American International Recruitment Council

What American International Recruitment Council does

American International Recruitment Council (AIRC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit membership association founded in 2008 in Bethesda, Maryland, with operational headquarters in Denver, Colorado, and a mailing address in Falls Church, Virginia. AIRC is recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission as the Standards Development Organization (SDO) for the international student recruitment and enrollment field, and it is a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation International Quality Group (CIQG). It serves more than 400 member organizations spanning accredited U.S. and non-U.S. secondary and post-secondary institutions, certified educational recruitment agencies, service providers, and individual practitioners in the international enrollment management (IEM) profession.

AIRC's core offerings are organized around two pillars: (i) a codified standards framework (40 Agency Standards across 5 standard areas plus 5 Institutional Standards and an IEM Glossary of Terms) and an independent Agency Certification program that functions as the recognized U.S. quality standard for student recruitment agencies, and (ii) professional development delivered under the AIRC Practical Training (APT) umbrella — including the IEM 360° 10-month cohort-based certificate (formerly ISREP), Counselor Fundamentals, the AIRC Certification Bridge pathway, and the #WeAreHereForYou webinar series. Operational technology consists of a NeonCRM-hosted member portal providing resource library access, member directory, forums, and online applications; AIRC does not develop proprietary AI/ML systems. The primary demand-generation engine is the December Annual Conference (400+ professionals, 35+ breakout sessions) and the May Spring Symposium.

AIRC's business model is a diversified membership-and-events revenue stack: annual membership dues across four tiers ($2,500 Certified Agency, $800 Institutional, $1,500 Service Provider, $500 Individual); two-stage agency certification fees ($2,000 application plus $2,000-$6,000 stage 2, with India at the higher Standard rate); conference and symposium registration; recurring APT professional development course fees; and annual / conference sponsorships with multi-tier packages (First Class through Economy) sold to service providers and EdTech vendors such as Leap GeeBee, ECE, IDP Education, Study Info Centre, and Catalyst GEM. Distribution is community- and events-led: direct membership sales via the membership team, field-driven member referrals, advocacy-driven member engagement (US for Success Coalition, NAFSA, AACRAO partnerships), and exhibit/sponsorship partnerships on the Annual Conference floor.

Name

American International Recruitment Council

Legal name

AIRC: The Association of International Enrollment Management

Website

https://airc-education.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

American International Recruitment Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit membership association and federally recognized Standards Development Organization that certifies educational recruitment agencies and provides professional development for international enrollment management practitioners serving U.S. institutions and global agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services for International Enrollment Management

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920), Business Associations (813910), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online/Distance Education Quality & Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAK)

Keywords

• International enrollment management
• Educational agency certification
• Professional development training
• International student recruitment
• Standards development organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Bethesda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees across four tiers: Agency Certified Members ($2,500/year), Institutional Members ($800/year), Service Provider Members ($1,500/year), Individual Members ($500/year). Membership renews annually on July 1. Membership provides access to conferences, resource library, online directory, forums, professional development discounts, and advocacy participation.
2. Agency Certification Fees: Two-stage certification process: Stage 1 Application Fee of $2,000 for all agencies; Stage 2 Certification Fee of $2,000 (Priority rate) or $6,000 (Standard rate, applicable to agencies in India), with a $300 discount for agencies holding ICEF Agency Status or StudyTravel Reference Checked Status. An annual renewal membership fee of $2,500 is charged upon certification. The Priority rate applies to agencies in source market countries representing fewer than 20% of current AIRC certified agency members; Standard rate applies to countries representing more than 20% (currently only India).
3. Conference and Event Registration: Annual Conference registration fees vary by member type: AIRC Certified Agency (Early Bird $700 / Regular $775), Individual Member (Early Bird $775 / Regular $850), Institutional or Service Provider Member (varies), Non-Member Institution (Early Bird $1,125 / Regular $1,200). Secondary school 2-day packages: Member $475 / Non-member $625. Spring Symposium: $250 for members, $335 for non-members. Meals and networking events included. Pre-conference workshops are priced separately.
4. Professional Development Training: Revenue from professional development courses: IEM 360° professional certificate at $1,000 for members / $1,500 for non-members (10-month program); Counselor Fundamentals course at $99 for non-members (free for members and Phase 1/2 certification applicants). #WeAreHereForYou webinar series: free for members / $50 for non-members.
5. Sponsorships (Annual and Conference): AIRC generates sponsorship revenue through Annual Sponsorships (promoted year-round to the membership community with packages including email blasts, blog postings, website logo, complimentary conference registrations, and exhibit tables) and Conference Sponsorships (reception sponsors, plenary address sponsors, exhibit tables, and branded sponsorship items at the Annual Conference). Current sponsors include Leap GeeBee (First Class), ECE (Premium Class), IDP (Premium Class), Study Info Centre (Economy Class), and Catalyst GEM (Economy Class).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

