International Students

About CCOM

Chicago College of Oriental Medicine prepares the next generation of healthcare practitioners through rigorous academic training, hands-on clinical experience, and a deep foundation in traditional Chinese medicine.

We welcome students from around the world to study time-tested medical systems with over 2,000 years of history, while gaining the skills needed to practice in today’s modern healthcare environment. Located in downtown Chicago, CCOM provides students with access to a diverse patient population and real-world clinical experience in an urban setting.

International student admission

CCOM welcomes students from all over the world regardless of nationality, religion, sex, or race. Any student who is not a permanent resident or citizen of the United States and its territories is considered an international student for purposes of admission.

International students are encouraged to contact the International Admission Representative as soon as possible to allow sufficient time to complete all necessary steps in the administrative process.

General requirements

All international applicants must:

1. Provide evidence of education equal to or greater than a U.S. associate degree, as evaluated by a credential evaluation agency accredited by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Transcripts become part of the applicant’s file and must be evaluated by the Chief Academic Officer to ensure that minimum standards have been met prior to acceptance.
2. Submit an affidavit of financial support from a parent, relative, guardian, or organization to cover tuition and living expenses. The affidavit must show sufficient funds for at least one year of study before CCOM can issue an I-20.
3. Demonstrate English proficiency through one of the pathways below.

English proficiency

In addition to the requirements above, applicants in different categories must complete the additional steps below.

Coming from abroad

International students seeking admission to CCOM directly from abroad are encouraged to contact the International Admission Representative as soon as possible.

Once CCOM receives all required documentation, the school issues a SEVIS Form I-20 to qualified students. The applicant then uses the I-20 to apply for an F-1 visa at a U.S. consulate.

Students whose visas are denied by the U.S. consulate must immediately notify CCOM’s Designated School Official (DSO) so we can advise whether the SEVIS record should be cancelled or updated for a future term. You will likely need to keep the I-20 to discuss the denial reasons with the DSO and plan for a potential reapplication; you may need a new or updated I-20 if the original becomes outdated or you defer to a later semester.

A printable Coming from Abroad checklist is available from the International Admission Representative.

Change of status

If you came to the United States to work, travel, or for any other purpose and have decided to change your purpose to study at CCOM — or if you are on an H-1B facing layoff and want to remain in the country — you can apply to change your visa status to F-1.

Contact the admission representative as soon as you make this decision. You may need to consult an immigration attorney and file Form I-539 before your current authorized stay expires. We recommend filing at least 30–45 business days before your stay expires, or as soon as you determine the need.

Some visas cannot be changed to F-1, including:

• C (transit)
• D (crewman)
• K (fiancé/spouse)
• M-1 (vocational student)
• WT / WB (Visa Waiver Program)
• J-1 status subject to the two-year home residency requirement (212(e)) — ineligible without a waiver

Important. Students admitted under Change of Status are expected to enroll in a full-time course of study to maintain their new status. Once their educational goals are achieved, the F-1 student is expected to return to their residence abroad.

The full Change of Status requirements checklist is available from the admission representative.

Transferring from a U.S. college

CCOM welcomes international students who wish to transfer from other SEVP-certified colleges and universities in the U.S.

• Transferring from a TCM college: the enrollment requirements of that college must be equal to or higher than CCOM’s standard.
• Transferring from a non-TCM college: you must provide a transcript showing the minimum equivalent of 60 semester credits / 90 quarter credits completed at a college accredited by an authority recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education.

You will also need to complete and sign CCOM’s Transfer Verification Form.

The full transfer requirements list and Transfer Verification Form are available from the admission representative.

Reinstatement

If a student has lost F-1 status and wants to transfer to CCOM, the student can use the Reinstatement checklist and our DSO will work with the student on reinstatement.

Important. Students going through the reinstatement process must start classes and continue classes until reinstated.

The Reinstatement checklist is available from the admission representative.

Housing

CCOM does not maintain on-campus housing. Staff will assist students in locating available off-campus housing, but students must make their own housing arrangements.

Tuition payment

Students may pay tuition and fees by cash, check, or bank or credit card. Failure to comply with payment deadlines may result in cancellation of enrollment, and re-registration may be necessary — class schedules are not guaranteed.

Students who register late for classes must go through a late registration process as directed by the Education Department.

Questions

For all international admissions questions, contact the college at info@ccom.edu or 312-368-0900.