Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

student working in electrical engineering lab

CPT is the work authorization you need for an Academic Internship

CPT allows you to work off-campus in a position related to your field of study. You can only do CPT during your academic degree and you must register for the appropriate academic credit for the experience. You cannot delay your degree completion for a non-required internship. If you are a graduate student completing a thesis or dissertation and you are in your final semester then Optional Practical Training is often a more appropriate work authorization.

Important Information

You must be in F1 student status

You must have completed at least 2 full-time semesters (Fall and Spring) immediately prior to CPT

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

You must study for at least one semester full time in your new degree program after OPT participation. CPT cannot be used as a mechanism to continue working after OPT has ended.

You must be in F1 student status

You must have completed at least 2 full-time semesters (Fall and Spring) immediately prior to CPT

The 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

You must study for at least one semester full time in your new degree program after OPT participation. CPT cannot be used as a mechanism to continue working after OPT has ended.

Find an internship opportunity through the Career Center or your academic department.
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.
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.
Ask your academic advisor complete the CPT Advisor Form. Save this completed form to upload to the CPT work authorization request form.
Complete the CPT work authorization request form, uploading the required items.
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:

Ask your academic advisor to complete the CPT Extension Advisor Form. Make sure to describe new learning outcomes.
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.
Complete the Internship Application for Academic Credit and receive approval from your department.
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.

If you are planning to participate in Work U for an off-campus organization or company then you will need a CPT work authorization for the experience. This is the case even though the internship is unpaid. Once you have been paired with a Work U Placement site, please start the application process for CPT.

Ask your academic advisor complete the Academic Advisor CPT Form. Save this completed form to upload to the CPT work authorization request form.
Complete the CPT work authorization request form, uploading the required items. Make sure to check the box that you are participating in Work U. The offer letter and Work U documentation will be sent to ISS by the Career Services Office.
Wait for a confirmation e-mail from ISS before you begin your placement. This will be approximately 7 business days after you have submitted a complete and eligible CPT request (including being enrolled in the appropriate credits for the Work U experience).

PLEASE NOTE: ISS cannot authorize CPT if the Work U class is not yet listed in your enrollment

We recommend that all student teaching experiences have appropriate CPT work authorization. This is the case even though the experience is unpaid. Once you have been paired with a student teaching position, please start the application process for CPT.

Ask your academic advisor complete the Academic Advisor CPT Form. Save this completed form to upload to the CPT work authorization request form.
Complete the CPT work authorization request form, uploading the required items. Make sure to check the box that you are participating in Student Teaching. We will then contact you for any additional required paperwork.
Wait for a confirmation e-mail from ISS before you begin your placement. This will be approximately 7 business days after you have submitted a complete and eligible CPT request (including being enrolled in the appropriate credits for the student teaching experience).

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

We recommend that all fieldwork experiences have appropriate CPT work authorization. This is the case even though the experience is unpaid. Once you have been paired with a fieldwork or practicum site, please start the application process for CPT.

Ask your academic advisor complete the Academic Advisor CPT Form. Save this completed form to upload to the CPT work authorization request form.
Complete the CPT work authorization request form, uploading the required items. Make sure to check the box that you are participating in Social Work or Counseling Fieldwork or Practicum. We will then contact you for any additional required paperwork.
Wait for a confirmation e-mail from ISS before you begin your placement. This will be approximately 7 business days after you have submitted a complete and eligible CPT request (including being enrolled in the appropriate credits for the fieldwork experience).

PLEASE NOTE: ISS cannot authorize CPT until you are enrolled in the fieldwork/practicum credit