F-1 Curricular Practical Training

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a work authorization that allows F-1 students to participate in academically required off-campus training, paid or unpaid, that is directly related to their major of study. CPT is an academic benefit, therefore, the internship must be required or considered an integral part of a student’s degree program.

The basics Heading link

  • You are in valid F-1 student status at the time of submitting the request.
  • You have completed one full academic year in a degree-seeking program at UIC.
  • You have secured an offer for training (internship, practicum, fieldwork, etc.) located off-campus in a position that is directly related to your major of study as listed on your Form I-20.
  • You are able to demonstrate that the training experience is a required component of your program’s written curriculum and that you are earning academic credit for the experience during the term for which you are authorized for CPT.
  • You are making normal progress toward completion of your degree and not participating in your program’s internship course in excess of what is required for graduation.

Part-time CPT

As an F-1 student, you may work up to 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters, all jobs combined. This means that CPT authorized during the semesters must be part-time (20 hours per week or fewer) and considered in relation to other on-campus or authorized off-campus work you may have. For example, if you hold a 25% appointment during the fall semester, it equates to 10 hours of work per week. In this case, your maximum CPT authorization for the fall semester is 10 hours per week.

Full-time CPT

Summer terms I and II are optional for most UIC students. During these optional terms, you can work full-time as an F-1 student, which for immigration purposes, is anything 21 hours per week or more. This means that CPT authorized during the summer can be full-time. However, keep in mind that you must still demonstrate a connection to your academic program by showing that the experience is required by your program’s written curriculum or that you are earning academic credit for the experience during the term for which you are authorized for CPT.

As CPT is tied to an academic course, the authorization dates should fall within the official start and end dates of the academic term. The actual CPT authorization start date listed on the Form I-20 will either be the start date you request on the CPT e-form or the date OIS approves the request, whichever is later.

CPT must be authorized on a term-by-term basis. Meaning, if you are authorized for CPT during the fall semester and want to continue the experience into the spring semester, you must submit a new CPT request for the subsequent semester. Similarly, you cannot receive a single CPT authorization for an entire academic year. You must submit a separate request and demonstrate a curricular connection for each academic term.

Steps to request CPT authorization on your I-20 Heading link

A successful CPT authorization request involves you, your academic department, your training host (i.e. employer), and the Office of International Services. CPT authorizations are ultimately granted by a Designated School Official (DSO) within OIS and do not require an outside application to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). OIS processing time for a complete and accurate CPT authorization request is approximately three to five business days.

Working off-campus (paid or unpaid) prior to receiving appropriate authorization on your I-20 is a violation of status which can have a significant negative impact on your ability to continue studying in the U.S.

  1. Meet with your academic advisor to discuss your program’s requirement for a practical training experience. During this conversation, you should confirm whether your program requires a training experience (e.g. internship, practicum, fieldwork, clinical rotation, etc.) for graduation or if there is a course within the written curriculum for which academic credit can be earned for such an experience. If you and your advisor cannot identify an academic requirement for off-campus training within your program’s curriculum, unfortunately, CPT authorization may not be possible.
  2. Secure an offer from a training host and discuss a realistic start date. Under the advisement of your academic department or career center, interview for a training experience (internships, fieldwork, practicum, clinical rotation, etc.) related to your major. While interviewing, you can explain that you are eligible to work in the U.S. under CPT authorization (assuming you meet all eligibility requirements) and that the start and end dates of the training should fall within the academic term. Generally speaking, you should allow yourself at minimum two weeks from receiving the offer to complete all necessary CPT paperwork and obtain the final authorization on your I-20.
  3. Submit the Curricular Practical Training (CPT) E-Form in myOIS. The e-form will ask you for details on your secured training experience including the location, proposed start and end date, and contact information for our training supervisor. It will also ask for information on the academic department representative who will confirm how the training experience connects to your program’s curriculum and the course for which you will register.
  4. Register for the corresponding course. You must register for the course identified by your academic advisor in step three before the CPT authorization can be granted.
  5. Correct and resubmit your CPT E-Form, if needed. CPT is not a simple request and many students will need to make corrections based on the OIS advisor’s feedback before receiving final authorization on their Form I-20. Please monitor your email closely and respond promptly to any communications you receive from OIS.
  6. Collect and sign your new I-20. When the CPT request is complete, OIS will contact you with options for receiving your new I-20 reflecting your authorized training location and dates. You may now begin your off-campus training experience, on or after the start date listed on your I-20.

Help with landing the training experience Heading link

Help with completing the CPT request Heading link

While not required, you may find it helpful to discuss your CPT plans, timeline, and the application process with an OIS advisor prior to submitting your request. Make an appointment via iAdvise or email your question to ois@uic.edu to get connected.

