Please click here to view a presentation that will guide you through Curricular Practical Training (CPT). Definition Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is employment pursuant to an internship requirement or internship elective which is an integral part of the established curriculum of your school. Procedures Submit the following documentation to International Student Services (ISS) as early as 90 days, but no less than 10 days before you wish to begin employment. If this internship is tied to a specific course, you must register for the course and apply for curricular practical training during the normal registration period.

1. Your current and all previously issued I-20 Forms.
2. Your passport and I-94 card.
3. Letter from the faculty member who will supervise your internship stating
   • The specific internship opportunity.
   • The specific degree requirement or elective course (e.g. MBA 627) that it satisfies.
   • The minimum requirements to complete the internship.
   • A reasonable period of time needed to complete the internship (e.g., satisfying the requirements of a 1 semester, 3 credit course would normally be done in 1 semester or less).
4. Letter offering internship employment from your employer including the following information
   • Beginning and ending dates of internship.
   • How many hours you will work weekly.
   • A description of duties in sufficient detail to clearly show them as appropriate to meeting the requirements of your internship.
   • Location where employment will take place.

Supervisor evaluation of CPT

CPT Eligibility

1. Your F-1 Eligibility:To be eligible to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), you must be a degree candidate who has been in lawful status (maintenance of a valid F-1 status) for at least one academic year. This means you have to complete two academic semesters (summer session is excluded) successfully. You must have been offered a specific training opportunity that must fall into one of the following categories.

2. Internship Offer:You must obtain an appropriate job offer in writing pertaining to your program of study. The internship offer letter SHOULD NOT include words such as benefit, insurance, retirement, or annual salary. The letter should include:

1. Name of the company or organization
2. Address and telephone number, fax number, and website
3. Name of the supervisor
4. Dates of the internship (usually same as the semester dates, e.g. Jan 20, 2009 to Mary 31, 2009)
5. How many hours are required (part-time internship should be less than 20 hours per week)
6. Sample Letter from Employer

3. Internship which is not required, but is for academic credits: Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for academic credits could include training courses such as a field studies course or an internship. The training program must be listed in the school’s catalog with the number of credits and the name of the faculty member teaching the course. There should also be a description of the course with the course objectives clearly defined. Four requirements must be met to be eligible for employment which is not a required part of your degree program.

The International Student Services Officer will

• Review your application for eligibility.
• If you are eligible, they will update your SEVIS record, and print and endorse a SEVIS I-20 Form (third page) indicating the approved employment. Your employer will need to see this authorization in order to add you to their payroll.

Special Considerations

• You are still required to register full-time if you are authorized for curricular practical training during the academic year. Curricular practical training that exceeds 20 hours per week constitutes full-time CPT. Students who engage in full-time CPT for twelve months or more prior to graduation will not be eligible for optional practical training (before or after completion of studies).

Restrictions: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations do not place an absolute limit on the amount of CPT you may utilize. However, if you engage in one year or more of full-time CPT (meaning more than 21 hours / week for one semester), you will lose your eligibility to engage in Optional Practical Training (OPT). You may engage in curricular practical training only after your SEVIS record has been updated by an International Student Services officer (DSO) and a SEVIS I-20 Form has been printed and signed, with indication of the approved employment. The endorsement will indicate the precise details of the authorized training, including the name and location of the employer, the specific dates of the training period, and whether it is full-time or part-time.