CURRICULAR PRACTICAL TRAINING FOR F-1 STUDENTS
DEFINITION
Alternate work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school. Students who have received one year or more of full-time curricular practical training are ineligible for post-completion practical training—part-time CPT has no effect on your eligibility for OPT. (from 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i))
ELIGIBILITY:
To be eligible for Curricular Practical Training, an F-1 student must continue to make reasonable progress toward degree completion, AND satisfy one of the following requirements:
1. The internship, practicum, or field placement/study is a requirement for the degree program and confer course credit. Student may work for the length of time that the curriculum requires for the degree. Full-time Curricular Practical Training is allowed during regular semesters under this criterion.
2. An F-1 student is required to have completed one academic year of studies to qualify under this criterion. The internship, practicum, or field placement/study is an integral part of the degree program and confer course credit, but is not a requirement of the degree program. Part-time (up to 20 hours per week) curricular practical training is allowed during regular semesters under this criteria. Full-time training is allowed only during vacation periods, such as summer vacation.
Curricular Practical Training is NOT intended as a way to begin a job before OPT is approved. It is your responsibility to reasonably expect that you will have permission to work by the time you are to begin employment. If you have completed your courses and the necessary research for your thesis or dissertation, you are not eligible for CPT.
REMEMBER:You MUST be registered for a related course throughout your CPT.
APPLICATION STEPS:
At least one week before your employment is to begin, submit a letter from your academic advisor or department chair, on department letterhead, to the Office of International Students & Scholars. This letter must include the following information:
1. The student’s intent to engage in Curricular Practical Training;
2. Whether this practical training is a required or optional part of the major (as listed in the course catalog);
3. What particular course (number and title) the student will enroll in that is directly related to this practical experience for the specific semester (see eligibility criteria, above, for appropriate course titles);
4. The dates of the requested CPT and whether the recommendation is that it be full- or part-time;
5. Where the student will be working: name of company, and complete mailing address including zip code;
6. A brief description of how the department will evaluate the student’s progress.
If you are in CEMR, the ONLY individuals authorized to write this letter are Linda Fredrick and Linda Cox, Cooperative Relations & Career Assistance.
NOTE: The Office of International Students & Scholars will review each case submitted and determine the merit of each case. Please allow five working days to process a request for CPT. You may choose to speak to one of the advisors at OISS to pre-determine your eligibility before submitting your documents.
CPT is approved by OISS. Please remember that you may NOT engage in practical training until approval is annotated on your I-20.