Curricular Practical Training
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an authorization for training opportunities that are an integral part of your program of study, whether paid or unpaid. CPT is authorized for opportunities such as:
- Required internships/training
- Credited internships
- Authorized cooperative education
Eligibility
CPT must be authorized before the first day of your training program. If you do not receive this authorization first, you will be engaging in unauthorized employment. While you should should prepare all documents and ensure you have appropriate signatures before setting up a CPT appointment, from time to time issues do arise that prevent you from being authorized for CPT at the time of your appointment. While authorization does normally happen during the CPT appointment, we do suggest you give yourself at least a week before you need to begin working just in case something comes up.
- 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 must have a minimum 2.0 GPA as an undergraduate student or a 3.0 as a graduate student.
- You must receive academic credit in your program of study for the employment.
- 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).
- The only exception to this policy is for those participating in the NSF I-Corp program.
Apply
To apply for CPT, click on the link above and fill out the e-form. You will be required to upload your CPT job offer letter, provide information on the course you will be taking for the CPT experience, and enter your Academic Advisor's name and email address. Your form will automatically be routed to your Academic Advisor for approval. Once your advisor completes their section of the form, it'll then be sent to the International Center for processing. If everything is in order, the International Center will approve your CPT in SEVIS and email you an updated I-20.
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.
Additional resources can be found below.
- Review the CPT Checklist.
- Review the CPT Student Guide - make sure you are enrolled in credit and have a job offer letter
- You can provide your academic advisor with the CPT Department Guide and employers with CPT Employer Guide if they have questions about their role in the process.