Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an employment option available to F-1 students. It must be directly related to the major area of study and students must receive academic credit for the work experience. 

As noted in federal regulations, "Curricular practical training is defined to be alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education or any other type of required internship or practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school." 

We understand this to mean that CPT may be:

  • Alternative work/study, OR,
  • Internship, OR,
  • Cooperative Education, OR,
  • Any required internship or practicum

Therefore, our institutional policy for CPT is that the student must receive academic credit for the work they perform through:

  • Enrollment in an internship course, OR,
  • Enrollment in a CO-OP (Cooperative Education) course, OR,
  • Enrollment in a course which requires a work/volunteer component, OR,
  • Credit for hours worked when the program requires such hours of ALL students (for example, Hospitality Management) but does not enroll them in a course to grant the credit

Note for Ph.D. students:  In Ph.D. programs, doctoral candidates may substitute up to 3 hours of approved graduate-level internship, capstone or COOP to meet the 18 hour doctoral dissertation requirement with prior approval of the student's advisor, dissertation committee, and department/program head/chair/director.

Important Note:

Students wishing to pursue Curricular Practical Training (CPT) during a fall or spring semester (whether on a part time or full time basis) must remain enrolled in a full course of study as defined by immigration regulations.  Students wishing to pursue CPT during a summer term must be enrolled in at least the course for which they will earn academic credit for their CPT employment.  Please contact an ISS advisor if you have questions or concerns.

CPT Steps

  1. Obtain a job offer.
  2. Complete the online CPT Application (and Engineering Co-Op Online Form if an Engineering student).
  3. Academic Advisor verifies employment is related to your major program and determines the appropriate course credit.
  4. Enroll in the course related to CPT employment.
  5. Schedule an appointment  with an F-1 advisor at ISS to receive a CPT I-20 in order to begin CPT employment.

Engineering Students Only

Please visit the College of Engineering Co-Op webpage and contact Caleb Hatz for assistance or further information. Once the online application is processed by the College of Engineering and you are enrolled in the CO-OP course, please schedule an appointment with an F-1 advisor to submit your completed CPT application for review by ISS. CPT approval will not be finalized - and you may NOT begin employment - until you have a new I-20 with the CPT authorization printed on the second page which you can show to your employer as proof of your employment authorization.

CPT Start and End Dates

Every student's situation is different, and several factors are considered regarding when CPT may begin and end. Please contact an International Student Advisor on live chat for specific guidance concerning CPT dates.