AIRC is a 501(c)(3) membership association and federally recognized Standards Development Organization that sells tiered annual memberships (Institutional, Agency, Service Provider, Individual), Educational Agency Certification against 40 published standards in 5 areas, the AIRC Practical Training (APT) suite of professional development programs (including the IEM 360° professional certificate, Counselor Fundamentals, and Certification Bridge), and the annual AIRC Conference and Spring Symposium. Its fundamental output is standards, certification, training, advocacy, and convening for the international student enrollment and recruitment field.

Product overview

AIRC (Association of International Enrollment Management) operates as a membership association providing a unified suite of professional development and certification products centered around its flagship AIRC Practical Training (APT) program. APT serves as the overarching professional development framework encompassing IEM 360° (the flagship certificate course), Counselor Fundamentals, AIRC Certification Bridge, and the Professional Development Manual. Supporting offerings include the Annual Conference, Spring Symposium, webinars, and the Member Resource Library. AIRC also provides Educational Agency Certification as a core product establishing quality standards for recruitment agencies. The organization functions as a 501(c)(3) non-profit Standards Development Organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AIRC Practical Training (APT): AIRC's suite of professional development programs designed to standardize, elevate, and accelerate careers in International Enrollment Management, including online courses, credentials, certificates, webinars, and in-person learning events.
• IEM 360°
• Counselor Fundamentals: US Education and Admissions
• AIRC Certification Bridge
• #WeAreHereForYou Webinar Series

Products and services

• AIRC Institutional Membership Annual tiered membership for accredited educational institutions seeking access to AIRC-certified agency directory, IEM professional development, advocacy updates, and the member resource library.
• AIRC Certified Agency Membership Annual membership tier for student recruitment agencies that have completed AIRC Certification, providing the AIRC Certified Logo "Seal of Approval," public directory listing, and access to institutional members.
• AIRC Service Provider Membership Annual membership tier for for-profit and non-profit service providers (excluding student recruiters) seeking brand visibility and access to AIRC institutional and agency decision-makers.
• AIRC Individual Membership Annual membership tier for individual practitioners seeking access to AIRC webinars, resource library, networking, and committee participation.
• Educational Agency Certification Rigorous, independent certification of educational recruitment agencies against 40 standards in 5 areas, providing the AIRC Certified Logo "Seal of Approval" recognized by U.S. institutions and state agencies.
• AIRC Practical Training (APT) Umbrella brand for AIRC's suite of professional development programs (online courses, credentials, certificates, webinars, self-serve resources, and in-person learning events) designed to standardize, elevate, and accelerate careers in International Enrollment Management.
• IEM 360° Professional Certificate (formerly ISREP) 10-month online cohort-based professional certificate program in applied International Enrollment Management for institutional practitioners, covering the full IEM lifecycle from recruitment partnerships to budget modeling.
• Counselor Fundamentals: US Education and Admissions Self-paced online course providing agency counselors core knowledge of U.S. admissions processes, institutional types, campus culture, immigration rules, and AIRC professional standards.
• AIRC Certification Bridge Stackable asynchronous training curriculum allowing new agencies to earn AIRC Certification in phases, earning badges per completed phase toward full certification over up to three years.
• #WeAreHereForYou Webinar Series Six-part webinar series covering practical strategies to support international students amid challenging and uncertain policy times, including counseling, visa support, legal rights, and advocacy.
• AIRC Annual Conference Flagship annual in-person conference bringing together 400+ IEM professionals for 4 days of plenaries, 35+ breakout sessions, exhibit hall, networking receptions, and award ceremonies.
• Spring Symposium Annual one-day in-person symposium examining market changes and global student mobility trends to help IEM professionals navigate uncertainty in international enrollment.
• AIRC Member Resource Library Password-protected online library of curated research, operational templates, sample contracts, standards documents, webinar recordings, market intelligence, and white papers, available to AIRC members via the NeonCRM portal.
• AIRC Annual Sponsorships Tiered annual sponsorship packages (First Class, Premium, Economy) sold to service providers, bundling year-round email blasts, blog postings, website logo placement, complimentary conference registrations, and exhibit tables.

