Accreditation by the Gap Year Association represents a commitment to the highest standards in safety, quality, and integrity. They have agreed to consistently abide by the Standards of the Gap Year Association, which typically means that a student can count on an experience with the highest caliber of field leadership, the best degree of office support, and the highest standards of safety.
** This list of Accredited Organizations is being updated regularly. The following organizations represent those undergoing the application process, thus demonstrating their commitment to the highest standards in Gap Year Education. For peer-reviews, we have worked with www.gooverseas.com primarily, but because reviews are a critical part of the selection process, we wanted to provide more information of use and encourage looking at two other primary resources for program reviews: www.studyabroad101.com and www.teenlife.com. For more information, visit our Standards web page.
Currently Accredited GYA Members
The following organizations have been vetted by the strictest Gap Year Standards. The process involves both GYA staff and the powerful Board of Advisors to ensure the best in Gap Year education and the highest consistency in programming.
ARCC Gap Year
ARCC Gap semester programs that focus on living locally, working, learning and exploring in some of the greatest classrooms on earth. Designed with an academic fabric that complements each and every location, ARCC Gap programs highlight regional issues that are directly linked to global challenges.
Amigos De Las Americas
Explore Amigos Program Details
AMIGOS offers semester and year-long Gap Programs in Ecuador and Uruguay focusing on cultural immersion and leadership experiences as well as a virtual gap option: the Civic Action Gap Semester, a partnership with Tufts University’s Tisch College of Civic Life. Civic Action Gap Semester participants explore social change across the Americas, make an impact through a civic volunteership, engage with their community, and earn college credit. On Latin American programs, students intern with a local organization and live with a host family for the entire stay, immersing in local community and learning. Students synthesize their experiences with AMIGOS by implementing a sustainable service project, embarking on local excursions, and meeting other travelers.
BroadFutures
Explore BroadFutures Program Details
BroadFutures is a workforce development program dedicated to working with young people who have learning disabilities (LD) and/or attentional issues. Operating out of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, the mission is to enhance the inherent potential of young adults with LD in the workforce through partnerships that foster independence, self-advocacy and successful employment. Students combine training with mentoring and paid internships focusing on professionalism, communication, and stress tolerance. Students are exposed to the arts, yoga, and mindfulness to deliver and reinforce the curriculum. Peer mentors and coaches are engaged to support interns in goal setting and strategy development and to serve as liaisons between interns, employers, and BroadFutures.
Carpe Diem Education
Focusing on experiential education, community, and intercultural exchange, students can choose either a three-month or year-long gap year adventure with Carpe Diem Education. Offering three-month semester programs in Spain & Morocco, India, Southeast Asia, East Africa, Ecuador & Peru, Central America, South Pacific, and Cuba. Students can extend their learning journey on Carpe Diem's year-long Latitudes program by choosing a group semester in the Fall, followed by a three-month focused volunteer placement in the Spring. College credit and financial aid are available from Portland State University on all semester and year-long experiences.
CIEE
Founded in 1947, CIEE offers gap year abroad programs in more than 15 global destinations. Programs can last from a single semester to a full academic year and focus on either language learning, service, or an internship. $100,000 in scholarships are available each year.
Gap at Glen Brook
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An experiential, place-based semester located in New Hampshire and focused on teaching skills to craft a hand-made life. Gap at Glen Brook takes place in local forests, fields, and farms, all in view of Mt. Monadnock—a fine classroom for learning the breadth and depth of your consequence, and for apprenticing in the art of responsibility. Students engage their bodies, hands, and minds while stewarding cultivated and wild land, building naturalist and expedition skills, and practicing the alchemy of cooking. Radical and courageous personal development underscores the core questions of a gap year: What is worth striving for? What is necessary for an authentic life? What does it mean to be an adult? Programs in the spring and fall.
Global Citizen Year
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10 month facilitated Gap Year program focused on International Development, apprenticeships, and language-learning. Applications close in May of each year to start in August.
High Mountain Institute
Traveling through Patagonia and the American West, students embark on a journey that emphasizes developing outdoor skills, leadership, and environmental awareness. With options to choose a rock climbing or wilderness travel focus, students explore these rugged landscapes, investigate critical environmental issues, and gain experience as environmental stewards. Through living and traveling with a small group of peers and instructors, students focus on practicing leadership and the ability to work effectively in a team.
