We are registered and headquartered in the United States, with offices around the world led by our Senior Associates, all former international educators and leaders. Together we support educators and schools in more than 125 countries. Search Associates was founded in 1990 by John F. Magagna, an experienced international school leader, and remains family led today under his daughter, Jessica Magagna, who serves as our CEO. Read the full story on our Our Story page.

Because membership puts you in direct contact with more than 750 vetted international schools, backed by a trusted network, real tools, and a Senior Associate and their team working for you every step of the way. You get access to thousands of positions in our database, updated constantly, visibility to hiring administrators actively searching for educators like you, and an invitation to one of our respected job fairs, if you choose to attend.

More than 750 member schools across 125+ countries, with thousands of screened educators active in our database at any given time. Since 1990, member schools have hired more than 50,000 educators through us.

No, we don’t place or assign you anywhere, we connect you. Once you’re a member, you have access to our platform, where every open vacancy from our network is visible to you. You can read through school profiles covering everything from culture and curriculum to salary and benefits, search by location, subject, and grade level, and apply directly to the openings that genuinely interest you. Recruiters are searching that same platform for candidates like you, so you may also hear from a school before you ever apply. You’re also welcome to connect with schools in person at one of our job fairs. Wherever an opportunity comes from, the offer still comes down to the overall strength of your profile, how you interview, and the fit a school is looking for.

Start with our online application, where you’ll build your profile, work history, curriculum experience, a short bio, supporting documents like your certifications, qualifications, and background check, and a short set of screening questions visible only to your Associate. We run a preliminary review from there to confirm you meet our basic standards for membership. Once you clear that step, you’ll sign our candidate agreement and secure a minimum of four confidential references from school leadership, at the assistant principal level or above, or the equivalent in your school’s structure, who directly supervised your work. References are submitted through forms we developed and sent to us electronically. From there, your Senior Associate and team review your complete file, real people, no algorithms, no shortcuts. If we can accept you, we’ll follow up with an invoice to activate your membership, and from there, you’re ready to start your search.

When you click Get Started to begin the process, you’ll go through a few quick steps designed to connect you with the right Senior Associate and team for your search, so you’re never navigating this alone. Educators in the US, UK/Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia are matched with the Senior Associate who manages that state, region, or territory. If you fall outside those locations, we’ll ask which job fair you most want to attend and match you with that fair’s organizer directly. Keep in mind, expressing interest in a fair doesn’t guarantee an invitation, see our Job Fairs section for more details. If you’re not interested in attending any job fair, you can select your own Senior Associate. Once you have dashboard access, you can reach your Senior Associate and their team any time you need help or have a question, while you’re completing your requirements, once you’re active and searching, and even after you’ve accepted a position.

It depends on how quickly you can meet our screening requirements and how quickly your chosen referees submit their reference forms. If you have your information ready, the application itself takes about 30 minutes, and you can save it and pick back up whenever works for you, there’s no need to rush through it. References are usually what take longer, some come back within days, others take a few weeks. If you’re aiming for an early job fair, it’s worth starting well before the date, but wherever you are in the process, your Senior Associate and team members are there to help keep things moving.

There’s no deadline, you can register with us any day of the year. That said, many international schools begin hiring up to a year before the academic year starts, with peak hiring season running October through February. If you want to take full advantage of that window, we recommend applying well before it begins. Registering early means you’re active and visible in our database right as schools start posting their openings for the following school year.

No. We work with a limited number of schools by choice, and their hiring standards can be high, so every application is reviewed against what those schools generally look for in a candidate. Before accepting you as a member, we want to be confident we can actually support your search, because this works both ways. We need to be the right organization to help you, just as much as you need to meet what our member schools are looking for.

Many educators search as a couple, and we treat that as a real asset. Each of you completes a separate application and goes through our screening process individually, including your own set of references, so you’re each evaluated on your own merits. Once you’re both accepted, we link your profiles together, so a school reviewing either one of you can see you’re a couple and access both profiles directly. A teaching couple isn’t activated as a couple until both of you are accepted individually. Each of you also pays the standard membership fee, there’s no separate rate for couples.