Quantifiable outcome

• 36% decline in F-1 student visa issuance recorded in 2025, the largest single-year decline other than COVID-19, underscoring the policy environment AIRC advocates against
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• S.W.I.P.E. (Schools with International Programs of Excellence)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2026A new strategic partnership announced March 13, 2026, between AIRC and S.W.I.P.E., a network of K-12 international student program administrators. The partnership includes sharing knowledge, expertise, and professional development opportunities between members of both organizations, strengthening the international enrollment management ecosystem and creating new pathway opportunities between K-12 and post-secondary sectors. S.W.I.P.E. brings greater visibility to K-12 international schools within the global recruitment ecosystem, while AIRC expands its knowledge base and helps members diversify portfolios. The partnership is designed to help international students at every stage of their educational journey be guided by practitioners upholding the highest standards.
• AACRAO (American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIRC lists AACRAO as a strategic partner. AACRAO is a leading organization in higher education enrollment management, credential evaluation, and international education. The partnership provides cross-referrals between membership communities and collaborative advocacy on shared policy priorities such as visa processing and immigration reform.
• NAFSA: Association of International EducatorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAFSA is listed as a strategic partner organization. AIRC participates in the U.S. for Success Coalition alongside NAFSA, and both organizations collaborate on advocacy for OPT, visa processing, and broader immigration policy. NAFSA and AIRC co-sign advocacy letters and coordinate responses to regulatory changes affecting international students.
• EnglishUSAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnglishUSA is listed as an AIRC strategic partner, representing English language program administrators in the United States. The partnership supports collaboration on standards and professional development for institutions serving international students across the credential spectrum.
• BONARDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBONARD is listed as an AIRC strategic partner. BONARD provides market intelligence and research services for the international education sector. AIRC collaborated with BONARD on the State of the International Student Recruitment and Enrollment Field Survey (2022).
• US for Success Coalition (US4S)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIRC serves as an Advisory Council member of the U.S. for Success Coalition, a broad coalition of higher education, business, and immigration organizations advocating for favorable international student visa and immigration policy. AIRC's Executive Director Clay Harmon participates in coalition strategy meetings. US4S activities include advocacy for OPT codification (Keep Innovators in America Act, H.R. 8013), DIGNITY Act, and student visa processing prioritization.
• Alliance for International ExchangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIRC is a member of the Alliance for International Exchange, which works to advance policies and programs that support international educational exchange. The Alliance brings together organizations across the international education sector for coordinated advocacy.
• IEF (International Association for Education and Finance) / ICFEAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFEA (listed on strategic partners page) represents education and finance professionals internationally. AIRC's partnership with CFEA supports cross-border collaboration on standards and professional development for international education service providers.
• U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIRC has led initiatives to collaborate with the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, to promote a range of ethical recruitment practices for U.S. higher education globally. This government partnership underscores AIRC's role as the field's primary standards body.
• Leap GeeBee (Annual First Class Sponsor)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeap GeeBee is AIRC's First Class Annual Sponsor. Leap GeeBee offers services supporting international education including free admission and visa counseling for students from South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa, and recruitment services for 900+ university partners globally through 60+ offices worldwide. The sponsorship provides brand visibility, exhibit opportunities, and recognition across AIRC's events and communications.
