Can I work part-time while I'm studying?
Money while you study is one of the most practical worries a returning or career-changing student carries — the answer depends mostly on whether you're a domestic student or on an F-1 visa, so here's both.
Can I work part-time while I'm studying?
Money while you study is one of the most practical worries a returning or career-changing student carries — the answer depends mostly on whether you're a domestic student or on an F-1 visa, so here's both.
If you're a U.S. citizen or permanent resident: yes, working part-time alongside your studies is completely normal here, and the program is actually built with that in mind — tuition is billed per term, so you can enroll at a pace that leaves room for a job, and many students study part-time specifically so they can keep their income while they train. This is one reason the "four years of lost income" worry that comes with a full career change often shrinks a lot for people who go this route.
If you're an international student on an F-1 visa, U.S. federal rules — not a school policy — govern this, and they're stricter:
| Situation | General F-1 rule |
|---|---|
| On-campus work | Allowed, generally capped at 20 hrs/week while classes are in session, full-time allowed during official school breaks |
| Off-campus work | Not permitted without separate work authorization (e.g., CPT or OPT) |
| F-2 dependents (spouse/kids) | No work authorization under any circumstances |
| After graduation | OPT can allow up to 12 months of work in your field — TCM/acupuncture degrees are generally not STEM-designated, so the longer STEM-OPT extension typically wouldn't apply |
These are general federal patterns, not a number any one school sets — your actual authorization always runs through your school's DSO (Designated School Official) and USCIS, so please confirm your specific situation with them before making work plans, especially since immigration rules have been shifting in 2026.
Are you asking this as someone already holding a visa, or thinking it through as a U.S.-based student weighing a part-time schedule?
Sources
- Five Branches University — published materials checked 2026-07
- The school's own published catalog and website checked 2026-07
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