Membership runs for one year from the date you’re activated, or until you accept a position, whichever comes first. You’re welcome to pause your own search at any point, but your one-year membership clock keeps running regardless. If you don’t find a position within that year, you can renew for an additional year. Because membership is meant for educators who are seriously and actively pursuing a job, not browsing, we ask that you only register when you’re genuinely ready to commit to a job search. See our Pricing section for full details.

All schools require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, in your home country. Teaching credentials or qualifications, or their equivalent, are required by a large number of our member schools, though a few may not require this if the candidate is an experienced educator. Certification or qualification requirements can flex for candidates in high-demand specialist areas, like science, math, or the arts, and some schools will consider newly qualified teachers as well. International teaching experience is another preference for some schools, but not having it shouldn’t stop you from moving forward.

A bachelor’s degree is required, though many leadership candidates hold a master’s or doctorate, especially for Head of School roles, where advanced degrees are viewed favorably. Schools also look for meaningful experience in an educational leadership role relevant to the position you’re seeking, current experience in the area you’re applying for makes you a stronger, more competitive candidate.

Not necessarily. Search Associates doesn’t require a completed teaching certification or qualification to become a member, it’s one part of the full profile we consider when reviewing your application, not a strict requirement on its own. If you have classroom teaching experience, especially in a high-demand specialty, and can show you’re actively working toward a recognized certification or qualification, that strengthens your file. Just know that without a completed certification or qualification, some schools won’t be able to consider you, which does narrow your options, but that shouldn’t stop you from applying with us. We’d rather you go into your search with a clear, honest picture of what to expect.

Yes. Alongside classroom teachers, we work with counselors, librarians, and other academic support staff, and in some cases, experienced business managers with a background in school operations. If your role supports a school’s academic mission, it’s worth reaching out to see if you’re a fit.

Yes, most if not all schools will require one as part of the hiring process. We strongly recommend getting this done ahead of time and uploading it to your profile. Having current checks on file helps open up more opportunities, since you’re ready to move quickly when a school is interested.

They can. Some countries have visa rules that limit which nationalities a school can sponsor, so certain schools may only be able to hire candidates holding specific passports. This varies widely by location and isn’t something Search Associates controls, but each school’s profile notes its visa requirements so you know before you apply.

Search Associates doesn’t discriminate based on age. That said, some countries impose age limits on work visas, and those limits vary by location. Each school’s profile lists any age restrictions that apply where it’s located, so you can see this clearly as you search.

It can. International schools take on real costs when hiring educators from abroad, flights, relocation, and housing among them, and those costs tend to rise with the number of accompanying dependents. That can mean fewer options at some schools, particularly for larger families relocating together. It doesn’t rule you out, though, plenty of educators with partners and children build strong careers abroad, and there are schools well-equipped to support larger families. Knowing this going in just helps you set realistic expectations for your search.

Two years is the norm for teaching contracts. Schools invest considerable time and expense in bringing educators from abroad, so they’re looking for people ready to commit to that timeline. Occasionally a school will offer something shorter, but two years remains standard.

Choosing to teach at a school you may never have set foot in takes real trust, and we don’t take that lightly. Every school that wants to join our network starts with a detailed application covering its history, mission, leadership, programs, faculty, and compensation and benefits, followed by a supplementary questionnaire that goes deeper. From there, we gather professional references and confidential references from educators currently working at the school, because hearing directly from teachers on the ground tells us something an application alone can’t. Everything we gather is reviewed as a whole by our senior team before a school is ever accepted. There are no shortcuts and no automated filtering here, real people review every school, every time, so when you see a school in our network, you know it earned its place. See our Our Vetting Process page for the full story.

Because your life abroad depends on more than the paycheck, we look closely at how a school treats its educators, weighing factors like: salaries and benefits comparable to other reputable international schools, housing or a housing allowance, return flights or a travel allowance, health insurance, annual or biennial home leave, a supportive professional work environment, accreditation or membership with a recognized international accreditation body, and experience onboarding staff from overseas. No single factor decides it alone, we look at the whole picture before a school ever joins our network.

No, and that’s by design. Every school goes through the same thorough review, and a meaningful number are declined every year. Some aren’t the right fit yet, others aren’t at a stage where we can confidently recommend them to educators. Having the largest school network has never been our goal. Having one educators can trust is.

