Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Policy

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F-1 students must obtain prior authorization from their Designated School Official (DSO) before beginning any CPT employment or practical training.

Policy Statement

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is available to eligible F-1 students when practical training is an integral part of the student’s established curriculum and directly related to the student’s major area of study. CPT requires prior authorization from the Designated School Official (DSO) and must be completed in accordance with applicable federal regulations and University procedures.

Reason for Policy

This policy establishes the eligibility and requirements F-1 students seeking to participate in Curricular Practical Training (CPT).

Who is Governed by this Policy

F-1 Nonimmigrant Students, Faculty, and Administration

Policy

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a type of off-campus employment authorization available to eligible F-1 students when the practical training is an integral part of an established curriculum.

CPT may include alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education, or other required internship or practicum experiences offered through cooperative agreements between the university and an employer.

Eligibility

An F-1 student may be authorized by the Designated School Official (DSO) to participate in CPT if the student:

  • Has been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis for one full academic year, unless the student qualifies for the regulatory exception for graduate students whose programs require immediate participation in practical training.
  • Will participate in practical training that is an integral part of the student’s established curriculum, required for students in the applicable academic program, and directly related to the student’s major area of study.
  • Has secured a qualifying training position with an employer participating through an established cooperative agreement with the University.
  • Is enrolled in the required course and receives academic credit during the applicable academic term, consistent with the University’s Credit Hour Policy.
  • Is maintaining valid F-1 status and making normal progress toward completion of the academic program.
  • Is not enrolled in an English language training program.

Authorization

A request for CPT authorization must be submitted to the DSO in accordance with established University procedures. CPT authorization must be obtained before the student begins the practical training experience.

CPT is not available for training that is:

  • Not a required part of the established curriculum.
  • Undertaken solely for professional experience or résumé building
  • Based on a minor or general graduation requirement

Students seeking off-campus employment primarily for professional experience that is not an integral part of their curriculum should explore Pre-Completion OPT, when eligible.

When to Apply for CPT

CPT Filing Timeline:

  • Earliest to Apply: After receiving a training offer and registering for the required course.
  • Latest to Apply: By the University’s published last day to add a course.

Important: Students must not begin CPT employment until they have received their CPT-authorized Form I-20 and the authorized CPT start date has been reached.

CPT Authorization Requirements

  • Students must obtain prior authorization from their Designated School Official (DSO) before beginning any CPT employment or practical training.
  • Students may begin CPT only after receiving a Form I-20 with the DSO’s CPT authorization and may not begin before the authorized CPT start date indicated on the Form I-20.
  • CPT must be completed within the student’s authorized program dates on the Form I-20.
  • Students must not participate in unauthorized off-campus employment or practical training. Unauthorized employment is a violation of F-1 status and may result in termination of the student’s SEVIS record and other immigration consequences.

Types of CPT

  • Internship: A required, course-based, structured, supervised, career-related work experience that may be paid or unpaid.
  • Practicum: A required, course-based, supervised field experience integrated into academic coursework.
  • Clinical Placement: A required, hands-on learning experience in a health-related field conducted under appropriate supervision to meet academic, accreditation, or licensure requirements.
  • Field Placement / Fieldwork: A required, supervised, community-based or service-oriented learning experience integrating academic theory with professional practice.
  • Laboratory Experience / Lab Practicum: A required, supervised, course-integrated experience in which students apply scientific methods and techniques to experiments, data collection, and analysis.
  • Cooperative Education: Practical training associated with the Jaggar Community Fellows Program and educationally affiliated contractual relationships with participating nonprofit organizations.

Regulatory Guidelines

CPT Authorization

CPT is authorized by a Designated School Official (DSO) through SEVIS and must be reflected on the student’s CPT-endorsed Form I-20.

CPT authorization:

  • Must be issued before employment begins.
  • Cannot be backdated.
  • Is specific to the approved employer, position, location, dates, and hours.
  • Requires separate authorization for each employer and CPT segment, as applicable.

Employer and School Relationship

Employers providing CPT opportunities must have an established cooperative agreement with the University or applicable college or school.

