Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Eligibility

To be eligible for CPT, students must meet the following requirements:

• You must be a student with an active F-1 immigration status. Please consult ISSP if you have a pending change of status to F-1.
• You must be enrolled full-time for one year (two semesters) in F-1 status.
  • Academic programs that require their students to complete an internship during their first year might be exempted from this rule (such as the MAcc, MBA or Public Policy program).
  • Undergraduate students must have a declared major before requesting CPT.
• The employment/training must be related to your major (undergraduate students) or your academic program (graduate students).
• You must secure approval from your academic or program advisor.
• You must continue to be enrolled full time in F-1 status during the period of employment.
• You must have an offer of employment/training before requesting CPT.

Duration

• CPT can only be granted one semester at a time. If the internship will span two or more semesters, the student must apply for a new CPT authorization for each semester.
  • Students in the dissertation/thesis stage can engage in full-time CPT during the semester and are eligible to apply for one year of CPT with their advisor's approval.
• The start and end dates of employment cannot exceed the beginning and end dates of each semester or break. 
• Students must be registered for the appropriate CPT course for each semester of authorization.

*Law students are required to enroll in a Fall CPT course for any internship/employment completed between May 15 – August 1. See this page for more details.

Employment

• Employment on CPT can be paid or unpaid.
• Employment on CPT can be authorized on a part-time or a full-time basis:
  • Part-time CPT is for employment that is 20 hours per week or less. During the fall and spring semesters, students may only be authorized for part-time CPT. If the student has an on-campus job, the on-campus job and CPT employment cannot exceed 20 hours per week.
  • Full-time CPT is for employment over 20 hours per week. Students can only use full-time CPT during official school breaks (spring, winter, and summer breaks only). Exceptions to this rule:
    • Graduate students in the thesis/dissertation phase of their program
    • Students participating in the DC Semester Program
    • Students in the MAcc winter field experience program.
• CPT is granted for a specific position, employer, and period. If you decide to change employers while working on CPT, you must obtain a new CPT authorization from ISSP.
• Working any time outside the authorized CPT period (even for 1 day!) is a violation of F-1 status and your immigration record will be terminated. You may be required to leave the U.S. and your future employment eligibility (e.g., OPT) and academic program may be impacted. 
• You are not required to obtain work authorization to engage in bona fide (legitimate) volunteer activities or unpaid internships.
  • Unpaid also means not receiving any compensation from the employer. For example, if you receive a stipend or receive reimbursement for travel, that is no longer an unpaid internship or volunteering. Students should secure the proper work authorization if they will be receiving any kind of compensation for the internship. If eligible, we encourage students to apply for CPT.
  • Please see our page on Volunteering and Unpaid Internships for more information.

CPT Application Process

• CPT is authorized by ISSP and there is no cost to apply.
• You must receive a CPT authorization before you begin working.
• You should apply for CPT at least 2 weeks before your employment begins. 
• See Applying for CPT for a list of required documents and information about the CPT application process.

Effect on other work

CPT and On-Campus Employment

During the fall and spring semesters, you may not work more than a total of 20 hours per week. For example, if you are working 12 hours per week on-campus during the semester, ISSP will only authorize CPT for 8 hours per week.

• The only exception is for students in the thesis/dissertation phase of their program and students in the DC Semester Program or MAcc winter field experience program.

During official university breaks, students are eligible to use full-time CPT with the endorsement of their academic/program advisor.

CPT and Assistantships

Many assistantship contracts prevent a student from accepting other employment. If this is the case with your department or program, CPT will not be granted without explicit consent from your academic advisor/program director.

CPT and OPT

You can use an unlimited amount of part-time CPT and still get 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT), following completion of studies. However, if you use 12 months or more of full-time (over 20 hours/week) CPT, you will no longer be eligible for OPT.

CPT reminders

• CPT is authorized by ISSP and there is no cost to apply.
• Your academic/program advisor must support your CPT application.
• You must be registered for the appropriate CPT course for each semester of authorization.
• Working in a paid position without a CPT authorization is a violation of F-1 status and your immigration record will be terminated. You may be required to leave the U.S. and your future employment eligibility (e.g., OPT) and academic program may be impacted.  
• If you wish to continue work beyond the expiration of your CPT, you must apply to extend it before it expires. CPT cannot be granted retroactively.