Curricular Practical Training
Definition of Curricular Practical Training
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement regulations define "curricular practical training" (CPT) as employment which is an integral or important part of your 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.
Job Eligibility Requirements
To be considered curricular practical training, the work must be an integral or important part of your studies as well as related to your major or field of study. For practical purposes, training which meets Southern New Hampshire University's academic requirements and is approved by the Career Development Office meets immigration requirements.
Graduate students must also have faculty approval and a signature from an academic advisor.
Even "voluntary" or unpaid internships should be authorized following the procedures below. Occasionally such an "employer" has offered a reward or stipend for outstanding work; without the authorization, a student could not legally accept this bonus.
Student Eligibility Requirements
You must (1) be in lawful F-1 status and (2) have been a full-time student for at least nine months.
English Language Students. Students enrolled in English language training programs are not eligible for CPT and their time enrolled does not count towards future eligibility.
Part-Time vs. Full-Time Curricular Practical Training
Part-Time Training. Employment for 20 hours or less per week while you are also enrolled for classes is considered "part-time" CPT. The employment authorization written on page 3 of your Form I-20 should therefore specify permission to engage in "part-time" training and you must be careful to limit your work to no more than 20 hours per week. There is no limitation upon the length of time you may participate in part-time curricular practical training but you must be simultaneously enrolled at SNHU in order to maintain lawful F-1 status.
Full-Time Training. Employment for more than 20 hours per week is considered "full-time" CPT and the employment authorization on your Form I-20 should, in this case, specify permission to participate in "full-time" training. There is no limitation upon the length of time you may participate in full-time curricular practical training but if you participate for twelve months or more, you will not be eligible for optional practical training (see next paragraph).
Curricular Practical Training and Eligibility for Optional Practical Training
It is important that you understand that if you participate in twelve months or more of "full-time" CPT, you lose eligibility to apply for twelve months of optional practical training (OPT) after you complete your studies. Participation in "part-time" CPT does not affect your eligibility for OPT. This provision primarily affects students who have come to Southern New Hampshire University from a school with an extensive cooperative education program.
Application and Authorization Procedures
Authorization for CPT is granted by an international student advisor in the Center for International Exchange (CIE). Be sure to take your approval from the Career Development Office with you to CIE. If all eligibility requirements are met, an advisor in CIE will authorize either part-time or full-time CPT on a new I-20. You must be careful not to continue employment beyond the date authorized on your I-20 unless you apply for and are granted an extension of your permission to work.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement regulations define "curricular practical training" (CPT) as employment which is an integral or important part of your 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.
Job Eligibility Requirements
To be considered curricular practical training, the work must be an integral or important part of your studies as well as related to your major or field of study. For practical purposes, training which meets Southern New Hampshire University's academic requirements and is approved by the Career Development Office meets immigration requirements.
Graduate students must also have faculty approval and a signature from an academic advisor.
Even "voluntary" or unpaid internships should be authorized following the procedures below. Occasionally such an "employer" has offered a reward or stipend for outstanding work; without the authorization, a student could not legally accept this bonus.
Student Eligibility Requirements
You must (1) be in lawful F-1 status and (2) have been a full-time student for at least nine months.
English Language Students. Students enrolled in English language training programs are not eligible for CPT and their time enrolled does not count towards future eligibility.
Part-Time vs. Full-Time Curricular Practical Training
Part-Time Training. Employment for 20 hours or less per week while you are also enrolled for classes is considered "part-time" CPT. The employment authorization written on page 3 of your Form I-20 should therefore specify permission to engage in "part-time" training and you must be careful to limit your work to no more than 20 hours per week. There is no limitation upon the length of time you may participate in part-time curricular practical training but you must be simultaneously enrolled at SNHU in order to maintain lawful F-1 status.
Full-Time Training. Employment for more than 20 hours per week is considered "full-time" CPT and the employment authorization on your Form I-20 should, in this case, specify permission to participate in "full-time" training. There is no limitation upon the length of time you may participate in full-time curricular practical training but if you participate for twelve months or more, you will not be eligible for optional practical training (see next paragraph).
Curricular Practical Training and Eligibility for Optional Practical Training
It is important that you understand that if you participate in twelve months or more of "full-time" CPT, you lose eligibility to apply for twelve months of optional practical training (OPT) after you complete your studies. Participation in "part-time" CPT does not affect your eligibility for OPT. This provision primarily affects students who have come to Southern New Hampshire University from a school with an extensive cooperative education program.
Application and Authorization Procedures
Authorization for CPT is granted by an international student advisor in the Center for International Exchange (CIE). Be sure to take your approval from the Career Development Office with you to CIE. If all eligibility requirements are met, an advisor in CIE will authorize either part-time or full-time CPT on a new I-20. You must be careful not to continue employment beyond the date authorized on your I-20 unless you apply for and are granted an extension of your permission to work.