Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

 

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is temporary employment authorization that allows an international student to gain practical experience via an internship, work off-campus, or cooperative program that is directly related to the student's program of study.

 

CPT is an integral part of an established curriculum of MS611 Project completion course that allows a student to gain practical experience to help succeed in the Project class. CPT should be started prior to taking the MS611 Project course and completed when the MS611 Project course is graded. 

 

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), you must:

• Hold a valid F-1 status at the time of application

• Enroll full-time study

• Intend on working in a position that is directly related to your major field of study

• Choose the MS611 Project as a program completion course

 

Required documentation

• Copy of an Employment Offer letter (employment start date is no later than fourteen (14) days from the time that you are offered the job, as we need to have time to process your CPT application) offering the internship employment which includes the following information:    

  • Start and end dates of the internship

  • Twenty (20) hours per week only 

  • Unpaid/paid internship (hourly wage)

  • Description of duties in sufficient detail to clearly show them as appropriate to meet the requirements of your academic course 

  • Work address, contact information of supervisor (email, phone number)

• Forms 611-6, 611-9 (The forms are available at ISO)

• Form 611-5 original (should be filled out by the hiring company, no scanned copy accepted unless it’s emailed directly from the supervisor)

• Clear any outstanding balance

• Pay the CPT administrative fee

 

While on CPT, students are limited to a maximum of two (2) courses per quarter.

 

Once you have these documents, schedule an appointment with the DSO and submit your documents. Upon submitting complete documents, the Academic Office and International Students Office will review and notify you of the decision in writing. 

 

If you are approved, the DSO will issue an updated Form I-20 stating that you are eligible for CPT.

 

You are also required to submit the learning experience (Form 611-10) and a final evaluation report (filled out by your Employer) at the end of your CPT.