Teacher Exchange Program Qualifications

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To qualify as a J-1 Teacher, you must:

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• Possess, at a minimum, a degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree in either education or the academic subject field in which you intend to teach AND‍

• Meet the qualifications for teaching at the primary, including pre-kindergarten, or secondary levels in schools in your home country; be working as a teacher in your home country at the time of application; and have at least two years of full-time teaching experience and have a bachelor’s degree in education or subject field they intend to teach
  
  OR
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• Not be working as a teacher in your home country at the time of application, but otherwise meet the qualifications for teaching at the primary (including pre-kindergarten) or secondary levels in schools in your home country

• Have had at least two years of full-time teaching experience within the past eight years and

• Within 12 months of your application submission date for the program, have completed an advanced degree (beyond a degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree) in education or in an academic subject matter that you intend to teach or that is related to your teaching subject field.

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Additional Requirements

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• Satisfy the teaching eligibility standards of the U.S. state in which you will teach (e.g., meet minimum educational requirements, pass teacher training coursework at a sufficiently proficient level, have provided an evaluation of foreign teaching preparation coursework, have demonstrated the requisite prior teaching experience, etc.)

• Provide any required criminal background or other checks

• Are of good reputation and character

• Agree to come to the U.S. temporarily as a full-time teacher of record in an accredited primary or secondary school, understanding and agreeing that exchange teachers may teach a variety of subjects and levels at their host school or schools, if qualified, but at the pre-kindergarten level, may teach only in language immersion programs

• Receive from a qualified U.S. host school a written and signed "teaching job offer" (offer of employment/job offer letter).