Last updated: 9/15/2025
EF HIGH SCHOOL EXCHANGE YEAR
EF Educational Foundation for Foreign Study, a non- profit corporation, doing business as EF High School Exchange Year is designated by the US Department of State to operate a J-1 student exchange program. The terms “we”, “us”, “our”, “EF”, “EF Exchange Year” and “EF HSEY” refer to EF High School Exchange Year.
All International Exchange Coordinators (IECs) must comply with the US Department of State Regulations governing the high school exchange program which can be found here: “Regulations”.
IECs are eligible to earn cash payments and non-cash rewards based on their level of engagement and activity with the program.
Compliant: the term used to indicate that a match between a student and host family has turned into a placement and all paperwork is complete in accordance with the program regulations. At this time, the student and host family/IEC may begin communication.
Final placement: when all paperwork is completely in compliance with the program regulations for a host family that intends to host a student for the duration of his or her exchange. At this time payment is issued to the IEC.
Welcome placement: when all paperwork is completely in compliance with the program regulations for a host family that agrees to host a student temporarily. Payment is not issued to the IEC until the student has a final placement.
Placement rewards
IECs are eligible for a placement reward as outlined for each final placement that is made for the January 2026 or Fall 2026 program. A placement reward is comprised of both a cash payout and 15 Reward Points. Placement rewards are contingent on the student arriving to the credited placement. EF reserves the right to withhold the sum of the placement fee if the placement is later canceled.
Placement fees by lead source
For placements where the IEC has identified and recruited the host family themselves, the base placement fee starts at $500. This fee increases incrementally based on how many placements an IEC makes. If a host family was identified through an effort made by the EF office, the placing IEC will receive $200 less per placement.
Hosting IECs
An IEC is eligible for cash payout and Reward Points for compliant final placements as outlined above unless the host family is also an IEC. In that instance, the hosting IEC receives 15 Reward Points and the supervising IEC receives a flat $200 placement fee.
Placement tiers
An IEC’s placement tier is solely determined by the number of compliant, final placements that an IEC has made in either of the above-mentioned categories at a given point in the placement season. The IEC’s own final and welcome family hosting status, as well as any welcome family they are overseeing, do not count towards the placement tier. Those students will count towards an IEC’s tier once the student is permanently placed outside of the IEC’s home.
Early placement bonus
Early placement bonuses for the 2026 3/5/7 incentive will be issued on a rolling basis beginning October 1, 2025. Bonuses are awarded in increments of $500 and apply only to finalized placements for January 2026 and Fall 2026. To qualify, student matches must be made by April 1, 2026, and finalized in compliance with all required documentation by the published deadlines. IECs must be under an active agreement with EF at the time the match is finalized in order to receive payment.
Platinum Placement Club
To qualify for PPC membership for the 2027 season, an IEC must:
Make ten (10) final student placements for Spring and/or Fall 2026.
Maintain 100% compliance with all required paperwork, facilitate high-quality placements, and provide exceptional support to students, host families, and schools.
Membership in the Platinum Placement Club (PPC) is evaluated and renewed annually based on the qualification criteria for the applicable placement year. Eligible PPC members receive enhanced placement fees and rewards, when applicable, during the 2027 placement year. Reward Points do not expire for active PPC members.
Referral rewards
Host family referrals - from IECs
IECs should submit host family referrals via the Hub (hub.ef.com) to be eligible for payment. The referral must be submitted before the final placement is compliant. The $500 referral payment is issued once the referred family has selected a student and all paperwork is finalized and compliant. To be eligible for the referral payment, the IEC may not supervise that host family.
Host family referrals - from anyone else
Any non-IEC should submit host family referrals via our public referral page to be eligible for payment (efexchangeyear.org/referral/hf-general). The referral must be submitted before the final placement is compliant. The $500 referral payment is issued once the family has selected a student and all paperwork is finalized and compliant.
IEC referrals - from IECs
IEC referrals must be submitted via the Hub (hub.ef.com) to be eligible for payment. The referral must be submitted before the IEC’s screening and onboarding process is complete. The $500 referral payment will be issued when the new IEC has made a compliant placement outside of their home.
Referring your host families to become IECs
If you refer one of your active, future or previous host families to become an IEC, you’ll continue to receive placement credit for any students they host, as long as you remain an active IEC, in a supervisory role and in good standing with the program. The host family who became an IEC will also receive placement credit for students they host going forward.
If you refer a non-EF host family to become an IEC and they end up hosting, only that new coordinator will receive placement credit for the students they host.
