Curriculum Practical Training

• You are a full-time student for at least one full academic year (excludes summer terms).
• You have F-1 status.
• You have a letter from your prospective employer for work in your major field of study.
• You have registered for an appropriate course that covers the duration of the employment that you seek. The course, you are required to register for, depends on what CPT option you pursue.

• The work fulfills an optional or required internship or practicum in your academic program. Registration in an internship or practicum course is required.
• The work fulfills the course requirements of a standard course or independent study course in your academic program. Registration in the standard course or independent study course is required.
• Graduate students only: The work benefits your thesis/dissertation/final project in a material and substantial way. Registration for thesis/dissertation/final project credit(s) is required.

In order to be granted work authorization, your advisor must certify that you will register in an appropriate course/independent study, internship credit(s), or dissertation credit(s). Speak with your academic advisor to determine your options for a CPT-appropriate course. If your advisor has questions, please have him or her contact OISS for assistance.

Additionally, OISS must receive confirmation from your academic advisor through the e-form process that indicates the course in which you are registered so that OISS can process your CPT request. Your academic advisor will be asked to provide information about how the work that you plan to do will be integral to your curriculum and fulfill requirements of your program of study.

You must provide OISS with an offer letter from your prospective employer. This letter should be on company letterhead. Please share a copy of the offer letter with your academic advisor. Please circle the following before submitting:

• The specific start date and specific end date for employment
• The number of hours you will work per week. It will not be sufficient for the letter to state "part time" or "full time." The number of hours per week must be provided.
• The physical location (street address, city, state, and ZIP code) where the job will be conducted. P.O. boxes are not accepted for this requirement.
• A description, as detailed as possible, of the job duties entailed in your work

Students must register for a CPT-appropriate course for each semester or summer session for which they seek authorization. CPT authorization cannot be based upon "incompletes" or other registrations from previous semesters.

If you seek work authorization for the summer, you must be enrolled in a CPT-appropriate course.  If the proposed CPT end date ends on or before the last day of the final summer term, you may enroll in a summer CPT-appropriate course that ends on the last day of the final summer term (end of the third 4 weeks, end of the second 6 weeks, end of the second 8 weeks, end of the 12 weeks).  If your proposed CPT end date extends beyond the last day of the final summer term, you must enroll in a CPT-appropriate course in the fall semester.

Your completed application for CPT must be submitted to OIS in Atlas at least two weeks before the employment is expected to begin. Please apply earlier when the university will be closed for the winter break or at the beginning and end of a semester, as those are particularly busy times in the office. Failure to do so can result in delays in processing, during which time you are not eligible to begin work.

• You may not use incompletes or deferred grades from a previous semester for CPT authorization.
• You may not use CPT for a specific independent study course for more than two terms. Further independent study work must have a different course number and different academic requirements.
• You must enroll in each semester during which you are pursuing CPT.

Withdrawing from classes or dropping credits that are tied to CPT work authorization immediately cancels the CPT authorization. Work done without this authorization is illegal and a violation of status that will result in termination of your SEVIS record.

If you are authorized for part-time CPT, you may work no more than 20 hours per week for all jobs. You must enroll as a full-time student for the duration of the CPT. For part-time CPT, remember that each job that is not at IU will require its own CPT authorization.

If you are authorized for full-time CPT, you may work 21 or more hours per week. Your enrollment in CPT-qualified credits will be considered full time.

CPT authorization results in the issuance of a new page 3 of your I-20. Please staple this new page 3 to your current Continued Attendance I-20. This page will have a travel signature that will be valid for entry into the United States for one year, provided that you remain enrolled full time at IU, your I-20 itself has not expired, and your major has not changed.