Peace Corps Response places experienced professionals in short-term, in-person assignments with community partners overseas. Assignments span agriculture, community economic development, education, environment, health, and youth development.
Volunteers apply to individual roles that match their professional, educational, certification, and language qualifications. The program operates in more than 30 countries, with the current openings page listing roles across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Pacific islands, and South America.
Benefits & funding
- Peace Corps covers housing and transportation to and from the country of service.
- Volunteers receive a location-adjusted monthly living allowance for food, household supplies, communication, clothing, local transport, and modest discretionary spending.
- Necessary and appropriate medical and dental care is covered during service, and volunteers earn vacation time.
- Volunteers accrue a pre-tax readjustment allowance of USD 500 for every completed month of service.
- Volunteers who complete 12 months may qualify for student-loan assistance, federal hiring advantages, and certain education benefits.
- Assignments begin with approximately one to two weeks of in-country orientation.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years old; there is no published upper age limit.
- The program page states a baseline of a college degree and at least two years of professional experience. Individual roles commonly require two to five years of relevant experience, while many require more than five years.
- Degree, certification, seniority, and language requirements vary by opening. Applicants must meet the qualifications stated for the specific role.
- Volunteers must be prepared to relocate overseas for an in-person assignment lasting 6–12 months.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Eligible nationalities
USA
Education required
Bachelor
Experience required
≥ 2 yrs
Age requirement
≥ 18 yrs
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Application process
- 1Review current Peace Corps Response openings and select a role matching the applicant’s skills, experience, education, certifications, and language ability.
- 2Prepare a tailored one-to-three-page resume, three references, any required language evidence, and the personal and background information requested by Peace Corps.
- 3Submit the online application for the selected role; applicants may keep up to two Peace Corps Response applications active at once.
- 4Peace Corps reviews availability, education, language ability, and role qualifications, then may request transcripts or further details.
- 5Competitive applicants complete a virtual interview before the invitation and clearance stages.
Program timeline
Rolling
New Peace Corps Response openings are posted daily.
Role-specific
Each opening publishes its own application deadline and projected departure date.
After submission
Peace Corps screens the application and contacts competitive applicants for a virtual interview.
Service start
Volunteers complete a short in-country orientation before beginning a 6–12 month assignment.