Curricular Practical Training

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a benefit of the F1 student visa that allows the F1 visa holder to participate in an internship or practicum during their course of study.

All CPT must be authorized by a Designated School Official (DSO).

• Students must be in valid F1 status at the time of application
• Students must be in valid F1 status for 2 long semesters (a Fall and a Spring) to be eligible to apply for CPT. There is no first-semester CPT
• Must be registered for an internship or practicum course
• The internship dates must be concurrent with semester start and end dates
• The internship must be integral or required (please see below for the difference)

Students must submit all completed and accurate paperwork for CPT no later than 15 business days (3 weeks) before the start of the semester.

When preparing the required documents, keep in mind that your academic advisor and internship employer will also need to complete paperwork.

We recommend starting the CPT process at least 2-3 months before the start of the internship.

• If you accumulate more than 11 months and 29 days of full time CPT, you become ineligible for Optional Practical Train (OPT)
• Part time CPT does not affect OPT

USCIS considers full-time employment as 21 or more hours per week. Part-time employment is 20 or less hours per week

1. The student must first meet with the Office of Career and Professional Development and their academic advisor to determine if they qualify for an internship
   1. Note: Academic departments have different internship requirements and may not have internship availability within their degree programs. 
2. Please Note: No academic internship credit available = No CPT authorization ability
3. It is the student’s responsibility to research academic requirements and deadlines  prior to requesting participation in an internship
4. Once the academic advisor and student agree to an internship assignment, the student should provide the advisor with a CPT Academic Department Form for completion
5. Register for the internship class before requesting CPT authorization

1. Once you receive an offer of employment, ask your employer to complete a CPT Employer Form
2. You will also need to provide an employment offer letter. The letter must be written on company letterhead and include the following information:
   1. The employer company name
   2. A specific start date (mm/dd/yyy). The start date cannot be prior to the 1^st day of classes for the term registered and the student must submit the form to a DSO no later than one week prior to the 1^st day of classes
   3. A specific end date (mm/dd/yyyy). The end date cannot extend beyond the last day of classes for the registered term.
   4. Your job title
   5. A brief job description
   6. A physical job site address where you will conduct your job
   7. Number of hours to be worked per week
   8. Letter must be signed by the employer
3. Please be aware that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defines part time as 20 hours per week or less and full time as 21 or more hours per week

1. Complete the CPT Student Form
2. Submit the 3 completed forms to internationaladmissions@wtamu.edu. Make sure that all fields in all forms are filled out, that dates match across all documents and forms, and that each form is signed by the appropriate person.
   1. CPT Student Form
   2. CPT Academic Department Form
   3. CPT Employer Form
   4. Employer Offer Letter

Please note:  Employment with an employer that has not met the CPT requirements as listed above is considered unauthorized employment.  Employment not listed on page #2 of your I-20 form is also unauthorized employment. 

If you cannot receive academic credit for the work you do, then you are not eligible for CPT.  

To protect your immigration record, International Student Services strongly recommends that you obtain CPT authorization for unpaid internships. Engaging in an unpaid internship without CPT authorization is risky. Even if the internship is unpaid, engaging in it could be seen as a violation of status that could jeopardize applications for future U.S. visas or immigration benefits.

CPT regulations require enrollment for two long semesters (fall and spring) to qualify for CPT authorization.  Most academic departments do not allow internship enrollment during the 1^st semester a student is enrolled in their degree program at WTAMU. 

CPT start and end dates are tied to the semester dates.

The earliest start date you can begin CPT employment is tied to the 1^st day of class for the term enrolled in any given term whether fall, spring, summer I or summer II. 

No. You must enroll in a separate CPT course for each semester you engage in CPT. This includes the Summer semesters.

If you cannot receive credit for the work you do, then you are not eligible for CPT.   

You Do need CPT authorization to work on-campus if the following is true:

1. The internship will take place during the fall or spring terms and you will be working more than 20 hours per week. More than 20 hours = full time CPT
2. The internship will take place during the fall or spring terms and you plan to continue working in your on-campus employment position and your total hours of CPT plus on-campus employment will exceed 20 hours per week.

You Do Not need CPT authorization to work on-campus if the following is true:

1. The internship will take place during the summer term
2. The internship will take place during the fall or spring terms and you will be working 20 hours per week or less and you have no other on-campus employment.

When you submit your CPT forms, you are asked to provide “the address where you will be physically conducting the practical training experience”.  If you will be working from home, then this address should be your home address.  You should discuss any remote internships with a DSO in International Student Services.

In addition, it is strongly recommended that you obtain something in writing from your employer to confirm your plan to work remotely, and this confirmation should be included in your offer letter and CPT employer form.