Teach English Japan Cost

CIR vs ALT: what is the difference on JET?

Last checked: 2026-11-06

An ALT assists language classes in schools, while a CIR works in a local government office on international exchange and needs strong Japanese. Pay before tax is the same. ALTs are over 90 percent of participants, and CIRs are under 10 percent.

CIR and ALT compared

ALTCIR
Full nameAssistant Language TeacherCoordinator for International Relations
Share of JETsOver 90 percentUnder 10 percent
WorkplaceMainly boards of education and elementary, junior high and senior high schoolsAdministrative offices of local authorities or related groups
Main workAssist language classes, prepare materials, help with clubs and speech contests, and join local exchangeTranslate publications, plan exchange programs, teach language to staff and residents, and support foreign residents
Japanese neededNot mandatory, the UK embassy saysSemi-advanced to advanced. Singapore's guidelines say equal to JLPT N1 or N2. The UK embassy says you need not have passed the test, but your level should be enough to pass it.
Pay before taxSame. The JET FAQ says it does not depend on job type. See JET pay.
Immigration statusInstructorEngineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services
DegreeBachelor's degree, or a 3-year teacher training certificateBachelor's degree
Early arrival in the US cycleMay 22, 2027April 10, 2027

Duties depend on your contracting organisation, so these lists show typical work, not a promise. The third position, SEA, is for sports coaches and is not part of the yearly cycle.

Can you apply for both?

No. JET Program USA says you can apply for only one at a time, and you must not send more than one application. There is one fallback. A CIR applicant can tick a box to be considered as an ALT. This applies if there are more qualified CIR applicants than posts, you meet all CIR rules, and you have enough ALT-related experience.

How to choose: a simple rule

This is our own decision rule, built from the differences above.

If this describes youLook at
Your Japanese is below about JLPT N2ALT. CIR posts ask for a level you would need to reach first.
You want to work with children every dayALT
You have N1 or N2 level, and want office work, translation and eventsCIR, and consider ticking the ALT fallback if you qualify
You have strong Japanese, and want teaching experienceALT is still open to you
You are unsure of your Japanese levelTake a JLPT-style practice test before you apply. In Denver's process, CIR interviews include a Japanese language check.

Does a TEFL matter for CIR?

We found nothing that says a TEFL helps a CIR application. The JET rules on teaching qualifications are written around language teaching, and the 2027 ALT criteria mention them. See do you need a TEFL.

Next, read the application timeline, what official pages say about the JET interview, and the contract rules, which apply to both jobs.

How we checked: JET Program USA pages, the Singapore guidelines, the UK embassy page and the Denver interview page were opened directly on November 6, 2026. The JET Programme website showed a maintenance notice that day, so we read the JET FAQ through a search tool. Confirm each rule with your own embassy.

Sources