Curricular Practical Training



What is Curricular Practical Training?

Curricular Practical Training is temporary employment that the U.S. ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (formerly known as the INS) allows certain F-1 students to engage in so that they may gain practical experience in their field of study.

Curricular Practical Training must be “an integral part of an established curriculum.” The US ICE has defined curricular practical training as “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.”

Specifics

Generally, the curricular practical training is taken for credit and is listed in the school’s course catalog or as a regular course listed with the Registrar’s Office with the available credits and the name of the faculty member teaching the course clearly indicated.  There should be a description of the course with the course objectives clearly defined.  Students enrolled in such a course may work out the detail of their specific projects within the established course objectives under the supervision of the instructor.  If a degree program does not require such training as part of the degree program, you may still qualify for curricular practical training if you are enrolled for a “for credit” course and if the course/training is considered to be an integral part of your curriculum

Curricular Practical Training is available only prior to the completion of your degree program and you must have a specific job offer at the time of application. English as a Second language students are NOT eligible for Practical Training.

How Do I Qualify for Curricular Practical Training

An F-1 student may be authorized by the International Student Services Office (ISS) to participate in a curricular practical training program if you meet the following:

  1. You have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis for at least nine consecutive months.  Exception to the nine months in status requirement is given to students in graduate studies which require immediate participation in curricular practical training.

  2. You must be in lawful F-1 status at the time you apply for CPT.

  3. You must be in a regular degree program-students engaged in English as a second language programs are not eligible for CPT.

  4. The employment must be clearly related to your field of study and be commensurate with the degree level you are pursuing. This is not established by the location or type of business/organization of the employer where you will be working, but rather by your duties and responsibilities.

  5. All training must be an integral part of an established curriculum.  Training needed for degree requirements such as internship or practicum, can be taken for credit or non-credit.  Non-required training must be taken for credit, such as alternate work/study, independent study, internship or cooperative education.  The US ICE has stated that where the student has some choice in whether or not to pursue an academic route involving employment, such training can be classified as CPT if the student receives course credit.

  6. Students may engage in CPT only for the specific employer, location and period approved and recorded by the DSO in SEVIS.  The student must secure a written letter of offer from an employer offering work that qualifies under CPT.  The decision as to whether the work qualifies for CPT is made by the DSO.

  7. The duration of the CPT depends on the specific period granted by the DSO.  The DSO may grant the student CPT in increments of no more than one year , or until the expected date of employment completion, whichever is shorter.  There is no cumulative maximum, except that it can only e approved before completion of the academic objective.

  8. CPT may be approved for part-time (20 hours a week or less) or full-time (over 20 hours).  The employment authorization indicated on the back of the student copy of the I-20 will indicate whether or not the CPT is granted for full time or for part time CPT.  All CPT (full or part time) maybe granted only the Designated School Official in the Office of International Students and Scholars.  Your academic advisor, the Chair of your Department, and the Dean of your college may not grant CPT under the INS rules.

  9. Note that the use of CPT for one year or more eliminates eligibility for Optional Practical Training.

What is the Process for Obtaining Curricular Practical Training?

You should complete the following four steps well in advance of the date you wish to begin employment using Curricular Practical Training:

Meet with your faculty advisor, the internship course faculty supervisor, or co-op program coordinator to arrange placement with an employer as needed.  You should also obtain the completed recommendation form.  Please note this is only a recommendation.  The final decision as to whether to grant or deny the CPT requests rests with the DSO in the International Student Services Office.

After the employment is arranged, have your internship course instructor, academic advisor, or co-op coordinator complete the attached form, entitled “Curricular Practical Training Recommendation for F-1 Students.”

If the employment is part of a course, you must generally register for that course during the semester or summer session for which the CPT will be authorized to take place.  The ISS must be able to verify in the university registration system that you have registered for the course.

Schedule an appointment to meet with an ISS advisor at least two weeks before the start of your proposed employment.  Bring the following documentation to your appointment:

  1. Passport, I-94, current SEVIS I-20 and all previous copies of your I-20 ID

  2. Completed Form I-538, Section A, Items 1-8, sign and date form.

  3. Completed “Verification of Student’s Status by Advisor for Curricular Practical Training Form"  (using the form attached). 

  4. Copy of letter of offer from your prospective employer.  The letter of offer must outline the position offered, dates of proposed employment, whether the position is part time or full time, the name of your supervisor, location where you will work, and the duties and responsibilities of the position.  (See attached sample).  Please note that the regulatory language provides for employment other than a position specifically entitled an "internship" so long as it meets the other regulatory requirements for CPT.  Similarly, the position need not be temporary as long as the student and the employer understand the time limits for which CPT have been granted and that the student may not continue to work for the employer without a further grant of CPT or some other employment authorization as provided under U.S. Immigration law.

If approved, the International Student Services Office will then provide the student written authorization by recording the authorization in SEVIS and by issuing a new SEVIS I-20 with a notation before the work begins.  US ICE approval is not required.  The student must continue to maintain a full course of study in F-1 status (or be granted an exception from full time enrollment).  There are some exceptions from the full time enrollment requirement for some students engaged in CPT, but this must be granted in advance by the DSO.

If you have received one year or more of full-time curricular practical training, you will not be eligible for post-completion optional practical training. 

Examples
The following are some, but not an exhaustive list of possible types of Curricular Practical Training:

Example 1
An example of employment appropriate for practical training is supervised fieldwork required for a Master of Social Work degree.  All MSW candidates are required to work with a different social services agency each semester in a four semester program.  In no case may the “field work instruction” requirement be waived.

Example 2
A student studying marketing for his MBA may also qualify for CPT if one of the options available to fulfill the concentration in marketing is a paid internship, even though it is not required of all MBA students.  The US ICE has stated that where the student has some choice in whether or not to pursue an academic route involving employment, such training can be classified as CPT if the student receives course credit.  Even if an internship is not required of all students, if it is necessary for the individual student’s particular course or plan of work, the employment would qualify for CPT. 

Example 3
An arts administration internship requirement for the Master of Fine Arts would be another example.  Periods of internship with one or more arts organizations are arranged in consultation with each candidate for the MFA in arts administration, and the internship is a formal and explicit requirement of the degree.

Example 4
Doctoral students engages in work which is required for the completion of their unique dissertation may qualify for CPT if, for example, the research involves innovative technology available only at a particular corporations research and development facilities.  The research that the student is engaged in provides critical data and expertise which is an integral part of the students educational program.

Other Important Information
Curricular Practical Training is temporary employment that the U.S. ICE allows certain F-1 students to engage in so that they may gain practical experience in their field of study.  Curricular Practical Training must be “an integral part of an established curriculum.”  The US ICE has defined curricular practical training as “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.”
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