CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

AmeriCorps NCCC Program Specific Questions AmeriCorps is closely monitoring the latest 

developments related to COVID-19. As America responds to the COVID-19 pandemic, you 

may have concerns about the potential impacts on your program. The below FAQs address

questions posed by the outbreak. Check back as they are updated regularly. 

These FAQs do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in 

any way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing 

requirements under the law or agency policies. You should refer to AmeriCorps’ statute and 

regulations for applicable requirements

AmeriCorps NCCC members with questions can review the FAQs below or contact their 

regional campus staff. Additional information is available by contacting the National 

Service Hotline at 1-800-942-2677, via webform, or LIVE CHAT. 

1. Does NCCC require members to be vaccinated for COVID-19?

AmeriCorps requires COVID-19 vaccinations for participants in the AmeriCorps NCCC 

program to maximize the health and safety of members, staff, program sponsors, and the 

communities we serve. This decision also aligns with President Biden’s sixpronged, comprehensive national strategy to combat the virus.

All incoming AmeriCorps NCCC members are required to be up to date on their COVID-19 

vaccinations or have an approved reasonable accommodation. The Centers for Disease 

Control (CDC) defines “up to date” as having received all doses of the primary series and one 

booster shot when eligible. If the CDC changes this definition to include additional booster 

shots, NCCC members will be required to get additional booster shots in order to stay “up to 

date.”

As part of the health clearance process, applicants will receive information about the 

disability related and religious accommodation process. Members with approved reasonable 

accommodations will be considered not fully vaccinated and will follow appropriate safety 

precautions. [Updated 7/15/2022]

2. Can a project sponsor receive proof of vaccination of the members serving at their 

project?

AmeriCorps NCCC cannot provide sponsors with proof of vaccination for the members 

serving at their project. AmeriCorps NCCC can, however, share whether the team is:

• All fully vaccinated
• A mix of fully and not fully vaccinated

• All boosted

• A mix of boosted and not boosted

Under no circumstances will AmeriCorps share any member’s individual vaccination or 

booster status with a project sponsor. [Updated 4/22/2022]

3. What measures is AmeriCorps taking to support the health and safety of NCCC 

members?

NCCC has developed protocols for social distancing, cleaning, housing, use of face 

coverings, and health screenings based on guidance from the CDC and other experts.

• All members are required to either be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an 

approved reasonable accommodation.

• Members with an approved reasonable accommodation will be considered to be not 

fully vaccinated and will follow specified safety guidelines.

• To ensure necessary social distancing, the NCCC program will utilize a large and 

dispersed campus facility with multiple training rooms to minimize interaction. 

• In training sessions where multiple teams participate, NCCC will use large training 

facilities to ensure adequate distance between members. 

• AmeriCorps will provide NCCC members with face coverings that meet CDC 

guidance. All members will wear face coverings when required by project sponsors, 

federal, state or local authorities, or businesses/organizations; when in public indoor 

settings in areas of high CDC's COVID-19 Community Level; or when NCCC 

leadership determines conditions warrant, unless a reasonable accommodation is 

granted. Not fully vaccinated members will receive additional information about their 

masking and distancing requirements.

• Routine health screenings will utilize regular temperature checks for everyone on 

campus. Any member with COVID-19 symptoms is required to disclose those 

symptoms to NCCC staff immediately. [Updated 3/18/2022]

4. When does AmeriCorps screen and test NCCC members for COVID-19?

As a preventative measure:

• Prior to arrival on all campuses, NCCC staff contact all candidates and use a 

questionnaire to screen for symptoms of COVID-19. 
• Upon arrival on campus all members, regardless of vaccination status, are tested for 

COVID-19 as a preventative measure, when tests are available. 

• After arrival on campus, NCCC staff screen members daily for COVID-19 symptoms 

as part of AmeriCorps’ strategy to provide a safe service environment.

When symptomatic: 

• Any members who report COVID-19 symptoms will be tested at a local testing facility.

When a member has had close contact* with someone that tested positive for COVID:

• If a member or candidate has been in close contact* with someone who tested 

positive for COVID-19, the member or candidate will be required to follow 

AmeriCorps protocols until they are cleared to return to service. Protocols include 

testing and daily health screenings; quarantine or isolation may be required based on 

the specific situation.

