Our frequently asked questions

You do not need a college degree to serve. If you don’t have a high school diploma, you may still be eligible to serve.

We are committed to the idea that everyone can serve. AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors programs are an opportunity to learn about our differences while working toward a common goal. We strive to create an inclusive environment and offer reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities.

Yes, all members must pass an initial drug screening test upon arrival to the program. The drug screen covers several different substances, including marijuana. Keep in mind that, while it may be legal to possess marijuana in some states, it is still considered illegal according to federal law. As AmeriCorps NCCC is a federal program, all Corps Members and staff are expected to comply with federal law. A positive test on a drug screen for any substance (including marijuana) at any time during service, will result in dismissal from the program, so please plan accordingly.

Please check the AmeriCorps NCCC join page for up-to-date application and service cycles.

Yes, however, applicants must provide AmeriCorps NCCC their legal name in order to process an applicant’s background check. In the case that a member’s preferred name and legal name differ, AmeriCorps NCCC provides a preferred name box for the member to use. Throughout the application process applicants may be referred to by their legal name, unless it is specially requested of us not to. Members will be free to use their self-selected name while serving.

AmeriCorps NCCC is a program with few barriers, and we accept members with a diverse range of skills and experiences. While skills, work experience, and volunteer experience are factors we consider in an application, we strongly value people who are highly motivated to serve and who have strong references that believe an application would be a good fit for the program.  Individuals applying to serve as a Team Leader are also assessed based on their demonstrated leadership experienced and motivations to serve as a leader.

Each team is provided a 15-passenger van for team travel throughout the service term. Although the van is primarily used for project-related travel, there is flexibility built in to account for day-to-day living, such as going to the grocery store, medical appointments, and leisure activities. If you wish to drive the van, you must be certified by campus staff.  This involves attending a driver’s class and passing a driver’s test so that campus staff can evaluate your knowledge and ability to drive safely.

Members are covered by the AmeriCorps NCCC Healthcare Benefits Plan through the First Health Network, which is administered by the International Medical Group (IMG). The plan is available to members at no cost and covers most non-routine medical services, limited preventative care visits (e.g. an annual ob-gyn visits for women), medical emergencies, surgical and hospitalization expenses and certain prescription drug costs. The AmeriCorps NCCC Healthcare Benefits Plan is not insurance, but rather a basic health benefit package, and will not satisfy the individual responsibility requirement of the ACA. The plan does not cover pre-existing conditions or routine dental care. For more information, see AmeriCorps NCCC Health Benefit Plan.

AmeriCorps NCCC Members are assigned to several projects per year. Although members will be based out of one of our campuses, they travel to serve at projects all over the country. In AmeriCorps NCCC’s Traditional Corps program, members will typically be assigned projects within select states, barring an extreme need: Pacific Region (Sacramento, CA): Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and the Pacific Territories. North Central Region (Vinton, IA): Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Southern Region (Vicksburg, MS): Alabama, Connecticut, Washington DC, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, The US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Southwest Region (Aurora, CO): Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Missouri, New Mexico, Arizona, Kansas, Arkansas, and Wyoming. Members of the AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA Corps program (based out of the Pacific Region and Southern Region only) are assigned to projects nation-wide.

Living accommodations vary from campus to campus and from project site to project site. Generally, teams share a kitchen, dining areas and communal spaces. While on campus, you will be assigned to a room, usually with one or two roommates.  Room assignments and bathroom facilities are not co-ed. You can learn more about each of our four campuses here. While at the project site, you will likely share a room and a bathroom with your teammates. Traditional Teams may share a house, a tent, a church, an extended stay hotel or even another NCCC campus while FEMA teams typically share hotel rooms.