Before You Apply Checklist

Ready to serve boldly? Get ready to apply by reviewing the documents and information you’ll need to complete a compelling application.

Required application information and documents

Prepare the items below before beginning your application to become a Peace Corps Volunteer or Peace Corps Response Volunteer.

Customize your resume

Tailor your resume to:

• Highlight your most relevant experience and education
• Keep your resume between 1-3 pages
• Accepted formats, including: doc, dox, htm, html, mht, mhtml, pdf, rtf, txt

Prepare answers ahead of time

If you are applying to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer, you’ll need to submit a Motivation for Serving statement.

The Motivation for Serving statement is your chance to explain how you’d work with others during your service to create change together.

• Be concise. You can use 4,000 characters maximum (approximately 500 words).
• Describe your reasons for wanting to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer.
• Address how you would overcome challenges associated with service.

For more insight on how to write a Peace Corps motivation statement, please read the Peace Corps - 4 tips to make the most of your Peace Corps motivation statement blog post.

If you are interested in serving in the Virtual Service Pilot, you will need to submit an expression of interest form when applying to open engagements.

This form includes responding to three brief (1,500 characters max) prompts. It is a perfect opportunity to highlight your previous experience and share your excitement about the open engagement.

The writing prompts are:

• Describe your technical skills, experience, and education in the areas outlined in the essential and desired qualifications section.
• Virtual service requires strong intercultural skills, such as flexibility, cross-cultural agility, high tolerance for ambiguity, ability to work independently, resourcefulness, and creativity. Describe how you have demonstrated these traits in your work.
• What motivates you to express interest in this engagement, virtual service, and/or donation of time to the Peace Corps?

Provide references

You will need to provide 3 references for applying to Peace Corps Volunteer or Peace Corps Response Volunteer positions. For each reference, we’ll ask you to provide:

• Name
• Email address
• Phone number

References can include:

• Current or previous employment supervisors (preferred)
• Volunteer work supervisors
• Professors or advisors
• Mentors
• Close friends
• If you are applying for Peace Corps Response and are a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, one reference needs to come from your previous service assignment.

Note that relatives may not serve as references.

You will need to provide 1-2 professional references when submitting an expression of interest form for Virtual Service Pilot engagements.

Show proof of foreign language skills

You'll be asked to indicate your level of skill, and will need to provide proof of completion for:

• College coursework (official or unofficial transcript)
• Proficiency (proficiency exam results)

Include your basic information

The application form includes areas to provide:

• Contact info
• Social Security number
• Naturalization number (if applicable)

Provide related background information

Collect documents and information related to your:

• Education background
• Legal history
• Intelligence agency background (for you and any immediate family members)
• Sector-specific experience in Agriculture, Health, Youth in Development, and/or Education (See Our Work Sectors)
• Volunteer experience

If you are interested in serving where you are needed most, provide your earliest availability date and country and work sector of choice.

Submit Peace Corps history documents

If applicable, gather documents related to your personal Peace Corps history.

• If you participated in the Peace Corps Prep program, have the Peace Corps Prep Exit Checklist signed by your program coordinator.
• Past Peace Corps service experience