Consulate-General of Japan in Houston

在ヒューストン日本国総領事館
Culture
and Education
JET Program

Eligibility Criteria

  • Both CIR and ALT applicants must:
    Be interested in Japan and be ready to deepen their knowledge and appreciation of their interest after arrival.
  • Be both mentally and physically healthy.
  • Have the ability to adapt to living and office conditions that could be significantly different from those experienced in the applicant's home country.
  • Obey all Japanese laws.
  • Be a citizen of the United States by the application dead line. If you are a permanent resident of the U.S. (meaning you live in the US but do not possess US citizenship) then you are not eligible to apply for the JET Program using this application. Please contact the Embassy of Japan in your home country to request an application. Those who possess and maintain dual citizenship with Japan and the US will become ineligible for the program unless they renounce their Japanese citizenship by July 1, 2010. If an applicant has dual citizenship in two countries (neither of which is Japan) and both of these countries participate in the JET Program, the applicant may only apply as a citizen of ONE of those countries.
  • In principle, be under the age of forty (40) as of April 1, 2010. The reason for this age limit is that one of the main purposes of the program is to foster ties between Japanese youth and young professionals from the countries participating in the JET Program.
  • Have excellent English pronunciation, rhythm, intonation and voice projection skills in addition to other standard language skills such as good writing skills and correct grammar usage.
  • Not have been a former participant on the program in the last 3 years. (Former JETs, who completed their contracts in the summer of 2007 or before, are eligible to reapply for the JET Program beginning with the 2010 JET Program. Those, who began their contracts in the summer of 2007 or later, are not yet eligible to reapply for the program).
  • Not have declined a position with the JET Program in the last program year after receiving notification of placement. However, exceptions to this rule may be made in cases where it is determined that the participant had a valid, unavoidable reason for withdrawing.
  • Not have lived in Japan for six or more years during the last 10 years.
  • Agree to reside in Japan under the status of residence stipulated in Article 2-2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Act when entering Japan for the purpose of JET Program participation (this applies primarily to military personnel or their dependents stationed in Japan).

    There are no requirements for course of study (major) at university or college for either the CIR or ALT positions. For example, it is not a requirement for the ALT position to have a Bachelor's Degree in Education or English. All majors are welcome to apply provided applicants meet all other criteria mentioned in this application booklet pertaining to the position for which they are applying.

  • CIR applicants must (in addition to the above a. through k.):
  • Be motivated to participate in international exchange activities in the local community.
  • Hold at least a Bachelor's degree or obtain one by the month of your departure to Japan.
  • Have a functional command of the Japanese language. (Japanese language proficiency is necessary to function in a Japanese office environment. Language proficiency for CIR applicants should be at a semi-advanced or advanced level to be a successful CIR. Those applicants with intermediate language skills may find the position of CIR challenging.)
    • ALT applicants must (in addition to the above a. through k.):
  • Be interested in the Japanese education system and particularly in the Japanese way of teaching the English language.
  • Be interested in working actively with students.
  • Be those who already have qualifications as language teachers or who are motivated to learn about the teaching of foreign languages.

In general, Alts are not required to have Japanese language skills to participate in the JET Program. However, successful applicants for either the CIR or ALT positions are expected to make an effort to study or continue studying the Japanese language prior to and after arriving in Japan.