Even though Peace Corps is over 60 years old, these days it is not as well known to the general public. Maybe you have a family member or a family friend has served before. But many people don’t have much information about it other than its name. Below, I’ve tried to come up with most of the common Peace Corps FAQ (frequently asked questions) people have.
The answers posted here are based on information available at PeaceCorps.gov and my experience serving as a PC volunteer in three countries (Thailand, Mongolia, and Nepal). I will give all my references at the end of this post. But if you are interested in serving as a volunteer, don’t hesitate to contact a recruiter here!
Peace Corps ‘frequently asked questions’
When I was growing up in the 60s and 70s, Peace Corps had a high-profile ad campaign that you saw everywhere on billboards and TV. But because they traditionally have more applicants than they can place, they don’t need to get the word out. Still, there are good candidates out there and they might consider Peace Corps if they had some basic information
1. What is Peace Corps?
The Peace Corps is a service opportunity for motivated changemakers to immerse themselves in a community abroad, working side by side with local leaders to tackle the most pressing challenges of our generation.
PeaceCorps.gov/about
Peace Corps is an independent US Government agency that was established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy and authorized by Congress by the Peace Corps Act.
For more information, check out my post What is the Peace Corps?
2. Where do PCVs serve?
Peace Corps goes where it is needed and wanted. Host countries make a formal request for volunteers. And they also decide in what sectors they want the volunteers to work.
Before the pandemic, Peace Corps had placed almost 250,000 volunteers in 142 countries over its 60+ years. Post-pandemic, Peace Corps has begun again placing volunteers. But it might take a while to reach many countries that have asked for volunteers.
Volunteers serve in eight regions of the world: 1) Africa, 2) Asia, 3) the Caribbean, 4) Central America and Mexico, 5) Eastern Europe and Central Asia, 6) North Africa and the Middle East, 7) Pacific Islands, and 8) South America
Peace Corps works with host governments to make sure the volunteers are needed. Some programs might only last 5 years while others decades. Or other programs might be added while some end. So the Peace Corps map is constantly changing from year to year.
If you want to see where Peace Corps volunteers are currently serving, go to PeaceCorps.gov/countries
3. What do PCVs do?
In a nutshell, Peace Corps volunteers are ‘change agents’. As the saying goes, “Give a man a fish, he eats today. Teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime.” And Peace Corps service tries to emphasize this. Volunteers work within communities to help them tackle important problems in Education, Health, Youth, Agriculture, Economic Development, and the Environment.
Over 40% of volunteers serve in the Education sector. This can include teaching English and other subjects like math and science. I have taught English with a host country co-teacher. My program’s goals were to improve the students’ English. But I also helped my co-teachers improve their teaching knowledge, methods, and English fluency. I have also served as an English teacher trainer giving trainings to large groups of host country educators.
To me, the priority is to help my counterparts get more skills. That will have a long-term benefit both to them and to the people they serve. At each post, I worked with two teachers and we taught classes together.
Most Peace Corps countries have a few sectors that they prioritize. For example, in Thailand, we had Education and Youth-in-Development volunteers. In Mongolia, we had Education and Health volunteers. And now in Nepal, we have Education and Agriculture.
For more general information about the different sectors volunteers work, check What Volunteers Do
Before you apply
4. How long is PC service?
Peace Corps service is 27-months long. If you are invited to serve, you will have about 3 months of training in your host country. Then, you will be sworn in as a Peace Corps volunteer and serve for 2-years. There are many reasons a volunteer’s service might be cut short: evacuation, medical problems, safety issues, or family emergency are just a few.
For those with more education and job experience, Peace Corps Response has volunteer positions lasting 3-12 months. You can find more information at Peace Corps Response
5. Do I need to speak a foreign language?
For a lot of positions, no. If a volunteer needs to learn a foreign language to integrate into their community, then Peace Corps will provide that training. Language training during PST (Pre-Service Training) is intensive – usually 4 hours/day. And during service, Peace Corps will continue to help volunteers improve their fluency.
