International Student Application

Complete the international student application (PDF). Please download the application and type your responses.

We must have a statement from your or your sponsor’s checking or savings bank account that shows that you have at least $16,850 on deposit. This $16,850 is the approximate total cost of the following expenses for one academic year:

• Central Piedmont tuition and fees: $8,000
• living expenses and books: $8,500
• medical insurance: $350

The statement must be no older than two months from the date you submit it to us.

If you plan to bring dependents with you to the U.S., your evidence of financial support must include an additional $5,000 per dependent. For example, if you plan to bring one dependent with you, your evidence of financial support must show that you have $21,850 ($16,850 + $5,000) available to you.

In addition to the statement, the guarantee of financial support form (page two in the international student application (PDF)) must be signed by you and your sponsor. The name on the bank document must match the name on the guarantee of financial support form. If your sponsor is a business, we will need the business license or letter from the bank stating owner of the business account. 

When you submit your international student application, the Kal Kardous International Student Services Center will accept copies of your diploma and transcripts. (You will need to submit official documents later.)

Complete the credit card authorization form (page three in the international student application (PDF)) for the $40 international student application processing fee.

• Copy of your passport biographical page
• If you have dependents, a copy of their passport biographical pages
• If you are applying for a change of status, a copy of your current visa and I-94
• If you are transferring from another U.S. institution, a copy of your I- 20, current visa and I-94

To meet the English prerequisites, you must meet the TOEFL or IELTS requirement, or complete the Academic English as a Foreign Language (EFL) program. The score requirements are:

• total score of at least 65, with no single score below 16 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT)
• total score of at least 6.0, with no single score below 5.5 on the Academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

If any one of your scores falls below the minimum, you are required to complete the Academic EFL program.

If you are an F-1 student already studying in the United States, you may be able to transfer to Central Piedmont. To be eligible to transfer, you must consistently maintain your status and follow the correct transfer procedures. To maintain your status at your current school, you must continue attending all of your classes until your transfer release date. Your transfer release date is the day that the Designated School Official (DSO) at your current school moves responsibility of your SEVIS record to Central Piedmont.

You and your DSO must complete the transfer recommendation (page four in the international student application (PDF))

Your spouse and unmarried minor children (under age 21) may accompany you to the United States under the F-2 dependent status. Your dependents are only eligible to legally stay or extend their stay in the U.S. if you maintain your legal status.

Complete the dependent intake form (page five in the international student application (PDF)) and provide additional evidence of financial ability ($5,000 per dependent) to receive a Form I-20 for each dependent.

After we reach you to confirm your application, you can activate your account. It may take an hour before your login works once you activate it.

If you can’t activate or log in, or if your login account was deleted, you may need to reactivate or reset your password. Please contact a student success navigator for help, or call the ITS Service Desk at 704-330-5000.

Sign up for multi-factor authentication. This is required of all users starting March 6, 2023.

Your Central Piedmont student email is the official way the college will communicate with you about your classes, events, and more. Once you have a Central Piedmont login, log in to your email. Check your email at least once a day.

While you can submit copies of your diploma and transcripts when you apply to Central Piedmont, you must submit official transcripts to the Student Records office before the semester start date.

• Foreign high school transcripts must be translated by a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) agency 
• Foreign college transcripts must be translated and evaluated by a NACES agency.
• If you are transferring from another U.S. institution, you must submit your official transcript listing all the courses you took at that institution. You must have your international college transcripts translated and evaluated by an approved agency before you submit them.

Learn how to submit your official high school and/or college transcripts to Student Records.

Report to the Kal Kardous International Student Services Center by the program start date on your Form I-20. We will provide your placement test permissions and help you with your remaining steps to enroll at the college.

Attending the F-1 student onboarding session is required. During the F-1 student onboarding session, we will discuss important topics related to your F-1 status, classes, and employment.

Register to attend the F-1 student onboarding session.

If you can not meet the English language proficiency requirements by your transcripts or by earning the minimum scores required on the TOEFL or IELTS, you will take the ACCUPLACER ESL placement test. If any of your placement test scores is below the minimum requirement, you must first take Academic English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classes. Once you complete required EFL courses, you can continue on to take other courses.

Once you have demonstrated your English language proficiency, or have completed the EFL course sequence, transcripts and score reports will determine your college English and math placement. Many courses have English and math prerequisites. Learn more about course placement.

Once your Central Piedmont account is active, you can register to attend orientation.. New Student Orientation is required and will help you learn about Central Piedmont. At orientation, you will explore campus programs and support services to help you be a successful student.

Once we have your official transcripts and you have attended orientation, you can meet with an academic advisor or an Academic English as a Foreign Language (EFL) advisor (EFL students only) to discuss programs and courses.

You will need to submit your official high school and college transcripts and take any needed placement tests before attending advising, such as the ACCUPLACER ESL/Document 47 placement test for EFL classes. Your advisor is your academic guide through college. Advisors help you explore your academic interests to determine which courses you should take next for your program. Your personal academic advisor will be assigned based on your academic and career pathway or program, and will help you register for classes in MyCollege (login required). Learn more about class options and how to read the class schedule.

F-1 students, you must register for a full course of study (at least 12 credit hours) before the schedule adjustment period (drop-add) has ended. You cannot take classes in an 8-week session only — you must be in class during the full semester. No more than 3 out of your 12 credit hours can be online.

Review your next steps after applying, such as registering for classes, paying for classes, buying your books, and getting a parking pass and student ID card. 

You can register for classes through MyCollege or using the Central Piedmont app.

Many healthcare programs require you to complete an additional application for admittance into that specific program and require that you take the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). Contact the specific program for any questions about its application requirements. 

As an F-1 student, you are only eligible to receive a social security number if you will receive payment for on- or off-campus employment with the proper authorization. If you are entering a health science program, depending on your program, you may be required to have a social security number for state licensure.

Central Piedmont does not have student housing. However, there are many housing options close to each campus. We have provided some options that aren't affiliated or endorsed by Central Piedmont, but were selected by students.

Apartments near Central Campus:

• Venue, 2512 Weddington Avenue
• Elizabeth Square, 730 Hawthorne Lane
• 808 Hawthorne, 808 Hawthorne Lane

Apartment Search allows you to search for apartments near any Central Piedmont campus.

Most places will not require a social security number if they know that you are an international student.

Healthcare can be very expensive in the United States, so having healthcare coverage is important. Your I-20 estimated the cost of health insurance coverage for a year. Your actual cost will depend on the amount and type of coverage that is right for you. Although Central Piedmont cannot recommend a health insurance provider, we have provided a few resources to help you research health insurance options:

• ISO Student Health Insurance
• International Student Insurance
• HTH Worldwide
• Compass Benefits Group
• PSI International Student and Scholar Health Insurance

As an F-1 student, you are allowed to work on campus. You may work off campus if you are authorized. You may also engage in practical training. Practical training allows you to get practical experience in your field of study through either Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT). Visit our international students resources page for more information about F-1 student employment options.