If the student’s established curriculum includes a paid or unpaid internship, practicum, professional experience etc., Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization enables an F-1 student to accept such employment. In order to be eligible for CPT the internship, practicum, or professional experience must either be a required part of the academic program or must be for credit. The experience may be full or part time.
A student must have been in valid F-1 status for one academic year to be eligible for CPT.
There is no limit on the time a student may be authorized curricular practical training but if a student engages in 12 months or more of full-time CPT, he/she loses eligibility for Optional Practical Training. A student, who engages in part-time CPT (no more than 20 hours per week) during the academic year, must maintain full-time student status while he or she is pursuing the curricular practical training. You may only work for the employer specified in the CPT authorization on the back of the Form I-20. You must not begin work until you have received the CPT authorization.
Undergraduate and GSOM students must visit the appropriate Career Services office to begin the necessary paperwork for approval of the internship. Other graduate students need to obtain a letter from their department chair. See sample below. The next step is to call the OIA to make an appointment . Please bring the following documents with you to the appointment.
Letter from department chairperson or Career Services internship authorization Current I-20 in addition to any previous I-20’s issued to you Current passport and I-94 card If your advisor in the OIA determines that curricular practical training falls within the regulations, she will authorize the CPT. The period of curricular practical training granted will be indicated on the Form I-20 for the specific employer and time period.
Departmental Letterhead
TO: Office of Intercultural Affairs
FROM: Name, Title
RE: Recommendation for Curricular Practical Training for _______________________
DATE: Current Date
This memo is written to confirm that the above named student is a full-time student in the Department of _______________ expecting to complete a Bachelor’s/Master’s/Doctoral degree by Month Day, Year. It is an integral part of this degree program that a student engages in (an internship, practicum, field experience, professional practice etc.). Write a brief description of the work experience including the title of the position, name and address of the employer, dates of employment and the number of hours per week, course number, faculty member supervising, and semester of registration.