Planning Unpaid Internship Request

The Planning Department routinely accepts requests for unpaid internships. These requests are considered as workload and supervisory capacity exists and may be accepted upon approval by the Human Resources Department. Requests made by students enrolled in a higher education institution and earning course credit for the unpaid internship are eligible for consideration. 

Opportunities for paid internships and other job postings can be found at the City's Careers page.

Notes: Upon a conditional offer and acceptance of an unpaid internship, the City of Oklahoma City will conduct a background investigation/verification. Unpaid internship hours are limited to no more than 29 hours per week.

Fair Labor Standards Act

The Fair Labor Standards Act, as interpreted by the Supreme Court, provides criteria for what is and is not legal regarding payment for internships. 

Six criteria must be applied when determining if an internship can be unpaid:  

  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. 

If the six criteria are not satisfied, the individual is considered an employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and must be paid in accordance with the Act. 

Request an Unpaid Internship
To request an unpaid internship with the Planning Department, please complete the form below and attach a cover letter, resume, and writing sample. Please contact T.O. Bowman at sustainability@okc.gov or (405) 297-3168 if you have any questions or issues with submitting the form. 

Click here to view form.

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