Schools change, so our attention doesn’t stop at acceptance. Every member school verifies and updates its information every year, because leadership changes and conditions evolve over time, and that annual check keeps your picture of any school current and reliable.

Yes. Between travel, consulting engagements, and international conferences happening around the world, our team, Senior Associates and consultants alike, ends up visiting member schools throughout the year. When we get the chance to visit a school, we take it, talking with educators and school leadership, and getting a firsthand feel for the school itself. That depth of understanding is something no application or questionnaire can provide.

We take that seriously. In rare cases where a school no longer meets the standards of membership, we may suspend that school from our network while we work through it.

Yes. Our vetting gives you a solid, thoroughly reviewed starting point, but talking with current staff, reviewing your contract carefully, and confirming details like visa requirements and classroom expectations is exactly what you should do next. We do the vetting so you’re never starting from zero, the final decision, and the diligence behind it, is yours.

No. We never ask for payment to apply for membership. From the moment you start your application, your Associate and their team guide you, support you through every requirement, and give everything you submit a full review, all free of charge. Only if you’re accepted as a member do we send an invoice. We do the work of screening you upfront, at no cost, because we believe that’s the right way to do it.

Yes. New members pay $100 for a full year of membership, which includes attendance at one job fair if you choose to go, full access to our database of vetted schools, and a Senior Associate and their team in your corner throughout your search. (UK-based candidates are not charged a registration fee.)

Sometimes a specific or narrow search takes more time to find the right fit, and that’s alright. You can renew your membership for a second year with ease, for $75. All we ask is that your information is accurate and up to date on your Search profile. Pretty simple.

Welcome back. If you were a member with us before and are re-registering later, your one year membership is $75 rather than $100, and still includes attendance at one job fair.

No. If you meet our criteria and are accepted as an intern candidate, you go through the same standard membership and screening process as every other educator, at no cost to you.

No, never. Any recruitment fee is paid by the school that hires you.

Once your account is active, the membership fee isn’t refundable, it covers a full year of access to our database, tools, and the support of your Senior Associate and their team, active from day one. We wouldn’t ask for that fee before you’re accepted as a member in the first place, but should that ever happen and we’re unable to accept you, we’d return it in full.

Your membership includes attendance at one job fair. If you’d like to attend more than one, there’s a $75 fee per additional in-person fair. Travel and accommodation costs are always your own.

All fees are quoted in US dollars.

Our job fairs bring together large numbers of screened educators and member schools in one place, giving you the chance to meet multiple schools and their leadership, face to face, interview back to back, and, for many educators, walk away with meaningful momentum, sometimes even an offer, within just a few days.

Yes, all of our job fairs are in-person events, held in cities around the world, typically over a weekend. Visit our Job Fair Schedule page for upcoming dates and locations.

Job fair attendance is by invitation, and only active members qualify. You can request an invitation directly from your dashboard, or reach out to the fair organizer. Because space is limited and our busiest fairs fill early, it’s worth becoming an active member well before the fair you’re hoping to attend.

No. Each fair has its own character, and organizers work to build the right mix of educators for that specific event, considering venue capacity, subject and grade level needs, and how competitive a candidate’s profile is likely to be there. If a fair isn’t the right fit for you, your Associate will recommend one where you have a stronger chance of success.

Every fair draws a different mix of schools and roles. Your Senior Associate knows the character of each fair and can help match you with the one that best fits your experience, subject area, and career goals. For more on what each fair looks like, visit our Job Fair Schedule page.

Not necessarily, though it can happen. Only commit to an offer when you’re sure, once you accept, both you and the school are expected to honor it. If a school pressures you and you’re not ready, it’s fair to ask for a couple of days to think it over. You’re not on your own in the room, Senior Associates and staff are on hand throughout every fair to help you navigate exactly these moments. We’ve got your back.

No. Our database is a great way to connect directly with schools and apply to open roles, and plenty of educators get hired this way. That said, if you want to significantly boost your chances of securing one or more interviews, nothing beats attending a job fair and getting in front of school leaders in person, where you can put a face to your name before a school ever opens your file.

