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International Student Services

Curricular Practical Training

What is it?
When do I apply?
How do I apply?
How is it approved?
When can I start?
How long is it?

Curricular practical training (CPT) is training available to F-1 students who have been lawfully enrolled full-time for one full academic year. CPT must be an integral part of the student’s curriculum, as well as directly related to the student’s major, or field of study. This is the equivalent of an internship done prior to graduation. Unlike OPT, CPT is approved by the DSO, which is your ISS advisor.

We ask that you apply at least 30 days prior to the start date of your internship. The timeline is similar to that of pre-completion academic training. Because the approval is done by the ISS advisor, you must allow sufficient time to process your application.

  1. Coordinate with your academic advisor to map out how and if you would be able to fit an internship within the time you have left prior to graduation.  
  2. Then, you can work directly with your internship coordinator and Career Services to find an experience or opportunity that relates directly to your major. You may also find an opportunity on your own, but please note that you will have to work with Career Services to initiate the application in Handshake.  
  3. Your curricular practical training application should contain the following items: offer letter, memorandum of understanding, and learning objectives.  

NOTE: This application will go through a series of approvals, of which ISS is the last. Because CPT must be an integral part of your curriculum, the internship must either be required or done for credit. 

Your application for CPT will go through a series of approvals prior to coming to ISS. You will be able to view in the Handshake application whether or not your internship has been approved; However, you will need to receive notice and an updated I-20 that reflects your authorization for CPT.

Once you have approval from the ISS office and the updated hard copy of your signed I-20, you may start your curricular practical training. Note that because you are doing it prior to graduation, the last day of your internship MUST end prior to the program end date on your I-20.

There is no federal limit on the length of time a student can engage in either part-time or full-time CPT. However, the limit depends on the type of training and the requirements within the student’s curriculum. If it is not a necessary part of your program, then an extension will not be approved. Any F-1 student engaged in full-time CPT for a total of 12 months are more automatically become ineligible for OPT at the same educational level.