Practical Training is temporary employment authorization directly related to an F-1 student's major field of study.  Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is defined as employment which is "an integral part of an established curriculum", including: “alternate work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internships or practicum which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school.” Source: [8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i)] 

CPT can be either paid or unpaid, and part-time or full-time experiences. F-1 students who have received an aggregate of one year or more of full-time CPT become ineligible for optional practical training (OPT) at the same educational level.

CPT is not a workaround for employment. The employment must make a direct contribution to the advancement of your degree.  

Important: The CPT must be approval by ISSS prior to beginning the employment and it must be documented on SEVIS.  Please plan ahead as processing time may take between 1-2 weeks.

CPT will only be approved one semester at a time. Full year practical training opportunities will need to be submitted in two applications corresponding to each term.

• The practical training experience/employment must be directly related to the student’s major field of study.   

• The practical training experience/employment must be an ‘integral part of the established curriculum’.   

  • When required by the academic program, student will include the link to the specific requirement in the Graduate/Undergraduate Catalog.   
  • When required as part of an academic course for credit (i.e. internship/practicum course or an independent study), student will include the copy of the syllabus indicating the course requirement and a link to their academic program’s curriculum page in the Graduate/Undergraduate Catalog that demonstrates how this course fits into the degree requirements.   
  • When required for completion of the dissertation/thesis, student will include a letter from their dissertation/thesis advisor/committee attesting that the work contributes “materially and substantially” to the thesis or dissertation.
    
    
• Student must have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis at an SEVP-approved college, university, conservatory, or seminary for one full academic year before being eligible for CPT. Exceptions exists for graduate students whose program require immediate curricular training for all students in the program. 
  
  
• Student must be in valid F-1 status, must meet full course of study requirements, and making normal progress towards their degree.
  
  
• CPT is available only before the end date listed on the Form I-20.
  
  
• Students in English language training program or International Study Center are ineligible for CPT.
  
  
• The student must have a job offer from the employer when submitting the CPT request.