* Close contact is defined by the CDC as being within six feet of an individual for a cumulative 

total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. [Updated 10/15/2021]

5. What is the protocol if a member contracts COVID-19 during their term of service?

If a member presents with COVID-19 symptoms, the member will be isolated either on 

campus or at the service site pending testing. Rooms have been set aside for this purpose. 

NCCC staff will ensure the member is transported to a medical facility for a COVID-19 test, 

and the member will remain in isolation until the results of the test are obtained. If a member 

tests positive, and does not require hospitalization, they will be isolated for the duration of 

their illness. Members with negative test results will return to their prior housing. [updated 

7/16/2020]

6. How does AmeriCorps monitor transmission rates in the communities where NCCC 

members serve?

NCCC staff regularly review the CDC's COVID-19 Community Level to monitor transmission 

rates in each county where members serve, as well as national, state, and local health 

guidance to ensure awareness of the latest developments as we plan for projects and 

activities. NCCC leaders adjust plans depending on the situation, keeping member safety as 

the highest priority. [updated 3/18/2022] 
7. I need a reasonable accommodation to serve in AmeriCorps NCCC because of my 

medical history and COVID-19. What should I do?

AmeriCorps provides religious and disability-related reasonable accommodations to 

qualified individuals in accordance with federal law. Any NCCC member needing a 

reasonable accommodation should contact the AmeriCorps NCCC Health Unit 

at ncccimmunizations@cns.gov. [updated 10/15/2021]

8. Does AmeriCorps anticipate that project sponsors will need to meet any additional 

health and/or safety measures related to COVID-19?

Project sponsors will be expected to follow national, state, and local health and safety 

guidelines for COVID-19. The health and safety of NCCC members remains the highest 

priority. Specific questions regarding other health and safety guidelines related to NCCC 

projects should be directed to regional NCCC staff. [updated 3/18/2022]

9. The CARES Act increased the upper age limit for participation as an AmeriCorps 

NCCC member to 26 years old. What does this mean for applicants?

Under the CARES Act, Section 3514(d), the upper age limit for AmeriCorps NCCC members 

is 26. AmeriCorps NCCC applies the upper age limit at the time a member arrives on campus 

and is activated as a member. That means individuals must be on campus and activated as 

members for at least one day before turning 27. The 26-year upper age limit will remain in 

effect until further notice. If you are interested in applying, visit our website. [updated 

4/20/2020]

10. As part of my AmeriCorps NCCC application, I must submit fingerprints. How can I 

get my fingerprints done if I am unable to get to a fingerprinting location?

If you run into difficulty getting fingerprints, please contact your Selection and Placement 

assistant or email ANCCC@cns.govto discuss options. [updated 3/25/2020]

11. Will future AmeriCorps NCCC graduation events be hosted in person?

NCCC graduations will be streamed on Facebook to allow members to share their 

accomplishments with family and friends. NCCC will monitor federal, state, and local 

guidance as graduation dates approach to determine if we can allow families and friends to 

attend in person. Please continue to monitor the AmeriCorps website and NCCC 

communications for updates.[updated 10/15/2021]
12. Will I still qualify for interest accrual benefits if I was prevented from completing my 

full term of service due to COVID-19?

Members who have successfully completed a term of service in an AmeriCorps program are 

eligible to have the National Service Trust (Trust) pay up to 100 percent of the interest that 

accrued on their qualified student loan during their service. These are the conditions that 

apply:

• An interest payment can only be made after you have exited the program and have 

earned a full, partial, or pro-rated education award.

• The percentage of interest accrual benefit that you are eligible to receive is based 

upon your total service hours accrued, or the amount of time (in days) you were 

enrolled when you exited.

• If you qualify for additional hours/time under the CARES Act, such hours/time will be 

provided to the Trust and be considered “hours/time served.”

• The Trust will only pay interest on qualified student loans, as described on the Using 

Your Segal AmeriCorps Education Award web page. 

For AmeriCorps NCCC, if your graduation date was advanced and you were exited from the 

program earlier than planned due to COVID-19, the Trust will pay 100 percent of the interest 

that accrued on your qualified student loan for 1,700 hours of service. If you decided to exit 

the AmeriCorps NCCC program early and your exit was a resignation from the program, you 

are not eligible to have the Trust pay the interest that accrued. [updated 4/8/2020]

13. Will I still qualify for forbearance if my term of service is in a Suspended Status, or if 

I am in an Administrative Hold status or on emergency leave, due to COVID-19?

