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Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for F-1 Students

Overview

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is defined as employment which is an integral part of an established curriculum, including: “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 school.” Source: [8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i)]. CPT is available only prior to the completion of your degree program and you must have a job offer at the time of application. CPT employment may not delay completion of the academic program.

Types of CPT

There are two types of CPT: required for the academic program and non-required. For CPT that is required, the academic program mandates practical work experience in the field of study to graduate. For CPT that is a non-required part of the program, the practical work experience is for credit and directly related to your field of study.

Requirements for Non-Required CPT

  • You must be enrolled in a CPT course.
  • The designated CPT course must have been set up and approved by the U-M Office of the Registrar. See the list of List of Required Internships and CPT Courses for Optional Internships.
  • If you wish to engage in CPT during Winter or Fall term, you must be registered for the CPT course during that term.
  • If you wish to engage in CPT during the Spring/Summer term, you may register either in the preceding Winter term or during the Spring/Summer term.
  • If you register for the CPT course for Winter term and are authorized for CPT work during Winter term, you cannot then use the same registration again for Spring/Summer term. You must register for the CPT course again.
  • Students who are engaged in thesis/dissertation work and have finished their coursework are still eligible for CPT, one term at a time.
  • Non-required CPT will not be allowed in the student's final term unless you need to register for other courses which are required for the completion of your academic program.
  • Failure to complete the CPT course will result in your falling out of legal F-1 status.
  • Be aware that adding a CPT course may have an impact on your tuition and fees.

Part-Time vs. Full-Time CPT

Part-time CPT: Employment for 20 hours or less per week is considered part-time. Though there is no limitation upon the length of time you may participate in part-time CPT, you must be simultaneously enrolled in classes full-time in order to maintain lawful F-1 status.

Full-time CPT: Employment for more than 20 hours per week is considered full-time. Please be aware that 12 months or more of full-time CPT will invalidate your eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for CPT, you must:

  • Have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis for one academic year (i.e. two full consecutive terms). If you are a graduate student and the program requires immediate participation, this requirement is waived.
  • Be in lawful F-1 status
  • Have U-M approved health insurance
  • Have a job offer
  • Not be enrolled in an intensive English language training program

NOTE: CPT is processed and authorized term by term. Contact your academic department regarding your department's specific guidelines and follow those guidelines for CPT applications. Please note that your department has discretion in recommending CPT.

Documentation Needed to Apply

  • CPT Online Course Completion Certificate, completed and signed
  • Academic/Faculty Advisor Recommendation Form for CPT, completed and signed
  • Your unofficial transcript from Wolverine Access

  • A copy of the job offer letter from the employer. The letter must:

    • Be written on the company's letterhead
    • Be addressed to you
    • Include job title and description
    • Specify the employment address (street, city, state, and zip code)
    • Specify if the employment is full- or part-time (if part-time, the number of hours per week you will work)
    • Specify the exact dates of CPT employment (keep in mind that CPT can only be authorized one term at a time)
  • A legible copy of your current I-20
  • A legible copy of your most recent I-94 card (front side only)

How to Apply for CPT

  1. Take the CPT Online Certification Course and print your course completion certificate.
  2. Gather the required documentation and bring your complete CPT request to the International Center front desk.
    * Incomplete requests will not be accepted.
  3. The U-M International Center will send your CPT recommendation to SEVIS electronically to generate a new I-20. The CPT work authorization will be printed on page 3 of the new SEVIS I-20.
  4. The U-M International Center will notify you when your new I-20 is available.
  5. Bring your U-M ID to the U-M International Center front desk to pick up your new I-20.
  6. Sign your name on the new I-20. Be sure to keep a record of all I-20s issued to you.

NOTE: You are authorized to be employed only for the employer, location, and time period specified on the new I-20. Documents that will help you to establish your work eligibility are, for example, your valid passport, original I-94 card and the SEVIS I-20 with CPT work authorization.

NOTE: It is possible to extend or shorten your CPT within the term of authorization. If you would like to edit your CPT end date email the U-M International Center at icenter@umich.edu.

Submitting Your Request for a CPT I-20

Once you have your CPT I-20 Course Completion Certificate and compiled all of the required documentation for a CPT I-20, you may submit your request to the IC front desk on central campus.

If, after completing the required CPT Online Certification Course, you still have questions, you should first refer back to the CPT Online Review Course. The review course is for reference only, there are no quizzes and it will not produce a Certificate of Completion. You may also discuss your questions with an immigration advisor through email at icenter@umich.edu during Quick Question Advising or by scheduling an appointment.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Address Notification Requirement

You are required to update your address in Wolverine Access within 10 days of any change while you are in F-1 status.

CPT for Unpaid Work

CPT authorization is recommended even for unpaid positions (such as unpaid internships), even if the student does not need to provide employment authorization documents to the company. The F-1 regulations are written in such a way that CPT is an authorization to do practical training as part of the curriculum for the academic program, and as such is significant in more ways than simply for the employer to verify employment eligibility.

A position such as an internship may involve employment authorization even when the person is not paid. According to U.S. Department of Homeland Security, there are multiple reasons for officially authorizing CPT:

  • CPT authorization by the university serves to demonstrate that this practical experience is part of the curriculum.
  • CPT authorization is a way of reporting in SEVIS the student's activity, employment, and location where they are working and therefore maintaining their status.
  • If ever a student is doing a job on an unpaid basis that someone would be hired and paid for, employment authorization in the form of CPT, OPT, etc. is advised.

Finally, if the unpaid internship at some point changes into a paid one (or if your employer decides to compensate you for your work in any way – for example, give you a monetary gift), you won't be able to accept the payment if your internship was not authorized as CPT.

Based on the above, we would advise that if you will have an internship that meets CPT eligibility criteria that you should apply for CPT authorization, even for an unpaid position. If it is not possible for you to obtain CPT authorization, we recommend that at the end of your internship you ask your employer to provide you with a letter confirming that you received no compensation of any kind for your work. Please keep such a letter for your permanent records.

Last reviewed: 03/11