Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

You must be in F1 student status

You must have completed at least 2 full-time semesters immediately prior

Internship must be directly related to your academic program

You must enroll in appropriate university credit for the internship

You must have authorization through ISS before you start work

Students in the Intensive English Program and Pathway Program are not eligible for CPT

IMPORTANT: CPT is limited to part-time (20 hours or less) during the Fall and Spring semester. During summer and winter breaks, CPT may be full-time. This makes it difficult to participate in on-campus work and CPT during the semester.

It is not usually possible to do a graduate assistantship and a non-required internship during the Fall or Spring semester because of the 20 hours/week work limit.

Each semester of internship requires a separate CPT authorization.

If you complete 12 months of full-time CPT then you will not be able to apply for OPT work authorization.

Plan your internship start date to allow enough time for the CPT application to be completed (approximately 3-4 weeks).

1. Find an internship opportunity through the Career Center or your academic department.
2. Obtain a signed job offer letter from the employer on official letterhead with a detailed internship/job description, including start/end date, internship site location and hours per week.
3. Complete the Internship Application for Academic Credit and receive approval from your department. Save this completed form to upload to the work authorization request form.
4. Ask your academic advisor complete the Advisor Verification Form (CPT). Save this completed form to upload to the work authorization request form.
5. Complete the CPT work authorization request form, uploading the required items.
6. Wait for a confirmation e-mail from ISS before you begin your employment. This will be approximately 7 business days after you have submitted a complete and eligible CPT request (including being enrolled in the appropriate credits).

PLEASE NOTE: ISS cannot authorize CPT until you are enrolled in the internship credit

Approval of CPT extension may be granted only if your academic advisor confirms the academic necessity for an extension.  The extension must also meet immigration requirements. CPT extensions are granted for one additional semester. Simply wanting to gain continued experience may not meet the extension requirements. You cannot use CPT as a means to continue employment off-campus. There must be an academic reason for the extension.

Plan ahead: it takes some time to complete the CPT Extension request process (usually 3-4 weeks). Make sure you initiate the extension request as early as possible so that you do not have a gap in employment eligibility.

CPT cannot be extended if you have already completed the required number of hours to earn the internship credit(s) you registered for and have completed the learning objective.

To apply for an extension:

1) Ask your academic advisor to complete the Advisor Verification Form (CPT Extension). Make sure to describe new learning outcomes.

2) Get a signed updated job offer letter from the employer on official letterhead with updated internship dates.  The letter should include the location of the internship and the hours per week.

3) Complete the Internship Application for Academic Credit and receive approval from your department.

4) Once you are enrolled in the academic credits, complete the CPT work authorization request form, uploading the required items. Please do this at least 10 business days before your current CPT end date to avoid a potential gap in employment eligibility.

ISS cannot approve your CPT until you have registered for the internship credit.  You must stop work on the end date of your current CPT.  You cannot begin work again until the CPT extension is approved and you have received your new I-20.