IEC referrals - from anyone else
Any non-IEC should submit IEC referrals via our public referral page to be eligible for payment (efexchangeyear.org/referral/IEC-general). The referral must be submitted before the IEC’s screening and onboarding process is complete. The $500 referral payment will be issued when the new IEC has made a compliant placement outside of their home.
Program quality rewards
Second visits
A one-time payment in the form of cash or Reward Points is issued upon the timely, compliant completion of a secondary visit to a host family who was initially screened by, or credited to, another IEC.
Student supervision
An IEC is eligible for $25 per month, per placement, for documented contact with the student and host family either over the phone or in-person. Payment is contingent on continued supervision and the timely submission of compliant monthly Exchange Updates. Payments are issued four times a year.
IECs who qualify for the Platinum Placement Club and have 10+ placements are eligible to partner with a supervising IEC to manage up to half of their supervision. Both the placing IEC and the supervising IEC receive $25 per month per placement for compliant Exchange Updates completed by the supervising IEC. Eligibility to have a supervising IEC is contingent on proper placement support and management, including consistent Exchange Update submission. All Exchange Update payments are processed four times a year.
Transition fees
Transition fees are intended to help offset the cost of emergency supplies and travel should a student lose their placement due to unforeseen circumstances. IECs will receive a $100 transition fee when taking a student in transition so long as the transition is not due to a planned displacement (e.g. host family vacation, welcome family time commitment expiring or similar). This fee renews a maximum of once after two weeks of temporarily caring for the student in the IEC’s home. This fee renews a maximum of once after two weeks.
New IEC home evaluation
A one-time payment of $50 or 10 Reward Points is issued to an IEC who is specifically assigned and completes a new IEC’s home evaluation as directed by the Compliance team in accordance with the provided terms and deadlines.
Orientations and preparation workshops
These fees are paid for conducting in-person orientations and preparation workshops. These must be conducted in a timely manner, and documentation submitted for this payout within 90 days of the orientation.
Reward Points redemption
You must have an active agreement with EF High School Exchange Year to redeem points. Merchandise point redemptions are available and will be based on the cost of the merchandise requested, plus applicable taxes and fees. Merchandise requests must be redeemed in full with points. Requests may be submitted at efexchangeyear.org/rewards.
Flight point redemptions will be based on the cost of the ticket, including applicable taxes and fees. While there are no blackout dates or gateway limitations on flight redemptions, it should be noted that travel during certain times will likely cost more. Travel requests must be submitted at least 30 days before the travel date to efexchangeyear.org/rewards. The first traveler must redeem the cost of their flight in full with points.
Reward Points may only be redeemed for current EF High School Exchange Year offerings and are not transferable for redemptions in other EF products.
Reward Points expiration
You have up to 90 days after earning your Reward Points to contact EF High School Exchange Year if you note any discrepancies with your account. When you earn Reward Points in a given placement season, you have until September of the following year to redeem those points. For example, the points you earn for a January and Fall 2026 placement must be redeemed by September 30, 2027. At that time, you may carry over up to 100 points to the following year. Reward Points are non-negotiable, non-transferable and have no cash value. You may not use cash to add to your Reward Point total. You may not pool your points with another IEC.
Travel and trip qualification
All events and travel arranged by EF High School Exchange Year are contingent on an IEC having an active agreement with EF High School Exchange Year at the time of both earning the reward and participating in the event.
National Conference qualification
The National Conference contains important information and attendees are encouraged, but not required to attend.
IECs: To be eligible for participation in the National Conference, an active, fully screened IEC must place two students in accordance with stated operational and timing requirements. At least one student must be placed outside of the IEC's home. One student can be placed in the IEC's home. The placement of four students, two of whom can be permanently hosted by the IEC, will earn a second spot for another active IEC. Welcome students must be permanently placed in a compliant finalized placement no later than November 1st, or by the published deadline (whichever is earlier) in order to count toward qualification. Qualified spots are non-transferable.
Supervising IECs: To be eligible for participation in the National Conference, an active, fully screened Supervising IEC must supervise four students in accordance with stated operational and timing requirements. The supervision of six students will earn a second spot for another active IEC.
* Accommodations provided are double occupancy with another qualified IEC
IEC Reward Trip qualification
In order to earn eligibility for one qualified spot on one of the IEC Reward Trips, an IEC must:
Make five (5) January and/or Fall 2026 final placements
Redeem a total of 400 points or pay $2,000
At five (5) placements, IECs can choose which IEC Reward Trip they'd like to go on. As an IEC places more than five (5) students, the cost for the Reward Trip, either in cash or Reward Points, goes down. IECs may pay with a combination of points and cash. For the Reward Trip, an IEC permanently hosting will receive credit for that placement instead of the supervising IEC. All placements and paperwork must be submitted by the published deadlines and no later than the final placement deadline set by EF for Fall 2026 placements.