If you have already submitted your CPT request, please allow 3-5 business days for processing. While OIS does process all requests based on a first-in, first-out approach, we do take your proposed CPT start date into consideration and will do our best to meet that start date, if at all possible. That said, OIS does not offer expedited processing on CPT requests. Additionally, repeated phone calls and emails checking on the status of your request only takes advisor’s time away from processing your case.

FAQs Heading link

Here are some frequently asked questions about CPT.

No. CPT authorization is granted for a specific training experience with a defined employer and for a specific period of time corresponding to an academic term. You must secure the internship, practicum, or fieldwork offer first and then apply for CPT based on those details.

Yes. The regulatory basis for a CPT authorization is that the training experience be tied to the defined educational goals of the academic program listed on your I-20. Therefore, your program’s written curriculum must either require the training experience (e.g. internship, fieldwork, practicum, rotation, etc.) for graduation or, if the training is not a degree requirement, you must earn academic credit for the experience during the term in which you are authorized for CPT.

Maybe. If your academic program offers a training experience and your curriculum has you completing that training experience in your final semester, then CPT authorization can be granted if all other eligibility requirements are met. However, remember that to continue as an active F-1 student you must be enrolled in courses that are required for completion of your degree. If your training experience is an optional part of your curriculum or the credits you earn for the experience are not going toward degree requirements, it cannot be the only course you enroll for in your final
semester.

You can apply for full-time CPT during vacation academic terms which at UIC is summer session I and II. During the fall and spring semesters, which at UIC are required academic terms, only part-time CPT authorization (20 hours or less per week) may be granted.

There is no fee to obtain CPT authorization from OIS. However, there may be tuition and fee charges associated with your enrollment in the required internship, practicum, or fieldwork course. The type and credit level of the corresponding course can vary between program curriculums. Please see your academic advisor or career center advisor for more information.

No. As stated above, the regulatory basis for a CPT authorization is that the training experience be tied to the defined educational goals of the academic program listed on your I-20. Even if the job is related to what you are studying, CPT authorization cannot be granted if your academic program does not have a defined training experience written into the curriculum (i.e. you cannot earn academic credit for participating in the training). Furthermore, if the learning objectives
(i.e. job duties) of the training experience are not related to your academic program, CPT authorization cannot be granted.

If your primary goal is to gain practical work experience in your field of study rather than an academic pursuit, you may qualify for a pre-completion optional practical training (Pre-OPT) authorization. Please contact an OIS Advisor for more information.

Unfortunately, no. You must obtain authorization on your I-20 from OIS before beginning any off-campus work. CPT authorizations are typically completed within five business days provided complete and accurate documentation is submitted to OIS. You may schedule an appointment with an OIS Advisor to review your CPT application prior to submission and discuss likely processing timelines. Some students find this helpful so that they can accurately negotiate a start date with employers. Please note that expedited processing is not available for any requests submitted to OIS.

CPT authorizations are granted one academic term at a time. If your academic program supports subsequent training experiences, consult with an OIS Advisor to verify that you are eligible for additional CPT. Your OIS Advisor can also explain the process for reapplying for CPT. You cannot work beyond the CPT end date currently listed on your I-20.

Unfortunately, no. CPT authorization can only be granted if you are enrolled in the corresponding internship, practicum, fieldwork, etc. course required by your academic program. If you need help completing your CPT application, or accurately communicating processing timelines to your employer, please reach out to an OIS advisor for guidance.

Yes. Your employer will need to see either your I-94 record from the CBP website or your paper I-94. If you are unable to find your electronic or paper I-94, please email OIS at ois@uic.edu.

Unfortunately, no. CPT authorization can only be granted for training experiences that are tied to the defined educational goals of the academic program listed on your I-20. If your department cannot confirm that the training experience is required for graduation or that you will earn course credit that goes toward your degree, then the experience is not CPT eligible.

Maybe. While CPT authorization cannot be granted based solely on the job being a “great opportunity,” if your academic program’s curriculum requires a training experience for graduation, then CPT might be a good fit. If your academic program does not require a training experience, then you could consider applying for pre-completion OPT. That said, there are some significant drawbacks to pre-completion OPT, such as the lengthy processing time with USCIS and its
impact on post-completion OPT. You are welcome to discuss your options with an OIS Advisor. Please note that both CPT and OPT require that the job be related to your field of study.

Maybe. If you participate in 12 months or more of full-time CPT you are not eligible to apply for post-completion OPT. Participating in fewer than 12 months of full-time CPT, or in part-time (20 hours or less per week) CPT does not impact your eligibility for post-completion OPT.

No. CPT authorization can only be granted to an actively enrolled student. You are no longer eligible for CPT after you have completed all requirements and have entered into the 60-day grace period following your official UIC program completion date. There are rare exceptions to this rule, including PhD students who have completed all course requirements but need to continue collecting data at an off-campus location in order to complete a thesis or dissertation.

Yes. All qualifying off-campus internships, practicums, or research opportunities require CPT authorization, even if they are unpaid.