Employment

I. Social Security

• Whether working on campus or off campus, international students who have been offered a job in the U.S. must have a social security number (SSN) in order to be paid. For instructions on obtaining your SSN, click:  Social Security Number (SSN) .

II. On-Campus Employment

• Defined as non work-study position for Randolph-Macon College.
• Limited to a total of 20 hours per week while school is in session (including any assistantships, stipends for leadership positions and any authorized off-campus employment). Full-time work is permitted during vacation periods such as Christmas break, spring break and summer vacation (if you are not taking classes). 
• For information about available on-campus work, please visit the Office of Financial Aid or e-mail at financial-aid@rmc.edu.

III. Off-Campus Work Permission: Optional Practical Training (OPT)

• Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a period of paid employment that is directly related to your field of study. If you have been a full-time student for at least one academic year, you are eligible for a total of 12 months of OPT per degree level. 
• You DO NOT have to have a job offer to apply for OPT. You can use this 12- month allotment either before and/or after your completion of studies. 
• More information: Optional Practical Training (OPT)

IV. Off-Campus Work Permission: Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

• Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is off campus employment, directly reltated to your field of study and is an integral part of the established curriculum.
• In order to qualify for CPT, you must be have been a full time student for one academic year and the CPT must either be required for your degree (even if not for credit) OR for a class which you are recieving academic credit towards your degree (cannot be above and beyond your credit requirements for your degree, i.e. no additional electives).  The period for which you receive the employment authorization will directly correspond to the time that you are enrolled in the course. In other words, you are only allowed to work for the period in which you are enrolled for the class. CPT can be done either part time (less than 20 hours per week) or full time depending on the requirements of your program. 
• More information: Curricular Practical Training (CPT)