*Accommodations provided are double occupancy with another qualified IEC.
Earning both IEC Reward Trips
In order to earn eligibility for both IEC Reward Trips, an IEC must:
Make ten (10) January and/or Fall 2026 final placements
Redeem a total of 400 points or pay $2,000 for a second spot on one destination or one spot to each destination.
IECs who make a total of fifteen (15) January and/or Fall 2026 final placements earn both trips at no additional cost (or two spots on the same trip at no additional cost)
IECs may pay with a combination of points and cash. As an IEC makes more than ten (10) student placements, the cost for the second spot on the Reward Trip, either in cash or Reward Points, goes down. An IEC permanently hosting will receive credit for that placement instead of the supervising IEC. IECs with fifteen (15) January and/or Fall 2026 final placements have the option to redeem two free spots on one IEC Reward Trip or select one free spot towards each destination. All placements and paperwork must be submitted by the published deadlines and no later than the final placement deadline set by EF for Fall 2026 placements.
Platinum Placement Club qualification
Platinum Placement Club members earn one free spot on the Reward Trip of their choosing upon reaching their 10th finalized placement. If a qualifying PPC member is unable to attend the trip, 100 Reward Points will be credited to their account in lieu of participation. PPC members who achieve fifteen (15) final placements and qualify for both IEC Reward Trips may choose to attend both trips at no cost or redeem two (2) free spots for one destination. If a qualifying member is unable to attend either trip, 150 Reward Points will be credited to their account. Additional terms and conditions will be provided directly to qualifying PPC members.
*Accommodations provided are double occupancy with another qualified IEC.
Guest attendance on Reward Trips
Guests are allowed to attend one or both IEC Reward Trips and do not need to be active IECs. A guest’s attendance on the Reward Trip will be based on availability, which may not be finalized until a month or two before the trip. For our Fall 2026 IEC Reward trip, availability may not be finalized until October 2026. For our Spring 2027 IEC Reward Trip, availability may not be finalized until February 2027.
Any guest in this category will be charged the full market price for the trip at the time of booking, plus applicable taxes and fees. IECs may pay for an approved guest using cash and/or Reward Points. While the amount is finalized in or around October 2026 or February 2027 (respectively), Reward Trips are estimated to be approximately $3,000 or 600 Reward Points for the trip. Payments or points must be received prior to the trip.
Discounts on EF Tours
Host families are eligible for a $500 discount for their children traveling on a EF Educational Tour. Host families must be in good standing and are currently hosting one exchange student in permanent status. If booking during the summer, then the family must have hosted during the previous school year or is hosting a student arriving in the upcoming fall. Host families hosting on a temporary basis (in transition or welcome status) are not eligible for the discount.
IECs that have an active agreement with EF High School Exchange Year are eligible for a 20% discount on EF tours. IECs may extend their discount to their spouse and children as follows:
Spouse & children can receive a discount with: EF Go Ahead Tours, EF Adventures, EF Language Abroad and EF Ultimate Break
Children can receive a discount with: EF Educational Tours, EF Explore America and EF Gap Year
IECs may not combine discounts or other promotional offers (inclusive of, but not limited to, Club Go, experience credits, referral credits, hosting credit, etc.). IECs (and/or spouses/children) who are traveling as a coordinator (or other chaperone duties) and are receiving a discounted rate are not eligible for the IEC discount. Group members on a Go Ahead Tour do not count as a full-paying traveler and thus would not count toward referral discounts or a Group Coordinator’s free place. Termination of service prior to travel, by either you or EF, may forfeit all discounts.
Termination of service
If your agreement with EF HSEY is terminated by you or EF, all Reward Points must be redeemed within 90 days, otherwise they are forfeited. Per the terms and conditions applicable to reward and meeting travel that require an IEC to be in active, good standing at the time of travel, termination of service by either you or EF forfeits all such trips.
Legal responsibilities
No warranties or representations apply to any products or travel rewards redeemed. EF is not responsible for any events including but not limited to personal injury, property damage, cancellations or loss of earnings from any event whatsoever. EF reserves the right to make changes to the rewards program and rewards website at any time and without notice, including but not limited to changes in point expiration policies. EF reserves the right to interpret and apply the policies and procedures communicated in the rewards program. All determinations by EF will be final and conclusive in each case. The information in this rewards program supersedes all previous publications.