CAEP

Name

CAEP

Legal name

CAEP

Website

https://caep.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

CAEP is a non-profit international cultural exchange organization that sponsors J-1 visa exchange programs connecting young adults worldwide with U.S. farms, ranches, wineries, greenhouses, and equine operations across five training tracks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Exchange Programs

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Institutional Compliance & Sponsorship Management (SEVIS/CAS/CoE & equivalents) (EDAIADAC)

Keywords

• International exchange programs
• Agriculture training programs
• Cultural exchange services
• J-1 visa sponsorship
• Host placement services

Headquarters

HQ city

Fergus Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Host Placement and Administrative Fees: CAEP charges hosts a $100 placement fee per exchange visitor plus a $75 monthly administrative fee per exchange visitor. These fees cover application processing, placement coordination, program monitoring, orientation, and ongoing support throughout the program.
2. Government Visa Fees: Participants in the United States pay government-mandated fees including a SEVIS fee of $220 and an embassy appointment fee of $185. These fees are passed through to the U.S. government and are generally non-refundable.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CAEP is a designated J-1 visa sponsor that recruits young adults internationally and matches them with U.S. host farms, ranches, wineries, greenhouses, golf courses, and landscaping operations for paid cultural-exchange training placements. The organization runs five training tracks—Agriculture, Enology, Equine, Horticulture, and Turf Management—supplemented by outbound programs for U.S. citizens going abroad and domestic apprenticeship opportunities. CAEP handles application processing, SEVIS-based visa administration, training plan development, host matching, and ongoing program monitoring for a placement fee and monthly administrative fee paid by hosts.

Product overview

CAEP (Communicating for America Exchange Programs) operates a suite of international paid agriculture exchange programs organized into five core training tracks: Agriculture, Enology (winemaking), Equine, Horticulture, and Turf Management. The programs connect young adults (typically ages 18-28) from around the world with American host farms, ranches, wineries, greenhouses, and agricultural operations through J-1 visa cultural exchange programs. CAEP also offers outbound programs for U.S. citizens seeking experience abroad and domestic apprenticeship opportunities. The program provides structured training plans, visa processing through SEVIS, insurance coordination, and ongoing support including cultural events like CAEP Fest. The vision emphasizes interconnecting the world peacefully through agricultural exchange, helping participants identify as world citizens transcending geographical and cultural borders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Skillability: An online database to help hosts create training plans and track skills imparted during exchange programs.

Products and services

• Agriculture Training Program International paid training placements in general agriculture operations including swine, dairy, ranch/beef cattle, field crops, custom harvesting, vegetable production, and apiculture (beekeeping). Participants gain hands-on experience on American farms and ranches through J-1 visa exchange programs. Targets young adults aged 18-28 with practical experience or current agriculture program enrollment.
• Enology Training Program Wine cellar and viticulture training program enabling international participants to gain hands-on experience in American wineries. Covers wine production activities including crushing, fermentation, barrel work, and filtration. Age requirement is 21-35, wider than other programs. Placed at U.S. wineries including Tamber Bey, Maryhill, and Chateau Montelena.
• Equine Training Program International paid training placements in equine operations, providing cultural exchange and hands-on experience in horse-related agricultural settings in the United States. Year-long placements accepted throughout the year.
• Horticulture Training Program Greenhouse, nursery, landscaping, and plant production training placements. Includes potted plants, tomato greenhouses, tree nursery, and landscaping operations. Participants work alongside American horticultural professionals at operations such as Kurt Weiss Greenhouses, Bergen's Greenhouses, and The Chef's Garden.
• Turf Management Training Program Golf course and sports turf management training program for international participants seeking careers in turfgrass management. Provides hands-on experience at American golf courses and sports facilities.
• Outbound Program Program allowing U.S. citizens to gain agricultural experience abroad in countries including Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, and Europe. Requires one year of domestic agricultural experience or documented education.
• Domestic Apprentice Program Apprenticeship opportunity for U.S. citizens seeking validated internships within the country. Targets domestic students and incumbent workers looking to enhance careers through further education and work experience.

Quantifiable outcome

• Exchange visitors develop internationally-validated skills and credentials that enhance career prospects in agriculture
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• U.S. Department of StatecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 July 2014CAEP operates as a designated J-1 visa sponsor under the U.S. Department of State's Exchange Visitor Program (EVP). Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Robin Lerner and program analysts visited CAEP Fest 2014, meeting with trainees and praising the cultural exchange activities. CAEP must comply with SEVIS requirements and government regulations governing exchange visitor programs.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cultural Vistas: Cultural Vistas administers J-1 internship and trainee programs with a similar fee structure, host application workflow, and SEVIS-based compliance footprint as CAEP.
• AIFS: AIFS runs cultural exchange and study abroad programs (including Au Pair in America), sharing CAEP's model of recruiting international participants and matching them to U.S. hosts.
• ASSE International Student Exchange: ASSE is a J-1 visa sponsor for high school and Work & Travel exchanges, comparable to CAEP on regulatory sponsorship and cross-border participant placement.
• CIEE: CIEE is one of the largest U.S. J-1 visa sponsors, operating Work & Travel, Internship, and Trainee programs that overlap directly with CAEP's cultural exchange and trainee placement model.
• InterExchange: InterExchange is a designated J-1 sponsor running Work & Travel, Au Pair, and Career Training programs with a placement-and-fee model directly comparable to CAEP's host-paid structure.
• Alliance Abroad Group: Alliance Abroad Group is a J-1 visa sponsor focused on Work & Travel, internship, and trainee placements, competing head-to-head for host relationships and international applicants.
• Greenheart Exchange: Greenheart Exchange is a designated J-1 sponsor running high school, Work & Travel, and intern programs; it overlaps with CAEP on international cultural exchange placement and host recruitment.
• Multinational Exchange for Sustainable Agriculture (MESA): MESA runs agriculture-focused international training and exchange programs, the closest niche competitor to CAEP's agricultural trainee placement offering.
• Intrax: Intrax is a J-1 sponsor (through its AuPairCare and Work Travel brands) operating cultural exchange programs with the same SEVIS-driven, host-paid business model as CAEP.

Broad incumbents

• World Learning: World Learning operates The Experiment in International Living and other broad international exchange and training programs, overlapping with CAEP on cross-border experiential education at greater scale and broader scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=-MYnMePmdSM
• TikToktiktok.com/@caep_usa
• Xx.com/CAEP_USA
• Facebookfacebook.com/caepusa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/caep

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CAEP