How to Become a Peace Corps Volunteer
Peace Corps volunteers work in 74 countries to improve the lives of local residents by providing classroom instruction, creating agricultural infrastructure, developing libraries and increasing health awareness---including emphasis on AIDS and HIV education. For 49 years as of 2010, Peace Corps volunteers have been making a difference in the lives of people around the world and bringing positive change to the communities in which they are stationed.
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Instructions
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Read about the Peace Corps to gain an understanding of its mission. The Peace Corps website provides resources for the potential volunteer, including testimonials of past Peace Corps volunteers.
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Attend a Peace Corps recruiting event. Peace Corps recruiters answer questions and address concerns of potential applicants. They provide reading material and an application.
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Apply for a Peace Corps volunteer position. Applications are available on the Peace Corps website, as well as in career counseling offices of colleges and universities and at volunteer job fairs.
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Attend the interview. Within two to three weeks after submitting an application, qualified candidates will be contacted by a Peace Corps recruiter. If after an interview the recruiter determines that the applicant is qualified, the recruiter will nominate the applicant for a given region and job description.
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Undergo required medical examinations. Candidates will receive medical examination instructions in the mail after being nominated. Medical and dental exams include laboratory testing and X-rays. The nominee must pay for these exams.The nominee must also supply the Peace Corps medical evaluation team with documents pertaining to the medical history.
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Wait for the application review team to review your legal and financial standing. The review team will also compare competitive nominees. If selected as a volunteer, you will receive an in-depth job description in the mail.
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Meet other Peace Corps volunteers at the designated pre-service orientation site. A plane ticket will be mailed to the nominee. Future Peace Corps volunteers meet to introduce themselves at various state locations before being moved to their designated countries for training.
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Fly to the designated country for training, the last step before beginning work as a Peace Corps volunteer. The Peace Corps will pay for air transportation to the country of assignment.
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