What is Curricular Practical Training (CPT)?
Talk to Expert
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 (CPT) is a work authorisation that lets F-1 international students in the US take up training, internships, or work experience that is required or an integral part of their academic program, before they graduate. Unlike a regular part-time campus job, CPT must connect directly to a student's major and needs sign-off from the school's Designated School Official (DSO) before work begins, whether the position is paid or unpaid.
Most students become eligible only after completing one full academic year, i.e., two consecutive full-time terms, in F-1 status, though graduate programs that require an internship from the first semester are an exception to this rule.
CPT can be authorised part-time work in US (20 hours a week or less) while classes are in session, or full-time during breaks, but using 12 months or more of full-time CPT at a degree level removes eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT) later on.
This article covers CPT eligibility, the application process, the documents you'll need, and how CPT is different from OPT, so you can plan work authorisation correctly at every stage of your US degree.
- What is CPT (Curricular Practical Training)?
- CPT Eligibility Criteria
- Documents Required for CPT
- How to Apply for CPT in the USA (Step-by-Step)
- Benefits of CPT for International Students
What is CPT (Curricular Practical Training)?
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 campus, where international students are offered employment or paid internships while studying in the US.
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.
CPT Eligibility Criteria
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 authorisation from the International Student Office. Once approved, the candidate must work for the specific employer and the specific time frame mentioned. The CPT authorisation will also contain information about whether the candidate can either take up full-time or part-time work in USA.
Documents Required for CPT
Here is a list of documents required to apply for CPT in USA while studying at US university:
| Documents Required for CPT in USA | Who Issues it? |
|---|---|
| Job Offer Letter | Your Employer |
| Job Offer Details | Your Employer |
| Academic Advisor Form | Your Academic Department |
| Course Registration Proof | University Registrar |
| Current Form I-20 | University DSO |
| Valid Passport | Govt of Home Country |
| F-1 Visa Stamp | US Embassy / Consulate |
| US CBP Website | US CBP Website |
| University Request Form | University ISS Portal |
How to Apply for CPT in the USA (Step-by-Step)
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 for International Students
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
Candidates seeking assistance with university admissions can sign up for free counselling at - https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/apply.
Commonly asked questions
Concordia Wisconsin is known for its amazing surroundings, & close proximity to natural beauty.
Located near the Lake Michigan, CUW students are just a short distance away from scenic-lakes, farms, water parks & sports grounds that offer a welcome respite from the hectic student life.
Some top places for students to explore in Mequon include: Harley Davidson Museum, Milwaukee Art Museum, Lakefront Brewery, American Family Field & Basilica of St. Josaphat among others.
A strong academic background in subjects like Mathematics, Statistics, and Programming (C+, Python, R languages) is required. Mentioned below are the MS admission eligibility fror Data Science courses:
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in STEM fields (Maths, Statistics, Computer Science, Engineering, or related disciplines)
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, C+, or R is expected
- English language proficiency by taking tests like IELTS/TOEFL iBT
- GRE is generally optional, but submitting it might strengthen the application
- Coursework in linear algebra, probability, and statistics is preferred.
A few of the world rankings of CSU are:
- QS Rankings 2026: #458
- THE rankings: #401-500
- U.S. News Global Rankings: #340
In the prominent global rankings, this university ranks among the Top 500 Universities worldwide.
The University of Illinois is among an exclusive group of US based universities to be classifed as a Tier-1 research institution (R1). As per an official media release by UIC, the institute retained its status of being a R1 university since 1987.
The R1 universities are known for conducting an high volume of research & an minimium expenditure of USD 50 million in research related activities over the course of an academic year.
The R1 status is awarded by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
Statement of Purpose
Letter of Recommendation
Student Visa Application
Admission Essay Writing
Student Curriculum Vitae
Aishwarya Bhatnagar is a specialised content curator with 8+ years of experience in EdTech content, particularly in studying abroad. She is a Study Abroad Expert at Shiksha.com (InfoEdge India Ltd) si
Read Full Bio