• ECE — Educational Credential Evaluators (Annual Premium Sponsor)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerECE is a Premium Class Annual Sponsor. ECE is a nonprofit organization that reviews educational achievements from other countries and converts them to U.S. or Canadian equivalents for education and employment purposes. Sponsorship provides brand visibility and exhibit presence at AIRC events.
• IDP Education (Annual Premium Sponsor)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIDP is a Premium Class Annual Sponsor. IDP is a strategic partner for international education offering student placement, digital marketing, and data and consultancy solutions. Sponsorship provides brand visibility and engagement with AIRC's institutional and agency member base.
• Study Info Centre (Annual Economy Sponsor)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerStudy Info Centre is an Economy Class Annual Sponsor. It is an international education and EdTech company delivering technology-enabled solutions for global admissions and recruitment across Australia, UK, USA, Canada, and Europe.
• Catalyst GEM (Annual Economy Sponsor)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCatalyst GEM is an Economy Class Annual Sponsor. Catalyst GEM is a higher education technology and services partner helping U.S. institutions recruit and enroll international students across on-campus and online programs, supporting admissions teams with workflow optimization and enrollment conversion.
• NAFSA Annual Conference PartnershipminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAIRC exhibits at the NAFSA national conference with discounted rates on exhibit tables and sponsorships for members. This provides AIRC with access to NAFSA's broader international education professional community for membership recruitment and brand visibility.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ICEF: ICEF operates the ICEF Agency Status and i-graduate agent screening programs, which directly compete with AIRC Certification as quality marks for international student recruitment agencies. ICEF also offers agent screening and educator-agent networking events.
• American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO): AACRAO is a strategic partner and the leading professional association in higher education enrollment management, credential evaluation, and international admissions. It overlaps with AIRC's institutional members and shares policy advocacy priorities.
• Alliance for International Exchange: The Alliance is a coalition AIRC belongs to that advances international educational exchange policy. It is a peer advocacy organization with overlapping membership and joint federal policy engagement.
• NAFSA: Association of International Educators: NAFSA is the largest U.S. membership association for international educators and a strategic partner of AIRC. Both organizations serve international enrollment management professionals, advocate on F-1 visa policy, and overlap heavily on member institutions.
• EnglishUSA: EnglishUSA is an AIRC strategic partner representing English language program administrators in the U.S. Its member base overlaps with AIRC's institutional segment and both organizations serve international students across the credential spectrum.

Others

• IDP Education: IDP is a Premium annual sponsor of AIRC and one of the largest international student placement companies. As a sponsor and channel partner, IDP is an ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor to AIRC's standards and certification work.
• EducationUSA (U.S. Department of State): EducationUSA is the U.S. State Department's official source of information on U.S. higher education for international students. It is an enabling/advisory body rather than a membership association but serves the same prospective international student funnel.

Broad incumbents

• Council for Higher Education Accreditation International Quality Group (CIQG): CIQG is the international arm of CHEA focused on quality assurance in higher education. AIRC is a CIQG member. CIQG is a broader accreditation policy body overlapping with AIRC's standards work but covering the full global higher ed sector.
• Institute of International Education (IIE): IIE is a much larger, established organization administering flagship international exchange programs (Fulbright) and the Open Doors data series. It is a broader incumbent in international education with overlapping institutional and policy interests.

Emerging players

• BONARD: BONARD is a market intelligence and research firm serving international student recruitment. AIRC partnered with BONARD on the State of the Field Survey. BONARD operates adjacent — not competing directly — but serves the same agency and institutional buyers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/people/AIRC-Association-of-International-Enrollment-Management/61550685346991

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 American International Recruitment Council