Curricular Practical Training
Update as of 08/24/2026
SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) issued further guidance on CPT eligibility criteria.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is defined to be alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education or any other type of required internship or practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school. It' an authorization for off-campus training opportunities that are an integral part of a program of study and part of an established curriculum, whether paid or unpaid.
CPT is authorized for required off-campus:
- Clinicals
- Employment
- Internships
- Practicums
- Training
Eligibility
The eligibility requirements for CPT approval are listed below.
- You are eligible for CPT to work off campus after you have maintained F-1 student status in the United States for one academic year in your current program of study.
- You are in good academic standing
- The training is a credited or non-credited requirement of your program. This means that the training experience is a requirement of all students in the same program of study and is listed in the course catalog.
- CPT can be authorized only for periods during your program of study. It cannot be authorized after you have completed the program.
- If participating in CPT during the regular semester, you may work part-time (no more than 20 hours per week) and must continue to be enrolled in a full course of study as defined by your program. Full-time CPT will only be approved during official school breaks (winter, spring, summer).
- Students with a Graduate Assistantship are not eligible to apply for CPT during official school terms (Fall and Spring). They can only work 20 hours a week total (including CPT hours and GA hours combined).
Apply
It’s recommended that students apply for CPT as soon as possible. Applications are normally approved within 3-5 business days; however, unforeseen circumstances may arise, causing delays. We ask that applications be submitted no later than a week before your expected training experience.
Please note, students should submit completed applications for review. Incomplete application packets will not receive authorization.
You should not start any work off campus until you have your CPT approval I-20 and you are within the approved CPT start and end dates listed on page 2 of your updated I-20.