Navigating Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for International Students: A Comprehensive Guide
For international students pursuing education in the United States on an F-1 visa, Curricular Practical Training (CPT) offers a valuable avenue to integrate academic knowledge with hands-on work experience. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of CPT, outlining its purpose, eligibility requirements, application process, and key considerations for students seeking to enhance their education through practical training opportunities.
What is Curricular Practical Training (CPT)?
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a work authorization that allows international students with F-1 visas to participate in internships, cooperative education programs, or other forms of practical training directly related to their academic program. CPT is designed to provide students with opportunities to apply the knowledge and skills gained through coursework in a real-world work environment. Gaining real-life work experience in the US as an international student is a great opportunity to put your studies into practice. Research from the National Association of Colleges and Employers shows that 50-60% of interns are hired as full-time employees after graduation. As an international student, internships can provide you the opportunity for something bigger in the future.
It’s important to understand that the US government considers any work done in the US to be employment even if that work is unpaid.
CPT vs. Optional Practical Training (OPT)
While both CPT and Optional Practical Training (OPT) are work authorization options for F-1 students, they serve different purposes and have distinct characteristics:
- CPT is tied to a specific employer and job with a set duration, but Optional Practical Training (OPT) can be used to find any job as long as it’s related to your field of study.
- OPT is also limited to only 12 months of work.
- While OPT can be used before or after graduation, CPT can only be used before graduation.
- Using CPT to gain work experience during your degree program allows you to save OPT for after graduation and extend the amount of time you can remain in the US on your F-1 visa.
CPT Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for CPT, international students generally must meet the following criteria:
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- F-1 Visa Status: CPT is exclusively for F-1 student visa holders.
- Full-Time Enrollment: Students must have been enrolled on a full-time basis in a SEVIS-approved educational institution (college, university, conservatory, or seminary) for at least one full academic year. This requirement also includes students who, during their course of study, were enrolled in a study abroad program, if the student had spent at least one full academic term enrolled in a full course of study in the United States prior to studying abroad.
- Exception: Graduate students whose programs require immediate participation in CPT may be exempt from the one-academic-year requirement.
- Academic Standing: Students must maintain F-1 status.
- Curricular Integration: The internship, practicum, field experience, etc.) must be an integral part of your curriculum. Federal regulations require CPT to be directly related to a student’s major area of study. This means CPT cannot be authorized based on a student’s minor or general graduation credits.
- Course Enrollment: Students must maintain continuous enrollment in a course that requires CPT during the entire semester for which CPT is authorized. Failure to maintain enrollment in the CPT designated course will result in the termination of the student's CPT work authorization and the student will no longer be permitted to legally work.
- Your CPT course must be credit-bearing - Minimum of 1 credit.
- Exception: Some programs require CPT experiences and do not require coursework.
- Job Offer: Students must have a job offer at the time of application. The position must be an internship/practicum/co-op/etc.
Types of CPT
CPT can be authorized for either part-time or full-time employment:
- Part-Time CPT: Employment is limited to 20 hours per week or less. Part-time CPT employment (up to 20 hours a week) has no effect on eligibility for OPT.
- Full-Time CPT: Employment is more than 20 hours per week.
It’s rare for this to happen but still something to keep in mind if you want to do multiple semesters of CPT. For example, if you do a full-time summer internship each summer, that only adds up to nine months of CPT. However, you must be careful because 12 months of full-time CPT makes you ineligible for OPT.
The CPT Application Process
The CPT application process generally involves the following steps:
- Consult with Academic Advisor: It’s important that you that you consult your academic adviser/department about CPT.
- Obtain a Job Offer Letter: All they have to do is provide an official offer letter that includes the job/internship’s start and end dates, the hiring organization’s name and physical address, and the student’s job title and description.
- Enroll in a CPT-Related Course: Most students will need to register for CPT credit to be authorized. This must happen before you submit your CPT request to ISS. We cannot approve your CPT until you are registered for the appropriate credit.
- In general, you must enroll in your CPT credits during the quarter you are participating in CPT. The only exception to this is summer quarter. If you are doing CPT during summer, you may defer credit to the autumn quarter (with approval of your academic department). Note: Since CPT is curricular, students are required to enroll in a minimum of one CPT credit per authorized quarter.
- It is your responsibility to meet all the obligations of the CPT-related course.
- Submit the CPT Application: Submit your application to your university’s ISSS office with your official job offer letter.
- Start the CPT Application located under F-1 Practical Training - Apply.
- Signed CPT Form acknowledging you will receive academic credit from CPT (Download CPT Packet).
- Class Schedule showing registration in a course that requires CPT.
- Students who will not be enrolled full-time must submit a Reduced Course Load Form (only for fall or spring).
- Receive CPT Authorization: Once your CPT is approved, print and sign your Form I-20. When the CPT request is approved, a new I-20 with CPT authorization is produced. attached. A DSO will create a new CPT I-20 with approved work authorization dates.
Important Considerations
- CPT Start and End Dates: CPT does not have to start on the first day of the semester. CPT is granted for one semester at a time. CPT Start and End Dates must follow the academic semester. Students are only authorized to work during the approved CPT Start and End Dates. CPT must occur before a student's program end date on the I-20.
- Full-Time CPT and OPT Eligibility: Yes. If you are authorized for 12 months or more of full-time CPT, you will no longer be eligible for OPT.
- CPT Extension: You will need to submit a CPT update request through MyISSS. You must submit a new CPT request for the extended date. An I-20 cannot be extended for the sole purpose of CPT.
- CPT in the Final Semester: Yes. You can be authorized for CPT during your final quarter as long as you have degree requirements remaining. If you are participating in CPT in your final semester (fall and spring only) and you will be enrolled less than full-time you must also submit a Reduced Course Load.
- Social Security Number (SSN): Please bring the following documents to apply for a social security number (SSN) at the Social Security Administration Office:
- Passport
- Visa
- I-94 (print your I-94 here)
- Most recent I-20 (listing your CPT authorization)
- Hiring Letter (If your employer needs more information on hiring an international student or a hiring letter template.
- Maintaining F-1 Status: A student must maintain F-1 status for one full academic year at TXST, defined as the completion of two long semesters, excluding summer, to be eligible for CPT.
- CPT and On-Campus Employment: Internships cannot be used to increase hours worked on-campus.
- Multiple CPT Authorizations: Students can have more than one CPT authorization at the same time. However, CPT authorization is needed for each employer and each time period.
- Compensation: There is no restriction on compensation during CPT.
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tags: #cpt #internship #jobs #requirements