Per AmeriCorps regulations 45 CFR § 2529.20, your lender is responsible for approving or 

denying your forbearance request. AmeriCorps—the federal agency that oversees 

AmeriCorps—provides verification that you are serving in an approved AmeriCorps position 

(which includes positions in the AmeriCorps State and National Program (ASN), the 

AmeriCorps NCCC Program, and the AmeriCorps VISTA Program).

Once you are enrolled in the National Service Trust, you can submit a request online through 

My AmeriCorps to verify your involvement in AmeriCorps and request that your qualified 

loans be put in forbearance during your service period. Generally, your loan remains in 

forbearance until you exit from the program. Exiting from the program includes both exiting 

at the scheduled end of your service term and exiting early from the program, before the 
scheduled end. After you exit from the program, you are responsible for repaying your loan 

according to its terms. For more information, visit our website. [updated 4/14/2020]

14. May AmeriCorps NCCC members receive the full value of the Education Award if 

they are exited from service early due to COVID-19?

It depends, but generally members will fall within one of the three following categories:

1. AmeriCorps NCCC members who have served less than 15 percent of their term of 

service at time of exit: AmeriCorps NCCC members who served less than 15 percent 

of their term of service at the time they exit are not eligible for a full or prorated 

Education Award consistent with the Member Handbook.

2. AmeriCorps NCCC members who have served between 15 and 50 percent of their 

term of service at time of exit: AmeriCorps NCCC members who completed between 

15 and 50 percent of the term of service may be exited for a Compelling Personal 

Circumstance (CPC) and receive an Education Award proportional to the number of 

hours they have served. They are not eligible for a full Education Award with a CPC 

exit related to COVID-19. 

3. AmeriCorps NCCC members who have served more than 50 percent of their term of 

service at time of exit: AmeriCorps NCCC members who have completed more than 

50 percent of their term of service (i.e., at least 850 hours) may be eligible to receive 

the full education award amount with a CPC exit related to COVID-19. See CARES Act, 

§ 3514. [updated 4/17/2020]

15. What does it mean to be exited early from the NCCC program at the direction of 

AmeriCorps due to COVID-19?

A member is exited early from the NCCC program at the direction of AmeriCorps due to 

COVID-19 when the National Director determines a class should be ended, members 

graduated early, or a class should be delayed, because of circumstances related to COVID19. [updated 10/15/2021]

16. What can teams expect when serving in the field?

Before teams arrive at a project site, NCCC region staff work with the project sponsor to 

ensure the work site and housing meet all NCCC requirements, including COVID-specific 

requirements.

While on site, NCCC expects teams to follow state, local, and NCCC guidance for COVID-19, 

as well as sponsor and site-specific guidance. Members will maximize their safety by 
following this guidance, including wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing 

in all interactions with community members. NCCC staff will continue to visit teams on site to 

provide programmatic support, in addition to being in regular communication.

In prior years, members transitioned between projects by returning to campus and then 

deploying to a new project site from campus. Moving forward, transitions between projects 

may occur either on campus or in the field, based on prevailing COVID-19 conditions and to 

maximize the safety of members. [updated 3/18/2022]

17. What happens when new members arrive on campus?

• Upon arrival, all members will be tested for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination 

status. There is one exception: Team Leaders and members who have been COVID19 positive within the last 90 days do not need to be tested on arrival to an NCCC 

campus facility to begin a new service term.

• NCCC will do daily health screenings with each member to assess the potential 

exposure to COVID-19.

• All NCCC members, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to wear masks in 

indoor, public spaces in counties that have a high CDC's COVID-19 Community 

Level as designated by the CDC. NCCC staff will track transmission rates and notify 

members what protocols are required at their location.

• Not fully vaccinated members must shelter-in-place, mask and maintain six feet of 

physical distance for 10 days or until they receive 2 negative COVID tests. After that 

period, not fully vaccinated members must continue to mask and maintain 6 feet of 

physical distance when mixing with anyone outside of their team.

• Based on COVID-19 Community Level, additional safety measures may be put in 

place.

These measures protect members, NCCC staff, and the community. [updated 3/18/2022]