Curricular Practicum Training (CPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a temporary authorization for practical training directly related to your major field of study. Your major field of study is listed on your I-20. “Practical training” can include employment, internship experience (paid or unpaid), practicum participation, etc. CPT is authorized by the P/DSO of your sponsored school in accordance with the F-1 regulations.

Eligibility

Students may be eligible for CPT if they:

  • Currently hold valid F-1 status.
  • An F-1 student must have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis, in an approved SEVP-certified college or university in the U.S. for at least one full academic year. 
  • The regulations state that "exceptions to the one academic year requirement are provided for students enrolled in graduate studies that require immediate participation in curricular practical training."
  • Students must continue to be enrolled for a full course of study during the CPT during the fall and spring semester.
  • The training is directly related to the student's major area of study.
  • The P/DSO properly approves the CPT in SEVIS and issues an updated Form I-20 reflecting the CPT before the training begins. 
  • CPT can be paid or unpaid. SEVP guidance states that compensation if not a consideration when determining whether an opportunity qualifies as CPT, but federal and state labor and wage/hour laws still apply.
  • CPT requires a specific start date and end date. 

Eligibility Specific to Undergraduate Students 

  • The internship of employment must be directly related to your major.
  • Have officially declared a major. CPT cannot be authorized based on “General Studies” as a major, nor on any minor.
  • You can apply for CPT during the academic year if you are enrolled in the Praxis Independent Study and you registered full-time during the semester. 
  • Undergraduate students are only eligible to take two Praxis Independent Study courses.
  • CPT must be part-time (20 hours per week or less) during the academic year. 
  • You may also apply for CPT in the summer and enroll in Personal Development course.
  • During the summer, CPT may be part-time or full-time. It must be at least ten weeks during the summer.
  • Students are only eligible to take two Personal Development courses during the summer of sophomore and junior years. 

Eligibility Specific to 鶹AV Students

  • Part-time CPT and fewer than 12 months of full-time CPT authorization does not affect your OPT eligibility. 
  • F-1 students who have received an aggregate of one year or more of full-time curricular practical training become ineligible for optional practical training (OPT) at the same education level. 
  • You must have course credits for your CPT employment or internship experience. 
  • Students taking practicum in Social Work must have CPT authorization. 

CPT Application Procedures

  • Go to your GPS portal. Navigate to the Control Center 
  • Submit a request for CPT
  • Add your Major Adviser in the Approver Review
  • Employer and Dates must be specific
  • An employment letter must be submitted
  • If dates change or if you leave the job, you must notify the ISSA office via email to intl@brynmawr.edu

Your request will be reviewed and if approved, you will then be issued a new Form I-20 endorsed on page 2 with details of your CPT employment. CPT is date and employer specific. Upon submission of this request, if you need to change any of the information you provided in this application, such as start/end date, please contact International Student and Scholar Advising.

You must comply with the restrictions on your employment authorization as stipulated on your I-20. Your endorsed I-20, together with your passport and I-94 record, is evidence of your eligibility to work and may be used to complete the Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 that all U.S. employers are required to complete.

If anything changes—if you leave the job, if the dates change, etc.—you must inform the P/DSO immediately to have your document updated.

Frequent Asked Questions for CPT

What is the difference between Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT)?

CPT is employment that is an integral part of your major/ curriculum and allows you to participate in an internship or practicum. You must receive course credit. CPT is employer specific and is only available before you graduate. OPT is optional for any student who meets the eligibility requirements and is not attached to any academic credit. OPT is not employer specific and may be done before or after you graduate. OPT is authorized by USCIS.

Do I need to have a job to apply for CPT?

You must have an offer of employment to apply for CPT since the authorization is for a specific employer.

Can I change the number of hours I work?

You can change within the limits of part-time or full-time. For example, you may change from 10 hours per week to 15 hours per week without a new authorization. However, if you change from part-time to full-time (or vice versa) you must request a new authorization.

Can I change employers?

No. CPT is employer specific. You would need to apply for a new CPT authorization before you work for the new employer.

Can I extend my CPT?

You will be authorized for specific dates of employment on your I-20. You may not begin before the start date nor continue after the end date. To request and extension, contact International Student and Scholar Advising. You must request an extension in sufficient time to allow your P/DSO to evaluate the request before you can continue beyond the end date of your current CPT. The newly requested end date may not overlap with the next academic period.

Do I need a Social Security number?

You will need a Social Security number to receive payment from your employer.