The mission of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Teacher at Sea Program is to provide teachers hands-on, real-world research experience working at sea with world-renowned NOAA scientists, thereby giving them unique insight into oceanic and atmospheric research crucial to the nation. The program provides a unique opportunity for kindergarten through college-level teachers to sail aboard NOAA research ships to work under the tutelage of scientists and crew. 

Since its inception in 1990, NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program has enabled nearly 700 teachers to gain first-hand experience of science and life at sea. By participating in this program, teachers profoundly enrich their classroom curricula, enhance their approaches to teaching science, and engage their local community with knowledge that can only be gained by living and working side-by-side, day and night, with scientists who contribute to the world's oceanic and atmospheric scientific research.

In order to be eligible to apply to NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program, you must meet these minimum requirements: 
 

• Be currently employed, full-time, and employed in the same or similar capacity next year as:
  • a K-12 teacher or administrator
  • a community college, college, or university teacher
  • a museum or aquarium educator
  • an adult education teacher

Note: We regret that we cannot accept applications from part-time, substitute, or pre-service teachers or teaching assistants.

• Provide evidence of good health as determined by a completed medical form and have passed a TB test within 12 months of your sailing date. IMPORTANT: Some cruises, especially fisheries cruises, require high-intensity work that demands physical adeptness and endurance. Work shifts on some ships may be 4 hours on/4 hours off, 6 hours on/6 hours off, or 12 hours on/ 12 hours off. You may also be required to work a night shift.
• Have flexibility and the ability to cope with the uncertain and to follow orders (see "Life at Sea ).
• Have a unique ability to communicate complicated information to students, with a special interest in NOAA-related science.
• Have a principal/supervisor/department head who is supportive of your endeavor.
• Have excellent communications skills.
• Be comfortable with travel and have no aversions to traveling by airplane or ship.
• Be computer literate. 

Note: You are not required to have a passport to apply, but your options for cruises may be limited if you are selected because NOAA ships sometimes travel into international waters, for which a passport is required.

Note: Non-U.S. citizens may apply to the program. If accepted, the participant would be required to go through a clearance process in order to be able to sail.