NOLS -
National Outdoor Leadership School
The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) is the leader in wilderness education. Whether through field-based courses or classroom-based courses, NOLS offers a focus on leadership and outdoors skills in some of the most awe-inspiring locations in the world. Emerge an active leader with lifelong skills.
Omprakash (EdGE)
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Omprakash Education through Global Engagement (EdGE): Gap Year opportunities to volunteer with 180+ vetted grassroots social impact organizations in 40+ countries around the globe. Omprakash does not sell volunteer or internship ‘placements’; instead, volunteers will be able to connect directly with host organizations and will not pay a fee to volunteer. Omprakash Partners offer individual programs with customizable departure dates, and lengths of stay ranging from 3-12 months. Omprakash EdGE (Education for Global Engagement) is a purposeful online training and mentorship program designed to increase students' learning, engagement, and overall impact before, during and after their time abroad. Grants and scholarships are available to offset the cost of EdGE tuition and subsidize the costs of travel and living abroad.
Outward Bound
Featuring 3 month and shorter Gap Year courses. For over 50 years Outward Bound has been a premier provider of experiential and outdoor education programs for youth and adults. Outward Bound offers courses in some of the most spectacular and inspiring settings in the United States and in Central and South America, successfully preparing students to confront the challenges they face today with self-confidence, tenacity and compassion.
Pacific Discovery
Pacific Discovery offers semester and Gap Year programs abroad since 2001. Programs are overland journeys combining authentic immersion, meaningful service, and wilderness adventure - fostering empathy for other cultures, ethical and sustainable travel practices, and awareness of international issues. Students leave with a deepened sense of their identity, passion, and purpose. Programs are a 10 week journey with an optional 3-week independent extension to apply newly developed travel skills. Programs in New Zealand, Australia, Southeast Asia, South America, Central America, Cuba, Galapagos Islands, India, Nepal, Tibet, China. Fall, Spring, and Summer departures can be taken consecutively for an in-depth and transformative Gap Year experience. Scholarships and academic credit options available.
Raleigh International Expeditions
Explore Raleigh Program Details
Raleigh Expedition is an international volunteering program delivered by the youth-driven development charity, Raleigh International. Raleigh Expedition engages volunteers in creating long lasting change on community, environmental and adventure leadership projects. These projects help tackle environmental issues, access to education for all, and alleviate poverty. All Raleigh's work contributes towards the sustainable development goals, starting with developing the skills of young people, working with rural communities on meaningful projects, and inspiring young people to continue to make the world a better place. The program runs throughout the year in Costa Rica, Nepal and Tanzania
Irish Gap Year
Irish Gap Year provides semester length, community based, gap year programs in the Northwest of Ireland, internship programs in both Dublin and the Northwest and expeditionary programs across Europe. Students focus on personal development using core values of community, outdoor adventure, service and immersion in Irish culture.
The Leap
Explore The Leap Program Details
Overland service and adventure programs departing every semester with shorter summer options. These programs include a mix of different project and adventure phases to keep students challenged and motivated travelling around a country as part of a Leap team of volunteers who join together from all over the world. The Leap hires local leaders to avoid the tourist trail while contributing to communities who are trying to improve the quality of their lives. As well, The Leap also offers career-focused internships in medical, law or business. All volunteers/families are appointed their own Leap gap advisor who will make sure they are fully briefed and prepared pre-departure and the families are kept up to date with their progress while they are away. Programs are available across Africa, Asia and South America.
Where There Be Dragons
Explore Dragons Program Details
3 month Gap Year programs in China, Tibetan Himalayas, Southeast Asia, South America, West Africa, Indonesia, Central America, and the Middle East. Fall and Spring departures.
Warriors Academy
Warriors Academy offers 4 quests of 7 weeks each, starting in February and ending in October. With a focus on experiential education and personal development short-courses, throughout South Africa, Mozambique, and Swaziland. Each Quest is a stand-alone program and participants can choose the combination that suits their individual agenda. Quests are a blend of flagship activities, and a wide range of supportive tasks, ensuring a dynamic and adventurous experience delivered by highly qualified facilitators.
Youth International
Established in 1997, Youth International offers experiential learning programs that combine cultural exchange, home stays with local families, volunteer community service work, rugged international travel, and outdoor expeditions. During the fall semester, YI organizes three multi-country trips: South America (Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador), Asia (Nepal, India, and Thailand), and Africa & Near East (Kenya, Egypt, and Jordan). In the spring, there is a short intensive program in Nepal. Participants are immersed in a first-hand education about the cultures of the region, encouraging cross-cultural understanding and self-discovery.