Curricular Practical Training
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a form of employment authorization that may be available when practical training is an integral part of an established curriculum and necessary to achieve specific academic objectives within a student’s degree program.
What kind of practical training qualifies for CPT?
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) may be authorized only when the training is directly related to a student’s major field of study and is an integral part of the student’s established curriculum.
Students frequently inquire about CPT in connection with academic experiences such as internship courses, practicum courses, independent studies, thesis/dissertation research, and other curriculum-based activities. Enrollment in these courses does not, by itself, establish CPT eligibility. OIA evaluates each request individually and encourages students and academic departments to consult with OIA before making decisions related to this type of practical training.
Not every internship, training opportunity, or employment experience related to a student’s field of study will qualify for CPT authorization. Students must demonstrate that the proposed activity has a direct academic purpose and that it is appropriately connected to their program of study and course of enrollment.
Eligibility for CPT is reviewed on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the student’s academic department and OIA. Students should not accept, begin, or continue employment based on an assumption that CPT authorization will be granted. Authorization must be approved before any employment or practical training begins.
CPT eligibility
To apply for CPT, F-1 students must meet all the requirements below. Meeting these threshold requirements does not guarantee authorization. OIA reviews each request individually based on the student’s academic program, course enrollment, proposed training, and supporting documentation.
1. Be eligible for CPT
You must be physically present in F-1 status and have been a full-time student for at least one full academic year, meaning one fall and one spring semester or 30 weeks of classroom instruction. Contact an international student advisor if you have questions about this requirement.
2. Enroll in a CPT-appropriate course
You must enroll in a degree-applicable course during the semester or summer session in which the practical training will take place. The course must count toward the degree requirements for your major field of study, and the proposed practical training must be necessary to complete specific course or curricular objectives. Speak with your academic advisor to identify degree-applicable course options related to your proposed practical training experience. Students and academic advisors are encouraged to consult with OIA regarding questions about curricular connection and CPT eligibility.
You must be registered for the degree-applicable course before submitting a CPT request. Registration in a course, including an internship or independent study course, does not by itself establish CPT eligibility.
Your academic advisor or department must explain how the proposed training directly supports specific curricular objectives and is integral to your established academic program. Your advisor should consult OIA with questions about whether a proposed experience has a sufficient curricular connection.
3. Have an offer of employment
Submit an offer letter on company letterhead from your prospective employer or training provider. Share the letter with your academic advisor because the advisor will need to evaluate whether the proposed activities support the academic objectives connected to your CPT request.
The offer letter must include:
- The specific start date and specific end date of the proposed employment or training.
- The number of hours you will work or train each week. “Part time” or “full time” by itself is not sufficient.
- The physical location, including street address, city, state, and ZIP code, associated with the employment or training. P.O. boxes are not accepted. If the activity will be remote, include the employer or training-provider location with which the activity is associated.
- A detailed description of the duties and activities involved in the proposed experience.
A request cannot be approved if the offer letter is incomplete. An offer letter that contains all required information does not, by itself, establish CPT eligibility.
CPT application process
Complete the CPT e-form request in Atlas under F-1 Practical Training. Submit the following documentation and information:
- Proof of enrollment in the CPT-related course, such as an unofficial transcript.
- An offer letter that meets all requirements above.
- Your academic advisor’s name and contact information.
- Details of the proposed practical training, including how it relates to your major and supports specific academic objectives.
- Any additional documentation requested by OIA to establish the curricular necessity of the proposed activity.
OIA may consult with your academic department or request additional documentation before making a decision. Do not begin employment or training until OIA has authorized CPT and issued an updated Form I-20 showing the authorization.
Maintain your F-1 status while on CPT
Follow these requirements to maintain your F-1 status:
- Continue to make good academic progress. CPT may not be used to delay graduation.
- Do not drop or withdraw from the course on which your CPT authorization is based. Doing so immediately ends the academic basis for the authorization and will make continued employment unauthorized.
- Work only for the employer, at the location, for the number of hours, and during the dates listed in your CPT authorization. Contact OIA before any material change.
- If you are authorized for part-time CPT, work no more than 20 hours per week. During a fall or spring semester, you must continue to meet applicable full-time enrollment requirements.
- If you are authorized for full-time CPT, the authorization will reflect employment of more than 20 hours per week. You must remain enrolled in the CPT-related course and continue to make good academic progress. Consult OIA regarding any additional enrollment requirements that apply to your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need CPT for an unpaid internship or volunteer opportunity?
Yes. IU Indianapolis requires students to apply for CPT authorization for unpaid practical training as well as paid employment. The fact that an opportunity is unpaid or volunteer may still mean that CPT would be required. The experience must still meet all academic and curricular requirements, and authorization must be issued before the activity begins.
Will my CPT affect my eligibility for Optional Practical Training upon graduation?
Part-time CPT does not affect eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT). However, 12 months or more of full-time CPT eliminates eligibility for OPT at the same educational level.
Can CPT begin before or end after the dates of my CPT-related course?
CPT must remain tied to the academic objectives and period of the CPT-related course. OIA will authorize dates outside the official course dates only when the academic advisor verifies that the additional time is necessary to accomplish the documented academic objectives of the course.
For example, a student requesting CPT throughout the summer may need enrollment covering the applicable summer sessions. Any exception must be supported by a documented academic need and approved by OIA before the activity occurs.
Can I extend my CPT?
CPT may be extended only when the continued employment or training is necessary to meet the academic requirements connected to the CPT authorization. An extension is not permitted solely because the student or employer would like the activity to continue.
In most cases, a student must submit a new CPT request and register for an additional appropriate course covering the extension period. A desire to participate in repeated CPT experiences is not, by itself, an academic basis for extending a degree program or CPT authorization. Consult an OIA advisor before continuing beyond the dates on your current authorization.
I already have on-campus employment. Can I also receive CPT authorization?
You may be eligible only if the proposed off-campus or additional practical training independently meets all CPT requirements. Existing on-campus employment does not create eligibility for CPT. Without CPT or another authorization, F-1 students are generally limited to a total of 20 hours per week of on-campus employment while school is in session. Contact OIA to discuss how the proposed activity and total hours may affect your status.
Can I qualify for CPT in my first semester?
Normally, you must complete one full academic year of full-time study before qualifying for CPT. A limited exception may apply to a graduate student when immediate participation in practical training is required by the established curriculum. This situation is rare and requires individualized review and documentation.
OIA does not consider CPT applications from new students seeking to continue employment after OPT or another employment authorization has expired. CPT is available only when the proposed activity is academically driven and required for the student’s established curriculum.
Does enrollment in an internship or independent study course guarantee CPT?
No. Course enrollment alone does not establish eligibility. OIA must determine that the proposed practical training has a direct academic purpose, is integral to the established curriculum, and is supported by the student’s academic program, course objectives, and documentation.
What if the employer changes my dates, hours, location, or duties?
Contact OIA before the change takes effect. CPT authorization is specific to the approved employer, location, dates, hours, and practical-training activity. A change may require updated documentation and a new or amended authorization before you may proceed.
Before you begin
Do not begin any employment, internship (paid or unpaid), volunteer activity, or practical training until OIA has approved CPT and issued your updated Form I-20. If you are unsure whether an opportunity requires authorization or may qualify for CPT, contact OIA before accepting or beginning the activity.
Contact the Office of International Affairs
Contact an international student advisor with questions about eligibility, course enrollment, changes to a proposed activity, or the CPT application process. Academic advisors should contact OIA directly when they have questions about the curricular basis for a request.
