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Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a great way for F-1 students to gain real-world experience through employment related to their area of study. Learn about CPT on this page, including eligibility, how to request CPT, and authorization procedures.

What is CPT?

CPT is defined as employment which is related to your studies and is an integral or important part of your curriculum, including: “alternate work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of internship or practicum which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school” [8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i)].

Before you proceed with CPT

Do not begin any off-campus employment without prior authorization. ISO isn’t able to grant CPT work permission with an effective start date in the past. Students who would otherwise be eligible for CPT, but begin working before ISO grants specific permission, violate their F-1 status.

Please attend an upcoming Academic Internships During an F-1 Academic Program workshop (dates will be posted to our Events page), or review one of our past presentation recordings for more information about work authorization options available to F-1 students seeking employment opportunities during their studies.

Explore past and future workshop materials

Eligibility and requirements

CPT eligibility
  • You must have been in valid F-1 status for at least one academic year (nine months: two semesters or three quarters) before becoming eligible to apply for CPT. In some cases, full-time study permitted under another status may be used to meet this condition.
  • You must be in good academic standing and continue to make satisfactory progress toward your degree requirements.
  • You must be a current student. You are not eligible for CPT after completing your University of Rochester degree or program requirements.
Academic objectives

All CPT requests are subject to academic approval, even if other eligibility requirements are met. The training activity must achieve a specific academic objective and satisfy an established part of the school’s program.

This falls under one of these categories:

  • Registered course credit for the academic activity
  • Recognized co-op program listed in the University catalog
  • Requirement for all students pursuing a particular degree program

At the University of Rochester, most CPT is tied to course registration (typically credit bearing), that must be extended for each term while the authorization is active. For authorization that extends beyond a single academic term, additional course registration may be necessary.

Full-time vs. part-time authorization

Your CPT authorization will tell you if it’s part-time (20 hours per week or less) or full-time (no maximum) employment, for a particular employer, dates, and location. You can use CPT multiple times during your studies as long as you meet the academic requirements.

However, it’s important to note that using 12 months (365 days) of full-time CPT will make you ineligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Part-time CPT doesn’t impact OPT eligibility. Students who use less than 12 months of full-time CPT and/or any amount of part-time CPT are still able to apply for F-1 OPT, which is commonly used for work after they graduate.

Requesting CPT

To request CPT, please submit the following documents to ISO in URcompass. Submit your CPT request to ISO at least one week in advance of your employment start date to allow for processing.

Offer letter

Submit a detailed offer letter on employer letterhead, including:

  • Official Employer Name (to be listed in SEVIS)
  • Employer’s Address (street address, including US zip code)
  • Address of employment, if different from Employer’s Address
  • Start Date/End Date, and the expected number of hours per week
  • Job title and description of duties
Academic objective

Submit evidence of academic objective, as appropriate.

For most students at the University, internship course registration is required to participate in off-campus employment opportunities. Please talk to your department or school first about the appropriate course registration for your CPT and submit your registration, because it needs to be complete before ISO can process your request. For undergraduate students in the College, please meet with a career advisor at the Gwen M. Greene Center.

All CPTs require one of the following:

  • Course credit: Proof of relevant course registration, such as ALC 290 (Eastman), GBA 490 (Simon), 394/494/594 (ASE, Hajim), CAS 394i (UG College), etc.
  • Co-op program: Registration or copy of University catalogue with co-op details
  • Degree requirement: Copy of University catalogue with degree requirements
CPT request form

Then, submit ISO’s Request for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) e-form in URcompass. Your academic department will have to review your submission, so you will be prompted to provide the contact information for your correct academic contact in the form.

If you are unsure who the correct academic contact is for CPT in your school, please reach out to your academic advisor or department administrator to confirm.


Authorization procedures

When all eligibility requirements are met and you are able to submit the required documentation, an ISO advisor will authorize the Curricular Practical Training in SEVIS and issue a new I-20.

After your CPT has been authorized in SEVIS, the new I-20 listing the CPT authorization on page 2 will be issued to you. You must print this I-20 and sign/date it in ink. Do not start work until you have received this I-20 and have verified the authorization details on page 2.

You may begin working only after receiving the I-20 with CPT authorization and valid employment dates. All academic procedures must be followed within your division, including grading requirements for credit-bearing internships.