What is Curricular Practical Training (CPT)?
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CPT allows international students studying in the United States to gain employment training and to engage in paid internship programmes off-campus. Curricular Practical Training, or more commonly referred to as CPT, allows international students wanting to study in the United States of America permission to gain employment training. Get more details about what is CPT in USA and how is it beneficial for international students studying in the USA.
Curricular Practical Training more commonly referred to as CPT allows international students wanting to study in the United States of America permission to gain employment training and to engage in paid internship programmes off-campus. Students can either work full-time (more than 20 hours/week) or part-time (20 hours or less per week) and gain work experience in their area of interest, along with earning in US Dollars. Here is everything about CPT for US student visa holders admitted across US universities.
CPT Full Form
CPT full form is Curricular Practical Training, and it allows international students who have come to the United States to study on an F1 visa to be eligible for off-campus employment when the practical training is an integral part of the established curriculum or academic program.
- What is the eligibility for CPT?
- What does CPT mean for international students?
- How to Apply for CPT in USA
- Benefits of CPT in USA
What is the eligibility for CPT?
Candidates who are looking for employment under the CPT Programme need to satisfy the following criteria:
- Students are required to have enrolled in a full-time one-year course on a valid F-1 Visa
- The CPT employment must be an integral part of the student’s degree program or a requirement for a course for which the candidate would receive academic credit.
- The job offered to the candidate must belong to the candidate's parallel discipline of study/ research.
- The candidate needs to receive prior CPT authorization from the International Student Office. And once approved, the candidate must work for the specific employer and the specific time frame mentioned. The CPT authorization will also contain information about whether the candidate can either take up full-time or part-time work in USA.
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What does CPT mean for international students?
The Curricular Practical Training or CPT Programme allows students enrolled in their first semester of classes to begin working immediately. Most of the Curricular Practical Training Programme happens off the campus, where international students are offered employment or paid internships.
How to Apply for CPT in USA
Candidates who are going to the United States of America for higher education and want to enrol for the CPT Programme can check out the CPT Application Procedure mentioned below:
- Candidates planning to enrol for Curricular Practical Training are advised to start early, as the process is lengthy and could take up to 2 weeks (longer during peak season)
- Candidates would be required to take the CPT Online Certification Course and complete it
- He would be required to get a Detailed Training Description from his employer and inform his Faculty Advisor.
- The candidate would then have to provide all the relevant documents and information to the International Student and Scholar Advisor, who would review the CPT application.
- Once everything is in order, you will receive approval for your CPT I-20, which the candidate should ideally take a printout of, sign, and keep safe. No paid or unpaid work can be undertaken until the candidate has received the CPT without their I-20 form.
Candidates should know that working full-time on CPT for 12 months would make them ineligible to apply for OPT. Hence, candidates are advised to work part-time on CPT or full-time for less than 12 months to be eligible for OPT. Read: Know the difference between CPT and OPT.
Benefits of CPT in USA
The Curricular Practical Training program benefits the students in multiple ways as it allows international students the opportunity to help cover tuition costs and at the same time gain valuable work experience and obtain a master’s degree. Those opting to work under CPT should have their jobs based on the course of study at a US university. It is beneficial for students to work on an F1 visa under CPT in the USA to gain work experience beforehand, before actually going for a full-time job. Read: All about Post Study Work Permit in the US
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