But, studying a second language does show Peace Corps that you have the potential to learn a new language. This could be important during the application process and determine where you might be asked to serve.
But there are some countries where there will be a language requirement. Most of these are Spanish or French-speaking countries. Volunteers for these countries will need to have some language proficiency before they serve. Peace Corps will continue to put time and effort into improving the volunteer’s fluency like other posts.
When searching for current openings, be sure to check the language requirements before you apply.
6. Does it cost to join PC?
Not directly. Anyone applying to the Peace Corps will have certain tasks that need to be done which can cost. For example, medical examinations and dental evaluations. Peace Corps may be able to reimburse the applicant for some of these costs.
And, depending on where a volunteer serves, they may have to buy clothing and other necessities before they arrive in their host country.
But unlike most overseas volunteer opportunities, the volunteer does not pay for transportation, housing, etc. Once you become a volunteer, Peace Corps provides you with the funds you need. There is no need to supplement money from home.
7. Is there an age limit?
According to federal law, to be a Peace Corps volunteer, you must be at least 18 years of age. The average age of volunteers is about 28. Since most volunteers have just finished college, most of the volunteers I served with were in their 20s. Some countries do have a higher percentage of older volunteers, mostly in Eastern Europe and Thailand. There is no upper age limit. The oldest volunteer on record was 87-years-old who served in Morocco.
8. Do I have to be a US citizen to join PC?
According to federal law, to receive an invitation to serve in the Peace Corps, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen. I served with many volunteers born in other countries but who had become naturalized citizens. Some served as a Peace Corps volunteer in their birth country.
9. Do I need a college degree?
Remember, host countries are asking for qualified volunteers to help their country. To do that, volunteers either need a college degree or extensive job experience. All the volunteers I served in three countries had college degrees.
10. Can I serve with my unmarried partner?
Couples, both married or partnered, can serve in the Peace Corps. I served with two married couples in Thailand and a partnered couple in Mongolia.
Trying to find positions for both people in the same host-country community is very complicated. Usually, they must serve in different sectors/programs. Because of this, the application process is a lot longer, sometimes double. And because both people will be serving in different sectors/programs, in some countries they may be separated during PST (Pre-Service Training).
Okay, I want to apply
11. How do I apply?
It would be a good thing to start by contacting a recruiter. They can give you more information and answer any other questions you have. Plus they can be a valuable resource during the application process. Many college campuses have a Peace Corps recruiter. But if not, you can find a Peace Corps recruiter at https://www.peacecorps.gov/volunteer/connect-with-a-recruiter/
You can find out more about the process here at PeaceCorps.gov/application-process https://www.peacecorps.gov/apply/application-process/. But it includes:
- Select a position/country or to where you are needed most
- Fill out the online application and provide a health history
- Interview via videoconference
- Get an invitation to serve (and hopefully you accept)
- Medical and Legal Clearance
- Staging is when you begin your journey
12. What are the PC requirements?
Peace Corps requirements are pretty basic. You must be at least 18-years-old and a U.S. citizen. need to have a college degree and/or related job experience. Applicants must be physically and mentally able to do the work asked of them as a Peace Corps volunteer.
13. How long does the application process take?
The time it takes to go through this process is different for every applicant. It could be as fast as several months to over a year. Generally, it seems Peace Corps tries to keep it under 6 months if possible. For married or partner couples, the process can be a lot longer, sometimes double.
14. Can I pick a country or is it chosen for me?
You can pick the position-country you want. Or you can let Peace Corps decide where you are needed most. For my first invitation, I applied for both Education (I had experience as an EFL teacher) and Health (I was a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant). I let Peace Corps decide and I was given an invitation to serve as an English teacher in Thailand. For my 2nd and 3rd applications, I chose Mongolia and Nepal and was invited.
As a volunteer
15. What benefits will I get?
Volunteers are given a stipend to cover their living expenses. They also receive a ‘readjustment’ allowance at the end of their service.
