J-1 Academic Training

• Student is in good academic standing or have successfully completed their program of study
• Student has an offer to participate in Academic Training that is directly related to their program of study
• Student has applied for and received authorization from the ISS office prior to beginning work
• Student may only work part-time if Academic Training is taking place during their program of study (full-time during any school breaks)
• Pre-completion Academic Training may be paid or unpaid
• Post-completion Academic Training should be paid, with few exceptions

Self employment is not permitted on Academic Training

• Undergraduate, non-degree and Masters programs: length of program up to 18 months
• Doctorate programs: up to 36 months with proof of degree completion.
• Post-Completion Academic Training must begin within 30 days of the end date listed on the DS-2019. 

STEM fields: length of program up to 18 months with the possibility of extension, this is only for J-1 students who are currently on Post-Completion Academic Training and in a STEM program

Apply at least two weeks before the end date listed on your DS-2019 to give yourself, advisors and ISS enough time to process and authorize your request.

• • Receive a practical training offer related to your program of study
  • Complete the Academic Training request in Terra Dotta
    • Academic and employer verifications
    • Enrollment verification
    • All required questionnaires
  • For paid employment: students will need a U.S. social security number
• J-1 students participating in Post-Completion Academic Training must continue to maintain all health insurance requirements by either purchasing SHIP for the length of their stay in the U.S. Willfully failing to maintain health insurance for the duration of time in the U.S. is a violation of legal status and will result in the termination of the DS-2019 SEVIS record. 

22 CFR 62.27(c) 

The only J-1 category able to have direct patient contact is the Alien Physician category. The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) is the only entity authorized by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) to sponsor these physicians.   

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) uses the terms direct ‘patient care’ and ‘patient contact’ interchangeably. Therefore, anything involving patient contact and/or patient care is considered clinical and is forbidden under the J-1 program. 

‘Patient contact’ is any physical or psychological interaction with a person that could affect their health and/or overall well-being. The person does not need to be a patient in the traditional sense. A few examples of patient contact that are considered clinical are: attaching EEGs to someone, drawing blood, performing an X-ray on a living being, dentistry, psychological interviews for study or diagnosis, and so forth.   

DOS does not differentiate between contact with traditional patients or volunteer research subjects. Both are considered patients. 

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), “clinical research is medical research that involves people to test new treatments and therapies.”    

Humans and animals are both considered patients by the U.S. Department of State. Veterinary care and veterinary clinical research for animals are considered clinical activities and are therefore not allowed on the J-1 program. 

Not All animals are automatically considered patients. 

Lab animals or animal models, whose sole purpose for existence is for research, are not considered patients by DOS. Therefore, any work with lab animals/animal models is allowed on the J-1 program.   

Pure observation is not considered a clinical activity and would be allowed in J-1 status. However, the J-1 must be truly only observing—they cannot interact with a patient in any way. The activity is no longer observation the moment a doctor hands the J-1 a scalpel to hold, asks the J-1 to check someone’s blood pressure, etc.  

If an Academic Training opportunity or degree program requires a J-1 student to be in clinical settings, ISS may require additional acknowledgement of the clinical restrictions.

This acknowledgement is for the student, their program representative and/or Academic Training supervisor to understand the clinical restrictions for J-1 students per the U.S. Department of State (DOS).

Clinical Activity Acknowledgement

Please contact ISS with any questions, or for additional information.  

How can I complete internships that are involved in the medical field? 

J-1 Students can be in a clinical setting, they just cannot have direct hands-on activity. Students can observe and shadow others in clinical settings, but they cannot in any way be responsible for a patient. For example, a J-1 can witness a patient getting their blood pressure taken, but the J-1 cannot help or provide a diagnosis to the patient.  

Does vet medicine count as patient contact? 

DOS views animals as patients, with the exception of lab animals and animal models. Meaning, lab work and research done with the use of animals is permitted for J-1 Students. Situations where a J-1 Student would be involved in providing lifesaving or preserving care for an animal would be considered clinical activity, and consequently inappropriate activity for a J-1 Student 

Does therapy count as patient contact? 

Providing therapy of any kind is patient contact. J-1 Students cannot be responsible for a patient’s wellbeing, both mentally and physically. Again, a J-1 Student can observe others performing or facilitating a therapy session, but the J-1 Student cannot actively participate.  

Does lab research count as clinical activity?  

A J-1 may do research involving data that has been collected from someone else’s clinical research. For example, if a host supervisor recently started a study involving checking heart rates during and after exercise, a J-1 may use the data from that study to help draw conclusions. However, the J-1 cannot be the one collecting the heart rates from the patients. That would be a clinical activity. 

What can I do if my degree program requires direct patient contact?  

Each situation may be different. Please reach out to ISS to discuss your options.  

As of July 1, 2023, students may work up to 40% (e.g., 2 out of 5 days a week) remote.

Students may work for more than one employer but all must be related to major and the cumulative hours may not exceed any requirements during program of study (20 hours, except during school breaks or on post-completion)

If you work on-campus while participating in pre-completion Academic Training, the total number of hours worked each week cannot exceed 20, except during school breaks.

Multiple consecutive employers. Students may change employers, but must get authorization prior to beginning a new position. Repeat the application process in Terra Dotta. Engaging in any kind of employment without authorization is a violation of legal status.