Preconditions

Student must have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis at an INS (DHS)-approved school for one full academic year before being eligible for CPT.  Exception exists for graduate students whose programs require immediate curricular training.  Available only while student is in F-1 status, before completion of the educational objective. 

Location

Students may engage in CPT only for the specific employer, location and period approved and recorded by the DSO in SEVIS.

Duration

Depends on the specific period granted by the DSO.  May be granted by the DSO in increments of no more than one year, or until expected date of employment completion, whichever is shorter.  No cumulative maximum, except that it can only be approved before completion of the academic objective.

Hours per week

Can be approved for part-time (20 hours or less) or full -time (over 20 hours).

Field/level of work

Must be an integral part of an established curriculum, in the student's course of study.

Offer of Employment

Must have an offer of employment from the employer offering work that qualifies as curricular practical training.

Effect on other work

Use of full-time CPT for one year or more eliminates eligibility for Optional Practical Training.  Use of part-time CPT does not affect eligibility for Optional Practical Training

Approval Process

Must receive written authorization from DSO, who records authorization in SEVIS and issues SEVIS I-20 with notation, before work begins.  USCIS approval is not required.

Miscellaneous

Must continue to maintain a full course of study in F-1 status during the period of employment, but some exceptions may exist for CPT.

ü       Follow all internal procedures and obtain whatever documents the school's international office has specified are necessary for the DSO to make a determination of eligibility for Curricular Practical Training.

ü       Sign a new I-20 that will be issued to reflect CPT.

ü       Refrain from beginning the training until the new I-20 bearing the DSO's CPT authorization has been issued and the CPT Start Date has been reached.