Career Center

The Department of Labor has developed a six-factor test for determining whether workers are to be considered "trainees" (e.g., unpaid interns) or "employees" (hourly or salaries interns) that must be paid at least minimum wage under the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA). To list with the Career Center as an unpaid internship the following criteria must be met: 

1. The internship, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to training which would be given in an educational environment;
2. The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern;
3. The intern does not displace regular employees, but works under close supervision of existing staff;
4. The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern; and on occasion its operations may actually be impeded;
5. The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship; and
6. The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the time spent in the internship.

For additional information regarding compliance provisions of the FLSA, go to:

• United States Department of Labor Fact Sheet #71
• United States Department of Labor: Fair Labor Standards Act Advisor (elaws)