Educational Career Training (ECT) Program
J-1 Intern & Trainee Opportunities in U.S. Schools
The Educational Career Training (ECT) Program is a structured J-1 Intern and Trainee program in the USA designed for international university students, recent graduates, and early-career professionals who want to build experience in education and school settings.
Through this program, you can gain hands-on experience in U.S. K-12 schools, support teachers and students, and take part in meaningful cultural exchange while living in the United States.
Who is the ECT Program For?
The ECT Program is a good fit if you:
- Are considering a career in K-12 education and want real classroom experience before committing long-term.
- Want to explore roles such as teaching support, instructional aide, student services, or youth programs.
- Plan to work in schools or learning environments (public or private schools, early childhood centers, learning academies).
- Are interested in school leadership or educational management and want to see how U.S. schools operate day-to-day.
- Want experience supporting English learners, bilingual students, or multicultural school communities.
- Are interested in special education, inclusive learning, and student support services.
- Are studying education, psychology, child development, or related fields and want practical training in the USA.
- Want an international cultural exchange experience in a structured, professional school setting.
- Want to strengthen your CV/resume with U.S. educational experience that supports your long-term career goals.
- Would like to gain experience in school operations, administration, or student supervision roles.
Eligibility for the ECT J-1 Intern & Trainee Program
All standard J-1 Intern and J-1 Trainee program regulations apply. In addition, ECT focuses on applicants who meet the criteria below.
1. Academic or Professional Background
You should fall into at least one of these categories:
- Current university student studying education, child development, psychology, school counseling, educational management, special education, sciences, or another field related to education and/or school administration.
- Recent graduate (within the last 12 months) from one of these fields.
- Early-career professional with at least 1 year of experience working with children, youth programs, tutoring, education support, or related roles.
2. English Proficiency
You must have enough English to:
- Communicate clearly in a school environment.
- Interact with teachers, students, and families.
- Follow safety rules, school policies, and training instructions.
3. Motivation for Education and Cultural Exchange
ECT participants are expected to:
- Be genuinely interested in supporting schools and learning environments.
- Contribute to classroom activities, student engagement, and daily school operations.
- Take part in cultural exchange events and help promote mutual understanding between your home country and the U.S.
4. Ability to Commit to the Full Training Period
- The program typically follows the U.S. school year and lasts 10-11 months, depending on the host school district calendar.
- You must be able to participate for the full duration of the training plan.
5. Ability to Support Yourself Financially
- Participants must show they can cover travel and living costs during the program.
- Most host schools provide a stipend of around USD $15 per hour for 32-40 hours per week. This can help with expenses but may not cover all living costs.
- You should have access to additional funds to pay for accommodation, food, transportation, and personal expenses during your stay in the USA.
Training Tracks
The Educational Career Training (ECT) Program offers two main training tracks that align with your background, interests, and future career plans.
A) Educational Support
B) School Operations Support
Each track provides supervised, hands-on training in real U.S. schools under the guidance of experienced educators and school staff.
A) Educational Support
Educational Support roles focus on helping teachers and students in the learning environment. As an ECT intern or trainee, you may:
- Assist teachers with classroom instruction and activities.
- Work with small groups of students or provide one-on-one support.
- Help prepare materials and organize the classroom or learning space.
- Support general education, special education, English learners, or enrichment programs (STEM, art, early childhood, etc.).
You should expect to spend most of your time in classrooms or learning areas, working directly with teachers and students as part of the instructional team.
B) School Operations & Support
School Operations & Support roles focus on the daily functioning and safety of the school campus. In this track, you may:
- Help with student supervision during arrival, dismissal, breaks, and transitions.
- Assist with hallway, playground, or cafeteria monitoring.
- Support office staff with basic administrative or front-desk tasks.
- Provide general campus support to help keep school routines running smoothly.
You should expect to work in different areas of the campus and support multiple teams, depending on daily needs.
Program Flexibility
Because the purpose of the ECT J-1 Intern and Trainee program is to give you experience in a variety of school roles, your individual training plan may combine duties from both tracks.
Participants should be flexible and ready to:
- Take on different responsibilities within the school.
- Support multiple classrooms, grade levels, or school teams.
- Learn from a range of professional experiences as part of their overall development.
Application Timeline
Application Window
U.S. school districts begin selecting interns and trainees as early as February and typically continue hiring through May.
Applicants who complete their steps early have a better chance of placement and an on-time program start.
To be considered ready for school interviews, you must:
- Create your MyGEC account and complete the online application forms.
- Pay the initial application fee.
- Upload all required documents.
- Complete an interview with GEC.
Program Dates
- Program Start: August 1-15
- Program End: June 1-15
Participants are expected to:
- Begin training no later than the first week of August, and
- Ideally arrive in the last week of July to complete orientation and prepare for school opening.
Application Period
Applications Open: September 1
- You may start your application for the following school year.
- Early applicants have more options and a higher chance of matching with preferred schools.
Application Deadline: March 30
- All documents, application forms, and initial screenings must be completed by this date.
- Applications submitted after March 30 may not allow enough time for placement and J-1 visa