certain student loan deferment or forgiveness.

*readjustment allowance