New students seeking a degree, diploma or certificate
- Establish your state residency. The Residency Certification Number (RCN) helps determine your tuition and is required to complete your application.
- Apply to Central Piedmont
- Set up your Central Piedmont account and email. Sign up for multifactor authentication with Microsoft Authenticator.
- Complete online orientation
- Submit your transcripts and meet with your advisor.
- Pay for your classes
Returning students
- Complete this Returning Student form if you previously submitted a college credit application and have not attended Central Piedmont within the past 12 months.
- Once you receive an email with your account information, activate your account.
- Log into MyConnect. Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to discuss your academic plan and register for classes.
- Search and apply for more than $4 million available in Central Piedmont scholarships, apply for financial aid, and enroll in the tuition payment plan to spread payments out over time.
Earn college credit while in high school
- Submit the online application.
- Learn more about College and Career Promise through dual enrollment, early college and middle college.
Veterans and military families
- Apply for Benefits. Learn how to apply for G.I. and related VA education benefits on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website. Service members must obtain approval from an Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor within the military service prior to enrolling in courses at Central Piedmont Community College if you plan to use Tuition Assistance. Note: you can apply for Veterans Affairs education benefits and Financial Aid (reference Step 6).
- Determine Your State Residency. Your residency status determines how much tuition you pay. Check or establish your state residency.
- Complete the Central Piedmont admissions application. Choose an Academic and Career Pathway. If you are unsure of the program you want, an Academic Advisor can help you choose a specific program later.
- Set Up Your Central Piedmont Account and Activate Your Email. Activate your account. It may take an hour for your login to work once you activate it. For help, contact a Navigator or call the ITS Service Desk at 704-330-5000. Sign up for multi-factor authentication with Microsoft Authenticator. This is required. 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 into your email online.
- Submit official transcripts to Student Records. All official high school, college, and/or military transcripts must be submitted. Transcripts and score reports will determine your English and math placement, and many courses have English and math prerequisites. Learn more about submitting all your transcripts from previous institutions.
- Line Up Money for School. Apply for financial aid by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Complete the FAFSA even if you are not sure if you are eligible for aid. Central Piedmont can help answer your FAFSA questions; you could be eligible for more than you expect. School code: 002915. Once your financial aid application has been processed, you will be able to check the status of your financial aid reward in MyCollege, as well as any required documents you must submit. Central Piedmont offers other ways to help pay for school, including scholarships, grants, and Veterans Affairs Education Benefits (such as the GI Bill®). Central Piedmont does not offer direct student loans.
- 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.
- Meet with a Military Families and Veterans Services Academic Advisor. Once we have your official transcripts and you have attended orientation, you can meet with a Military Families and Veterans Services advisor to discuss placement, programs and courses, ensure your benefits are used efficiently, and help you register for classes in MyCollege (login required). Learn more about class options and how to read the class schedule. Advising is required. To make an appointment with a Military Families and Veterans Services advisor, email Military Families and Veterans Services or call the Central Campus number (information is in the "Contact" section of this page).
- Request Certification. Visit Certification Process to learn more about using Veterans Affairs Education Benefits for the first time and requesting recertification. You must register for classes before you request certification. After completing the Certification process, return to the Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs Education Benefits offices to discuss payment options in light of your aid and/or benefits.
Short-Term Training
- Explore our short-term training course offerings.
- Register and pay online, via phone, or in person.
- Establish your student login if your course is online.
- Sign up for multifactor authentication.
- Attend your class.
Short-term training students do not need to complete the Central Piedmont application.
Healthcare students
- Explore our healthcare programs.
- Complete this form and review the Health Careers Orientation and Advising video.
- Check or establish your state residency and apply to Central Piedmont.
- Set up your Central Piedmont account and email.
- Attend Orientation.
- Submit your transcripts and meet with your advisor.
- Submit your healthcare program application.
- Pay for your classes.
International students with an F-1 visa
| Semester | Application opens | Application Deadline: Applying for an F-1 student visa from out of country | Application deadline: Transferring from a U.S. institution or applying for change of status in U.S. | Latest dates to report to Central Piedmont (I-20 program start date) | Classes begin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | February 16, 2026 | June 8, 2026 | June 15, 2026 | August 12, 2026 | August 17, 2026 |
| Spring 2027 | July 13, 2026 | November 9, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | January 6, 2027 | January 11, 2027 |
Application steps
Complete the online international student application and upload all required documents. You can log in to your application at any time to trace your application status and view any missing requirement. After successfully submitting your application and required documents, International Student Services will review your application. If additional information is needed, we will contact you through the email address provided on your application. Once your application is processed, you will receive your acceptance letter and Form I-20 by email. If you have questions about the admission process, please contact International Programs.
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.
Your financial sponsor must complete and sign the financial Support section of the online admission application. The sponsor's name must exactly match the name shown on the uploaded bank statement or financial document. If your sponsor is a business, you must also upload a copy of the business license, or a letter from the bank confirming the 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.)
Pay the non-refundable $40 USD application fee through the online international admission application.
- 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.
Complete the Transfer Recommendation request in the online international admissions application. After you submit your application, an email will be sent to your current DSO with instructions to complete the required Transfer Recommendation Form.
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 dependent information section in the online international admissions application. You must also upload proof of additional financial support showing at least $5,000 USD for each dependent to receive the form I-20 for each eligible dependent.
Enrollment steps
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.
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 account, 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 (new link needed).
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. 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.
Resources
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:
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).
Finish high school, get career training or learn English
- Submit an online application.
- Check your email to complete the next steps based on your program choice.
- Start your classes.
Online programs
- Check or establish your state residency and apply to Central Piedmont.
- Set up your Central Piedmont account and email.
- Complete online orientation and submit your transcripts.
- Meet with your advisor and register for classes.
- Pay for your fees and books.
Visiting students
- Check or establish your state residency and apply to Central Piedmont.
- Set up your Central Piedmont account and email.
- Complete the Visiting Student Form. Note: you must have a Central Piedmont student login and password to access this form. Please allow 3-5 business days to process your Visiting Student Form. Make sure to check your Central Piedmont student email for a follow up message with next steps.
- Register for classes.
- Pay for your fees and books.
Frequently asked questions
An undocumented student who attends a North Carolina high school can enroll in college courses through the Career and College Promise program and can participate in several College and Career Readiness programs (such as ESL, Adult High School). Undocumented students need to be 18 or graduate from a U.S. public, private, or home school to take curriculum classes at Central Piedmont (a GED will not suffice), and need to graduate from a U.S. public, private, or home school to become eligible to receive a degree from Central Piedmont. Undocumented students are not eligible to receive professional licenses which are associated with some of Central Piedmont's academic programs.
Undocumented students will be charged the out-of-state tuition rate unless they are sponsored by a North Carolina business, in which case they will be charged the in-state rate. For information on employer sponsorships, contact Central Piedmont's Sponsored Programs Office.
Undocumented students are able to register for classes 30 days prior to the last day of the registration period (before drop/add).