Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is the immigration program that will help you obtain permission to work off campus in a job related to your field of study, or to participate in a paid internship.
Guidelines
- You cannot participate in CPT until you have been in enrolled full time in legal F-1 status (at any U.S. school) for at least one academic year (9 months). ESL students are not eligible.
- CPT is limited to Part-time (less than 20 hours per week) during Fall and Spring semesters.
- CPT can be Full-Time during the summer - unless Summer is your final semester.
- CPT must be done for academic credit, even if you are participating during the summer months.
- CPT can be required for the degree program, or optional.
- CPT requires an academic advisor, registration for a course, and will carry a grade. The work experience must be related to your major field of study.
- CPT can be approved for one year for part-time work (renewable), and for up to one year of full-time work.
Procedure
Procedure
- Find a Job!
- You cannot start working until CPT has been approved - to approve CPT, a job offer letter must outline the work you intend to be doing - an official offer. The ISS office and your program will review this to approve your CPT.
- Set up a meeting with the ISS Office - meetings will scheduled at least 24 hours after initial request. Stop in the office to speak with Scott or Amelia.
Please note that you must have approval for Curricular Practical Training BEFORE you can begin work. Not doing so puts you out of status, which then makes it impossible for us to approve you for CPT.
Please note that you must have approval for Curricular Practical Training BEFORE you can begin work. Not doing so puts you out of status, which then makes it impossible for us to approve you for CPT.