Curricular Practical Training
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Employment under Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization permits you to work off campus in a job directly related to your field of study. There are important differences between CPT and Optional Practical Training (OPT). Make sure you read the ISP handout on OPT to understand which might work best for your situation. You might use both kinds of practical training, though not simultaneously.
Employment under Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization permits you to work off campus in a job directly related to your field of study. There are important differences between CPT and Optional Practical Training (OPT). Make sure you read the ISP handout on OPT to understand which might work best for your situation. You might use both kinds of practical training, though not simultaneously.
There are two kinds of Curricular Practical Training:
- Training that is required by the established curriculum, and may or may not carry academic credit.
- Training that is an integral, but not required, part of the curriculum, and that provides academic credit. Many internships fit into this category, such as those for Business and Engineering. Academic credit is necessary if your internship is not required to graduate. This means you must negotiate with your academic adviser to receive credit, perhaps through an independent study or internship that is already in the curriculum. You must enroll for the credit, pay tuition on it, and receive a grade or P/NP or S/NS.
Eligibility
- Students who have been enrolled full time for one academic year (generally nine months) in F-1 status and who are maintaining status at the time of application. The exception to this is for graduate students enrolled in programs that require immediate participation in paid training.
- Students in English language training programs are not eligible for practical training.
- you attain eligible status, and before completion of your program.
- you receive a written offer of employment, showing the name of the employer, the location of the work, a job description, and the dates of the contract.
Application Procedure
- Meet with your academic adviser to discuss your training, and have that person sign a CPT Approval Notice.
- Make an appointment to see an International Student Advisor at the ISP Office after you have registered for the internship or independent study. Bring a copy of the job offer, the completed CPT Approval Notice, and your Form I-20. Contact Kristin Webster (websterk@gonzaga.edu ) for an appointment.
- The International Student Advisor will endorse your Form I-20 to note the name, dates, and location of your employment. The endorsement on the I-20 is the only authorization needed to make your employment legal. Your employment authorization is specific to that job.
There is no limit on the amount of CPT you can use, but if you work more than one year of full-time CPT (more than 20 hours per week), you lose eligibility for Optional Practical Training. Part-time CPT will not subtract time from your OPT.
