Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Students required to participate in training to complete their degree requirements can obtain temporary authorization to gain practical experience in their field of study by receiving permission to train off campus. This type of training authorization is called Curricular Practical Training (CPT).

The training performed while on CPT must be directly related to your field of study as listed on your current I-20. In addition, you must receive academic credit and a grade for the training experience. The training can be paid or unpaid.

To be eligible for CPT training authorization, you must meet the following criteria:

Currently hold valid F-1 status, and
Be enrolled at a college or university in F-1 status on a full-time basis for one complete academic year (fall + spring), and
Be enrolled in a degree program that requires completing an internship or off-site work experience, and
Only engage in training with a trainer/employer who has an active cooperative education agreement with ATU. Good examples of a cooperative agreement are with hospitals for nursing students to do clinicals and schools where education majors can do student teacher training.

If the training is optional or not required for every student in the degree program, then the training is not eligible for CPT. In such cases, please come to the ISS office to discuss pre-completion OPT or other possible training authorizations.

All students with a required off-campus internship, work experience class, or training opportunity are required to have CPT approval before beginning the course. CPT approval is required for both paid and unpaid training.

Location

Students may engage in CPT only for the specific employer/trainer, location, and period approved. The work can be done anywhere in the U.S.

Duration

The approval period should coincide with the term for which the student is enrolled in the internship/training course. The CPT authorized period cannot cross semesters. You must get a separate CPT authorization for each semester you are on CPT.

Hours per Week

CPT can be approved part-time (20 hours per week) or full-time (21 hours or more per week).

While on CPT, you must maintain a normal full course of study, which is 9 graduate or 12 undergraduate credit hours. Only part-time CPT is allowed for most semesters.
CPT authorized during recognized vacation periods, such as the summer vacation, can be full-time and does not require maintaining a full class load in addition to CPT.
CPT authorized during a student's final semester before graduation can be full-time and requires that you maintain a full class load for a graduating student, which may be fewer hours than what is normally required.
If you accumulate 12 months of full-time CPT, then you are ineligible to apply for OPT.

Field/Level of Work

The CPT training opportunity must be an integral part of an established curriculum in the student's field of study as listed on the current I-20. This means that the degree cannot be completed unless an internship or training opportunity is fulfilled for every student in the degree program.

To be approved for CPT authorization, complete the application and schedule an appointment with ISS.

NOTE: You must complete the approval process PRIOR to beginning work/training. You must have the CPT I-20 to begin work/training. Working or engaging in training without CPT approval is a violation of immigration status, and your I-20 will be terminated for such a violation.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)