J-1 Teacher Program

The J-1 Teacher Program is a 1-3 year J-1 Teacher visa with optional 2-year extension program to promote interaction between U.S. and foreign teachers, to enhance mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and other countries. These exchanges allow foreign teachers to better understand U.S. culture, society, and teaching practices and enhance their U.S. students’ knowledge of foreign cultures, customs, and methods of teaching and learning.

While the participants on J-1 Teacher Program are placed in full-time positions, they will be expected to take advantage of various cultural exchange opportunities, which is the primary purpose of the Department of State’s Exchange Visitor Programs. Zoped Internships work with the host schools to identify meaningful cross-cultural activity options in their host community. Host schools will encourage their staff to socially interact with their J-1 teachers.

Program Goals

An important goal of this program is that participants will return to their home countries and share their experiences with their peers. The J-1 Teacher Program provides participants and their host schools the opportunity to engage in a valuable professional and cultural exchange program.

The following objectives will also be met through participation on the program:

Provide international teachers the opportunity to develop their skills with hands-on application in their field; and
Provide unique professional and cultural exchange experiences for program participants, students, and host communities.

J-1 Teacher Program facilitates the placement of international teachers in U.S. K-12 host schools. Common subjects taught by teachers include, but are not limited to:

Science
Math
Languages
Special Education

Teacher Criteria
Teachers must, at minimum, fulfill the requirements in either column A OR B

Working as a teacher in home country at time of application.
At least 2 years of full-time teaching experience.
Applicant meets qualifications for teaching at the primary, including pre-kindergarten, or secondary levels in schools in their home country.

If not working as a teacher in their home country at time of application the applicant:

Must have at least 2 years of full-time teaching experience in the past 8 years.
Will have completed an advanced degree within 12 months of application submission.
Meets the qualifications for teaching at the primary, including pre-kindergarten, or secondary levels in schools in their home country.

Candidates must have a degree equivalent to a U.S. Bachelor/Master’s degree in Education from their home country

A degree equivalent to a U.S. Bachelor/Master’s degree in the subject area they intend to teach.

English Proficiency Requirements Teachers must, at minimum, fulfill one of the following requirements:

Option 1: TOEFL

Verification of a passing score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The minimum composite score for the TOEFL is 84 out of 120. Each individual section requires a minimum score.
Reading section: 20/30. Listening section: 22/30. Speaking section: 21/30. Writing Section: 21/30.

Option 2: IELTS

Verification of a passing score on each sub-test of the International English Language Testing System(IELTS) for listening, reading, writing, speaking.
The Band Score on each component is Band six or higher.

Option 3: PTE

Verification of passing scores on the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic). The minimum overall score for the PTE Academic is 55.
Each individual Communicative Skill (listening, reading, speaking and writing) requires a minimum score of 50.