Curricular Practical Training

• The student must first meet with the Office of Career and Professional Development and  their academic advisor to determine if they qualify for an internship
• Academic departments have different internship requirements and may not have internship availability within their degree programs. 

• Please Note: No academic internship credit available = No CPT authorization ability

• It is the student’s responsibility to research academic requirements and deadlines  prior to requesting participation in an internship

• Once the academic advisor and student agree to an internship assignment, the student should provide the advisor with a CPT Academic Department Form for completion
• Register for the internship class prior to meeting with a DSO for CPT authorization

• Once you receive an offer of employment, ask your employer to complete a CPT Employer Form
• If the employer prefers to provide an employment offer letter, the letter must be written on company letterhead and include the following information:
  • The employer company name
  • A specific start date (mm/dd/yyy). The start date cannot be prior to the 1^st day of classes for the term registered and the student must submit the form to a DSO no later than one week prior to the 1^st day of classes
  • A specific end date (mm/dd/yyyy). The end date cannot extend beyond the last day of classes for the registered term.
  • Your job title
  • A brief job description
  • A physical job site address where you will conduct your job
  • Number of hours to be worked per week
  • Letter must be signed by the employer
• Please be aware that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defines part time as 20 hours per week or less and full time as 21 or more hours per week or more

• The student must be in valid F-1 status at the time of application and must have completed two long semesters before they are eligible for CPT.  Exception:  If a graduate program requires the training to begin immediately, this requirement can be waived
• The training must be in your field of study and you must be enrolled for an internship course  to participate in CPT
• You must be enrolled in internship credit prior to requesting CPT authorization
• The training can be either required to meet degree program requirements OR an integral part of the student's program of study.  Please see required versus integral. 
• Part time is defined as 20 hours per week or less. 
• Full time is defined as more than 21 hours per week
• If you accumulate more than 11 months and 29 days of full time CPT, you become ineligible for Optional Practical Train (OPT)
• Part time CPT does not affect OPT
• CPT authorization is dates specific and employer specific. This means you can work only during the authorization dates and only for the employer listed on page #2 of the I-20 form.
• You must receive CPT authorization before you begin employment.  Working prior to obtaining employment authorization is a violation of your immigration status
• Prior to making a request for CPT authorization, all 3 forms must be submitted to a DSO

• CPT Student Form
• CPT Academic Department Form
• CPT Employer Form

Please note:  Employment with an employer that has not met the CPT requirements as listed above is considered unauthorized employment.  Employment not listed on page #2 of your I-20 form is also unauthorized employment.