Peace Corps has medical staff in the host country office and all medical and dental care is covered during a volunteers service. A volunteer is covered during staging, training, and service. If a medical condition can not be treated in-country, Peace Corps will either send the volunteer to a regional medical hub or back to the US at no cost.
Peace Corps pays for your transportation to and from your country of service. Volunteers get two paid vacation days per month. If a volunteer has to go back to the US for a family emergency, there is paid leave.
Some student loans may be deferred or even canceled by the lender.
Returned Peace Corps volunteers are also eligible for noncompetitive eligibility for federal jobs.
16. Will I get paid?
As a volunteer, you will get money that is equal to the living wage in the area you live and work. Peace Corps calls this a “stipend” and not a salary. It has been calculated to take care of most of your needs. Volunteers have an opportunity during service with a survey to see if this needs to be increased. But also while you are serving, Peace Corps will put aside money they call your Readjustment Allowance that you will receive at the end of your service. As of 2022, this is about $10,000 (pre-tax) for 27-months of service. This allowance starts accruing from day one so even if you don’t finish the full 27-months, you will receive something to help you transition back home.
17. I am a vegetarian. Is that okay?
Peace Corps, “All Peace Corps volunteers will need to make adjustments to their diet.” Peace Corps wants the applicant to understand that maintaining a dietary lifestyle during their service might be challenging. The volunteer will need to be flexible.
Diet will come up during your interview. So, it is good to reflect on the challenges and how an applicant might tackle those challenges.
Before applying to a specific country, do a little research about the national diet. What do most people eat, and what don’t they eat. It will save you and your fellow volunteers a lot of aggravation. For example, when I served in Mongolia, vegetarians made up almost 20% of the volunteers. The Mongolian diet is primarily meat. Long harsh winters make it impossible to grow vegetables. So they are imported and expensive. Peace Corps staff had to try and find places where it would easier for the vegetarian volunteers to function. That meant they were given assignments other volunteers were more qualified for based only on their diet.
For a lot of my adult life, I have lived a vegetarian lifestyle. But when I lived in Mongolia, both before a during Peace Corps, I had to adjust to keep maintain my health. Although mutton was the primary meat families ate, I was able to get chicken in my community to make sure I got some protein. In Thailand, it is pretty easy to maintain a vegetarian diet although most Thais eat fish. In Nepal, families eat meat (goat or chicken) occasionally. My host brother is vegan so my host sister has no problem cooking for me.
18. Are there cultural barriers?
Of course, there are. But that is one of the reasons Peace Corps volunteers go – to help bridge the gap. A lot of Peace Corps training deals with these cultural barriers and how to make the most of the situation. Learning the language is a big help too. That is why over half of the training will be learning the local language. And volunteers will teach people about America, American culture, and Americans.
Some people might be concerned that Americans might not be thought of favorably in the countries Peace Corps serves. In those communities where I am know, I have always been treated well. They understand that you are a person and not the US government. If you visit some tourist areas of your host country, people might judge negatively because they think you are a tourist. But, again, most people, just like your family and friends back home, would treat a visiter with kindness and maybe a little bit of curiosity. The same goes for your host country.
19. Will I be the only PCV in my community?
Every country is different but in general, there will only be one Peace Corps volunteer living in a community. This makes it easier to improve the volunteer’s language skills and integrate more fully into their community. And that in turn will make the volunteer more effective.
Depending on the country and sector, a volunteer may live near other volunteers. This is great both socially and professionally. Working with other volunteers can be a great opportunity to learn and to help more communities. In Thailand, I was within 1-2 hours drive from several volunteers if I took public transportation. In Mongolia, the nearest volunteers to me were 3 hours away by van. And in Nepal, several volunteers were within an hour’s drive.
20. What is housing like?
It depends. All volunteers will live with a host family during PST (PreService Training). After PST, volunteers will again live with a new host family. This will help with language and community integration. But in some countries, volunteers may have the option to live in their own houses.