Yes, and if anything, we recommend it even more strongly for educators new to this field. A job fair puts you in front of hiring schools, but it also gives you a real, firsthand look at what a career in international education can actually look like. You’ll meet other international educators, sit in on school presentations, talk directly with school leaders, and get in-person access to Senior Associates who have done this work themselves as international teachers and school leaders. A job fair isn’t just about landing a job, it’s a chance to learn and build a network that stays with you throughout your career.

This program is built for college seniors approaching graduation or recent graduates within two years of finishing their degree, who are transitioning directly from their studies into their first professional role. You don’t need two years of teaching experience, and formal certification isn’t required to apply, though it strengthens your candidacy. This program isn’t designed for mid-career professionals looking to transition into teaching, it’s specifically for educators at the very beginning of their journey.

Each internship is a one-year paid position at a school in our network, and every one includes a salary, housing, and airfare. Additional benefits vary by school and region, and no two programs look exactly alike, some include structured mentorship, others focus on hands-on classroom immersion. Either way, you’re not observing from the sidelines, you’re contributing and growing as a professional from day one. Visit our Teaching Internships page for the full picture.

Not always. Visa requirements vary by country and are tightening in many regions, so some schools can host interns without a certification or qualification, while others require one to be completed or in progress before a visa can be issued. We encourage you to pursue certification where possible, since it strengthens your candidacy and expands the number of schools open to you.

Most schools aren’t able to accommodate interns traveling with a partner or dependents, since intern benefit packages are built around a single participant. Because of that, this program tends to work best for candidates who can relocate independently.

It can, though it’s never guaranteed. Some educators are hired on as full teachers when a position opens at the school where they interned, and many who start as interns go on to build long careers in international education. If a long-term career in education is the goal, pursuing a teaching credential alongside your internship is a smart move.

Intern candidates go through our standard membership and screening process, including a review of your profile and references, at no cost. Reach out to our Intern Coordinator with any questions, or get started on your application now.

Yes. Alongside classroom teachers, counselors, and specialists, we accept senior leaders, principals, deputy heads, directors of technology, deans of students, athletic directors, early years principals, and similar roles, as members too. Wherever you are in your career, you go through the same thorough, rigorous screening to become a member. We don’t treat those applying for these roles any differently. If you’re pursuing a Head of School or Superintendent role specifically, that path works a little differently, see below.

Not necessarily. Head of School and Superintendent openings are only posted on our public Leadership Job Board, not in our member database, so if that’s the only kind of opportunity you’re pursuing, registering as a member won’t give you access to anything more. Visit the Leadership Job Board directly, where anyone can view postings and apply, member or not.

No. Leadership Job Board postings are open to anyone, member or not, since it’s public advertising space schools use to market a Head of School or senior leadership search widely. That said, if you’re seeking senior leadership roles beyond Head of School, we’d strongly recommend becoming a member. Membership gives you full access to our database, which includes many additional leadership openings and schools that don’t post publicly at all.

No. The Job Board reflects only a small slice of schools that choose to post publicly. Our network includes 750+ member schools, and the vast majority of their leadership openings are only visible to registered members in our database. If you want the full picture of what’s actually available, membership is how you see it.

Because getting this right matters. Asking for references from the people who directly supervised your work, encouraging a background check, and reviewing every application by hand instead of running it through an algorithm exist for one reason: to protect the students you’ll be working with. Our process reflects recommended practices in safer recruitment, as recommended by the International Task Force on Child Protection (ITFCP). It also means something for you. Schools trust the profiles that come through us because they know what stands behind them.

The same standard applies on the school side. Every school we accept is expected to meet the same child protection and safer recruitment expectations we hold educators to, and it’s part of what we look at before a school ever joins our network. For more on how we evaluate schools, see the School Vetting & Trust section earlier in this FAQ. For the fuller story on our child protection standards, visit our Child Protection page.

Yes. Educators in our network come from different countries, school systems, and professional backgrounds, and that range is deliberate. We want the international school community to reflect the world it serves, and welcoming educators from all corners of the globe is simply part of how we continue to build this network. Read more on our DEI Commitment page.

We want you to feel supported at every stage of your journey with us. If something ever feels off, whether you are in the process of becoming a member, at a job fair, or after you’ve started at a school, visit our Reporting Pathways for Candidate Concerns page to see the different ways to reach us and choose what feels right for your situation.