Curricular Practical Training

General Information

To qualify for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), your degree program must have an internship elective that contributes to the required credits to complete your degree. The internship course must be graded and appear on your transcript. 

CPT is authorized one semester at a time in coordination with enrollment in an internship course. The CPT must fall within the dates of the internship course. If CPT will extend into an adjoining semester, a new CPT authorization must be requested. If granted approval for a CPT extention, you must enroll in an additional internship course for that semester. 

CPT employment must be directly related to your major area of study (not a minor). This will be verified by your academic advisor. 

CPT is date, employer, and location specific; any adjustments need to be reported for a corrected CPT authorization.

If you re-enter the U.S. using an initial I-20 you are not eligible for CPT until you complete 1 academic year as a full time student.

CPT is approved by your international advisor, rather than from USCIS, and there is not an application fee.  

 

Eligibility

• You must hold valid F-1 status at the time of application
• You have been a full-time student in the U.S. and in F1 status for one academic year at the time of CPT application
• You are making normal progress toward your degree and are in good academic and disciplinary standing
• You have a job offer directly related to your program of study 
• You are registered in the internship course during the semester you are requesting CPT
• You completed the CPT request form

Enrollment Requirements

• If applying for CPT in the Fall or Spring semester, you must be enrolled full-time or have an approved  Reduced Course Load on file before CPT is approved.
• If applying for CPT in the  Summer or Winter term and it is your final semester, you must be enrolled full-time or have an approved Reduced Course Load on file before CPT is approved. If Summer or Winter are not your final semester, then full-time enrollment is not required.  However, enrollment in the future term is required before CPT is approved.
• If CPT authorization was granted in your final semester then your CPT cannot be extended past the end date of your I-20.

Work hours

• CPT authorization is limited to 20 hours per week during the Fall and Spring semester.
• More than 20 hours per week is permitted during Summer or Winter term and during official school breaks .

If you are authorized for CPT during the Fall/Spring semester, you may not exceed 20 hours per week between both CPT and any on-campus employment.

Students who have received 12 months or more of full-time CPT are ineligible for Optional Practical Training.