Curricular Practical Training
| Preconditions | Student must have beenlawfully enrolled on a full-time basis at an INS (DHS)-approved school for one full academic year before being eligible for CPT. Exception exists for geraduate students whose programs require immediate curricular training. Available only while student is in F-1 status, before completion of the educational objective. Students in English language training programs are ineligible for CPT. |
| Location | Students may engage in CPT only for the specific employer, location and period approved and recorded by the DSO in SEVIS. |
| Duration | Depends on the specific period granted by the DSO. May be granted by DSO in increments of no more than one year, or until expected date of employment completion, whichever is shorter. No cumulative maximum, except that it can only be approved before completion of the academic objective. |
| Hours per week | Can be approved for part-time (20 hours or less) or full-time (over 20 hours). |
| Field/level of work | Must be an integral part of an established curriculum, in the student's course of study. |
| Offer of employment | Must have an offer of employment from an employer offering work that qualifies as curricular practical training. |
| Effect on other work | Use of full-time CPT for one year or more eliminates eligibility for Optional Practical Training. Use of part-time CPT does not affect eligibility for Optional Practical Training. |
| Approval process | Must receive written authorization from DSO, who records authorization in SEVIS and issues SEVIS I-20 with notation, before work begins. USCIS approval is not required. |
| Miscellaneous | Must continue to maintain a full course of study in F-1 status during the period of employment, but exceptions may exist for some CPT. |