Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is defined by U.S. immigration regulations as “alternate work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the schools.”  [8CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i)].


The Student Exchange and Visitor Program (SEVP) Provides further guidance regarding CPT eligibility requirements, including when a student may be authorized to participate in CPT. Students should review the eligibility requirements outlined in the section below before requesting CPT authorization.  

  • The alternate work/ study, internship, cooperative education, or other practical training experience is an integral and required part of an established curriculum. 
    • This means that all students, regardless of citizenship, are required to participate in practical training if they are enrolled in an established curriculum in which the practical training experience is integral and required for the program, as listed in the University Course Catalog. 

    • Please be aware that an internship or practical training experience offered only as an elective or optional opportunity, rather than as a required component of the student’s established curriculum, would not meet the integral and required CPT eligibility requirement. Therefore, the student would not be eligible to participate in CPT.

       

Eligibility for CPT:

To be eligible for CPT, a YSU F-1 international student must:

  • Maintain F-1 status and be in good standing
  • Have been enrolled full-time for at least one academic year (fall and spring semesters).
  • Be enrolled in a program where the practical training experience is be an integral and required part of an established curriculum, required of all students in the program, as listed in the YSU Course Catalog.
  • Participate in an internship or practical training experience that is directly related to the student’s major area of study.
  • Obtain CPT authorization before beginning employment. A student may not begin employment before the CPT start date indicated on the Form I-20.

  • Complete the practical training experience before the program end date listed on the Form I-20.

     

Steps to Apply for CPT

  1. Schedule an appointment with an International Student and Scholar Services Advisor to review eligibility requirements and the application process.
  2. Meet with your Academic Advisor to ensure to you meet curricular requirements.
  3. Obtain a job offer letter on company letter head the includes the following:
    • Position title
    • Employer address where you will be working (must be a physical address, cannot be a PO Box)
    • Start date of internship
    • End date of internship
    • Brief description of job duties/responsibilities
    • Number of hours per week you will be working
    • Compensation
      • Hourly rate or salary
    • Supervisor’s name and signature 
    • Brief description of the supervisor’s oversight plan, including how the supervisor will monitor the student’s training and performance to ensure the training objectives are being met.
  4. Obtain a signed CPT Cooperative Agreement. STEM and Business students may submit the YSU Professional Practice Agreement to satisfy this requirement. The agreement establishes that you are engaging in employment with a legitimate, bona fide employer who is able to provide a quality practical training experience.
  5. Enroll in the required CPT course during the semester in which you will participate in the internship or practical training experience.
  6. Submit your request and upload required CPT documents to the CPT Request Portal. A complete CPT Application includes the following documents:
    • CPT Advisor Recommendation Form
    • Job offer letter
    • CPT Cooperative Agreement or STEM and Business YSU Professional Practice Agreement
    • Printout showing your enrollment in required internship or practical training course

  7. Allow 7 business days to receive your new I-20 with CPT authorization by email. You CANNOT begin your internship until you have received your new CPT I-20 and the CPT authorized start date has arrived.

     

Important CPT Information:

  • Obtain authorization before beginning employment: Students must receive a CPT-authorized I-20 and wait until the authorized start date before beginning any employment. Students may not begin working before CPT authorization is issued. Working without authorization constitutes F-1 unauthorized employment and carries serious immigration consequences, including the termination of a student’s SEVIS record and YSU I-20.
  • Authorization is semester-specific: CPT authorization is issued for one semester at a time. If additional CPT is needed for a subsequent semester, the student must submit a new CPT request and obtain new authorization.
  • CPT dates must align with the academic term: The authorized employment period must correspond with the semester in which the student is enrolled in the required internship, practicum, or other qualifying course.
  • Maintain required enrollment: Students must continue to satisfy applicable F-1 enrollment requirements while participating in CPT.
  • Authorization is employer- and position-specific: CPT authorization cannot be transferred to a different employer, position, or training opportunity. A change in employment requires new CPT authorization before the student begins the new position.
  • Part-time or full-time authorization: 
    • Part-time CPT: During the academic year, CPT is limited to part-time. Immigration considers part-time to be 20 hours or less per week.
    • Full-time CPT: During official university breaks and vacations, CPT may be authorized on either a full-time or part-time basis. Immigration regulations consider CPT of more than 20 hours per week to be full-time. If a student participates in 12 months or more of full-time CPT, they become ineligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT).