CC

US Department of Energy / independent application guide

Community College Internships (CCI): eligibility & how to apply

Technical laboratory experience for students enrolled at community colleges and accredited two-year colleges.

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College yearCommunity / two-year college
CompensationPaid
Location / arrangementUS national laboratoriesSee host requirements
Availability at reviewPublished deadline

Who can apply?

  • Full- or part-time enrollment at a community college or accredited two-year college, plus one completed matriculated semester.
  • At least 12 total undergraduate credits, 6 STEM credits, and a cumulative GPA of 2.7. A GPA below 3.0 requires a waiver statement.
  • US citizenship or lawful permanent residency at application; age 18 by the internship start.
  • Pre-college credits do not replace the minimum coursework requirement.
Easy to miss

CCI is not a generic four-year-college internship. Enrollment type matters as much as class year.

Dates, pay & program timing

Published cutoff ·

Spring 2027 applications are due September 30, 2026 at 5 p.m. ET. CCI describes paid 10-week experiences.

View the deadline calendar

These details reflect the sources at the review date. An overview is not a live job offer. Check the official page for today's application status and the selected opening's written terms.

How to apply to US Department of Energy

  1. Use the official CCI page to find the current application system and checklist.
  2. Review the technical areas at participating laboratories, then choose interests that match your coursework.
  3. Prepare the transcripts, recommendations, essays, and any GPA waiver requested by the current checklist. Verify completeness before submitting.
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You leave FirstInternships to apply. We do not accept applications, offer referrals, or represent the employer.

Our editorial advice · not employer requirements

How to prepare a stronger application

A technical course can provide a useful example: a measurement you took, a part you designed, code you tested, or a safety procedure you followed. Explain your contribution and how you checked the result.

Talk to a faculty member about which laboratory areas match your training. If transferring to a four-year institution, confirm that your enrollment situation still meets CCI's rules for the term instead of assuming the opportunity transfers with you.

Your preparation, on this device

Make it a plan.

Checking an item saves this program. These are planning prompts, not a substitute for the employer's full requirements.

Add a stage & next action

Official sources & update notes

We reviewed these publisher pages on . They establish the program facts above; our preparation suggestions are independent editorial guidance.

We do not infer deadlines, remote eligibility, or guaranteed offers from older recruiting cycles. Read our editorial process.

Prepare the documents you need

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