HT-OIP
Back
Curricular Practical Training International Student Services Students
4 min read

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

  1. Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a type of work authorization that allows F-1 international students to participate in paid (or unpaid) off-campus academic internships during their degree program. The purpose of CPT is academic and the internship must be considered an integral part of a student’s degree program.

    Student Eligibility Requirements are as follows:

    1. Valid F-1 Student Status
    • Must have maintained F-1 each semester
    • Must be full-time enrolled for the semester they wish to pursue the CPT.
    • Students must have been in F-1 student status for at least one academic year before they can apply for CPT.
    1. Must have internship offer
    • Students must have a specific job/internship offer
    • Job must be related to student’s major
    1. Internship Course Registration
    • Students who are enrolled in degree programs that require an internship as part of their degree requirements do not have to register/enroll in an internship course for CPT purposes.

    • However, if a student’s major does not require an internship, then he/she must register for an internship course during the semester they wish to do CPT.

    CPT and OPT

    Part-time CPT does not interfere with students’ eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduation. However, if a student does a total of 12 months full-time CPT during their degree program, then that student would lose the option to do OPT.

    CPT Application Forms

    Students must submit a CPT application form when requesting to work off-campus. Upon receiving this application, the OIP will begin processing the CPT request. This process, from the time of request to the printing of an I-20 authorizing the CPT, takes about a week. Students cannot work before or after these authorized dates of the CPT.

     Students may be granted several CPT authorizations during their program.