The University will enter into cooperative agreements only with legitimate, bona fide employers that are able to provide appropriate and quality practical training experiences consistent with the student’s academic program and field of study.

Academic Enrollment and Credit

Students must:

  • Maintain the required course of study for F-1 status.
  • Register for the appropriate CPT course.
  • Receive academic credit during the applicable academic term, consistent with the University’s Credit Hour Policy.

CPT Training Offer

Before CPT can be authorized, students must obtain a qualifying training opportunity through an approved employer or training arrangement.

The employer offer letter must include:

  • Employer name and address
  • Supervisor’s name and contact information
  • Training start and end dates
  • Number of hours per week
  • Position or type of training
  • Description of training duties

Effect of CPT on OPT Eligibility

There is no cumulative maximum period for CPT. However:

  • 12 months or more of full-time CPT makes a student ineligible for post-completion OPT at the same educational level.
  • Part-time CPT does not count toward the 12-month full-time CPT limit.

Multiple CPT Employers

Students may have more than one CPT authorization when permitted by their academic program and University requirements.

A separate CPT authorization is required for each employer and CPT segment. Students must not begin work for a new employer or in a new position until the appropriate CPT authorization has been issued.

Part-Time and Full-Time CPT

CPT may be authorized on a part-time or full-time basis.

  • Part-Time CPT — 20 hours or fewer per week.
  • Full-Time CPT — More than 20 hours per week.

During the academic year, CPT is generally limited to part-time employment unless full-time practical training is required by the academic program.

Full-time CPT may generally be available during an authorized school break or when required by the academic program.

Paid or Unpaid CPT

CPT may be paid or unpaid. Whether a position is paid does not determine whether it qualifies for CPT.

Students and employers must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local employment and wage requirements.

Jaggar Community Fellows Program

F-1 students may be eligible to participate in the Jaggar Community Fellows Program, a competitive experiential learning program for non-graduating students of all majors, provided the training meets applicable federal regulations and is an integral part of the student’s established curriculum and directly related to the student’s major area of study.

Through cooperative agreements between the University and participating employers, the program provides students with opportunities to gain practical experience in the nonprofit sector.

Procedures

Refer to the University Curricular Practical Training Guide for Students.

Definitions

Cooperative education (or co-operative education): A structured method of combining classroom-based education with practical work experience.

Curricular Practical Training: 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.

Designated School Official (DSO): Located in International Services, the DSO is responsible for performing institutional compliance responsibilities, including record-keeping and reporting responsibilities for the SEVIS records of nonimmigrant students in F visa categories.

Employment: The condition of having paid work. The state of being employed. Remuneration for services

Educationally Affiliated: Work with an employer that is contractually affiliated with the school for on-campus employment even if the work site is not located on the campus (such as a research lab affiliated with your school).

Integral: Necessary to make a whole complete, essential or fundamental.

Internship: The position of a student or trainee who works in an organization, sometimes without pay, in order to gain work experience or satisfy requirements for a qualification.

Optional Practical Training: Optional practical training is one type of work permission available for eligible F-1 students. It allows students to get real-world work experience related to their field of study.

Practical Training: Purposeful activity which relates directly to the student’s major area of study, is an integral part of the school’s established curriculum, organized to achieve learning outcomes, and aimed at applying acquired knowledge and skills in a working environment using the format of practical work and/or independent work under dual supervision (a supervisor from the facility of practical training and one from the College).

Practicum: A course of study designed especially for the preparation of teachers and clinicians that involves the supervised practical application of previously studied theory.

SEVIS: The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is the Web-based system that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) uses to maintain information on Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified schools, F-1 and M-1 students who come to the United States to attend those schools, U.S. Department of State-designated Exchange Visitor Program sponsors and J-1 visa Exchange Visitor Program participants.

Forms

This policy does not have forms associated with it at this time. Upon periodic policy review, this area will be evaluated to determine if additional information is needed to supplement the policy.

Related Information

Federal resources regarding Curricular Practical Training:

Document History

  • Last Reviewed Date: October 15, 2026
  • Last Revised Date: October 15, 2026
  • Policy Origination Date: August 2007

Who Approved this Policy

Senior Leadership Council

Policy Owner

Policy Experts

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