Terms and Conditions

10.1 Employment Intention

• • You must indicate at enrollment that you are seeking full-time employment with a U.S. employer in a field related to your CAIS program.
• • You may not restrict your job search exclusively to remote positions.

10.2 Tuition Standing

• • You must remain current on all CAIS tuition and enrollment fee obligations throughout your program participation.
• • Any refund will be calculated based on the actual amount CAIS has received under your Enrollment Agreement.
• • Bank fees, financing interest, third-party loan costs, or other charges from external financial providers are non-refundable. CAIS does not benefit from or represent any third-party financing arrangement.

10.3 On-Time Graduation

• • You must complete your enrolled curriculum path within its required timeframe.
• • On-Time Graduation means completing your program within 1.5× the standard duration listed in the CAIS Program Catalog, measured from your Program Scheduled Start Date to your Completion Date.
• • Leaves of absence, suspensions, extensions, or program transfers do not extend the On-Time Graduation window.

10.4 Eligibility Requirements

• • You must be at least 21 years old.
• • You must permanently reside in the United States.
• • You must be legally authorized to work in the United States in a professional field related to your CAIS program, without requiring current or future employer sponsorship.
• • You must demonstrate proficiency in spoken and written English at or above a B2 level on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) at the time you begin your program.

10.5 Career Milestones

• • You must complete all career readiness activities assigned within your CAIS curriculum before your Completion Date.
• • You must respond to the CAIS Career Services Team within 2 business days of any outreach.
• • You must attend all assigned career coaching sessions before your Completion Date; rescheduling requires at least 24 hours' advance notice.

10.6 Job Search Period

• • Your Job Search Period begins on the date your final capstone or portfolio project is accepted by CAIS ("Job Search Start Date").
• • You must begin your first documented job search activity within 14 days of your Job Search Start Date. Starting after 14 days but within three months allows continued Career Services support, but forfeits MBG eligibility.
• • You may take up to 2 weeks of documented breaks during the 10-month Job Search Period.
• • You must not leave the United States for more than 60 cumulative days during the Job Search Period.

10.7 Weekly and Monthly Search Requirements

Starting from your Job Search Start Date, you must complete and document all of the following each week through the tracking platform designated by CAIS Career Services:

• • Apply to at least 10 positions per week relevant to your field of study.
• • Send at least 10 professional networking messages per week.
• • Complete at least 2 qualified informational interviews per month, with at least 1 conducted in person.
• • Dedicate at least 5 hours per week to ongoing technical skill development in AI, software, or your related program discipline.
• • If fewer than 10 relevant postings are available in a given week, you must increase your networking outreach proportionally to meet your Weekly Engagement Goal as defined by Career Services.

Qualitative standards of effort and professional engagement, communicated through your assigned career platform tasks, must also be met. Both quantitative and qualitative requirements must be satisfied continuously.

10.8 Externships and Practicum

• • If you enroll in a CAIS externship or industry practicum, successful completion is mandatory for MBG eligibility. Withdrawal or failure to complete the externship results in immediate disqualification.

10.9 Tracking, Documentation, and Check-Ins

• • All applications and networking activities must be tracked in the format specified by CAIS Career Services at the start of your Job Search Period.
• • You must maintain clear records and be prepared to provide evidence, upon request, of at least 10 months of active job searching following your Job Search Start Date without a qualifying offer.
• • You must attend check-in meetings with Career Services at least once every two weeks, or as directed, for the full 10-month Job Search Period. Rescheduling requires at least 24 hours' advance notice.

10.10 Full-Time Applications and Background Checks

• • Only applications to full-time positions (30+ hours per week) count toward your required weekly minimum. Part-time applications may be submitted in addition but do not count toward the threshold.
• • If you fail an employer-initiated drug test or background check, or if such a failure results in the loss of a qualifying job offer, you will not be eligible for the Money-Back Guarantee.

10.11 Money-Back Guarantee Period

• • The standard MBG period runs from 10 to 15 months after your Job Search Start Date. Refund requests may be submitted no earlier than 10 months and no later than 15 months from that date.
• • The MBG period may be extended by up to 12 additional months if, at any point during the original MBG window, the national unemployment rate reaches or exceeds 6%, or increases by more than 0.5% in a single calendar month, as verified by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

10.12 Qualifying Job Offer

• • A Qualifying Job Offer is a compensated position — including employment, apprenticeship, internship, independent contracting, or a promotion — that is relevant to your CAIS field of study (AI, software development, game development, or related discipline) and is expected to last at least four weeks. The role must involve the application of technical skills gained in your program, as evident in the job description.
• • If you receive a Qualifying Job Offer, you must notify CAIS Career Services within 24 hours. Failure to do so terminates MBG eligibility immediately.
• • Accepting or declining a Qualifying Job Offer also terminates MBG eligibility immediately.

10.13 Withdrawal and Platform Access

• • If you request a withdrawal and are approved for a refund under the MBG, you will immediately lose access to the CAIS platform, all program resources, community events, and career alumni support services.
• • You are solely responsible for tracking all MBG deadlines and ensuring timely completion of all required actions.