Housing can be so different, even for volunteers serving in the same country. Peace Corps has requirements on what is suitable housing. If you want to see what kind of housing other volunteers have had, just search “Peace Corps Cribs” on YouTube and you’ll see a wide range.
In Thailand, I lived in a fairly big house with indoor plumbing, a western toilet, and even a washing machine. In Mongolia, I lived in a yurt with an outhouse where I would also have to walk a half-mile to get water. In Nepal, I live in a concrete room but eat all my meals in a mud-floor kitchen with my host family.
Try to connect with RPCVs (returned Peace Corps volunteers) who served in the countries you are considering. They can give you a lot more specific information on the housing in those countries.
21. Is it dangerous?
Life can be dangerous no matter where you live. Even in America! Volunteer safety is one of the Peace Corps’ top priorities. Volunteers are given extensive training on reducing the risks involved in being a volunteer. But it takes maturity to take that training and use it once a volunteer gets to their site.
Bad things happen can happen to anyone anywhere. But if something bad does happen, Peace Corps has the tools and knowledge to help in any way needed. I have served with volunteers who were assaulted, either sexually or physically. I knew some who have been robbed of money or possessions. It happens. But I felt for me that all the staff I worked with at Peace Corps would be there for me every step of the way if something bad did happen to me.
22. Can I leave early?
Life happens. Just because you commit to 27-months doesn’t always mean that a volunteer will be able to do that. The wonderful thing is that if a trainee or volunteer wants to end their service and go back home, the staff is so accommodating and helpful. The reason for this is that an unhappy volunteer is more trouble for them. I knew of volunteers who asked to go home right after they got off the plane. More than a few volunteers will quit in the first week. But there are other reasons to leave early that have nothing to do with quitting.
It is rare, but some volunteers are ‘terminated’ because of inappropriate behavior or criminal actions. Peace Corps has very strict restrictions when riding on transportation that could get a volunteer sent home. For example, riding on a motorcycle or riding a bike without a helmet could get you sent home. Some volunteers leave because of medical reasons. And a few go home because of problems back home.
I was only a year into my service in Mongolia when my brothers told me that my mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She was on hospice but my brothers asked me to come home to help care for her. I didn’t hesitate even though my mother later told me she had wished I had stayed to finish out my service. One of the last things we talked about before she died was her wish that I re-apply to Peace Corps. I received an invitation to serve in Nepal a few weeks after her funeral.
One other situation that might send a volunteer home is a death in the immediate family. Peace Corps will send you home (and back) for free for two weeks to be with your family during this trying time. In some situations, they may be extended (but no more than two additional weeks). But after that, a volunteer must either return to finish their service or ET (Early Termination).
23. Who can I contact if I have more questions?
First and foremost, contact a Peace Corps recruiter. You can find a recruiter at Connect with a PC Recruiter
Second, go thoroughly through all the information provided on the PeaceCorps.gov website.
Contact returned Peace Corps volunteers either in your community or online for the country you are interested in. The best way to do that is through the National Peace Corps Association
Search other Peace Corps-related websites on places like Facebook and Reddit.
Conclusion
This was a long blog post but it barely touched the surface of all you might want to know about the Peace Corps and as serving as a Peace Corps volunteer. But I hope it gave you some insight and sources for other information.
What other questions do you have? Write them in the comments here and I will try to answer them. 🙂
Feature photo original by MOHD AZRIN on Unsplash and modified by author.
References:
- Peace Corps FAQ
- Connect with a PC Recruiter
- PC Volunteer openings
- Peace Corps application FAQ
- Medical information for PC applicants
- Reddit r/peacecorps FAQ
- Peace Corps – Wikipedia.org
- Peace Corps – Britannica.com
- Peace Corps FAQ – University of Vermont
- Peace Corps FAQ – Rutgers
- Peace Corps Volunteer FAQ
- FAQ – Peace Corps in Paradise
- Things to know before joining the Peace Corps
