Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for Curricular Practical Training, you must meet all of the following requirements:

• be in F-1 status for one academic year of full time study (2 semesters, not including summer)
• be in a degree or certificate seeking program
• engage in employment related to your major/academic program
• register for internship credit

Required Steps for CPT:
Eligible F-1 student applying for CPT must follow the 6 step process for credit internships (paid or unpaid).

Step 1:Contact your academic advisor to verify your academic eligibility to register for an internship, and to start the registration process.

Sept 2: Come to ISSS with Internship registration form(s) to verify immigration eligibility for CPT authorization.

Step 3: Proceed with registering for internship credit(s).

Step 4: Once Registration is processed you will receive an e-mail notification confirming registration and the fact that you must wait 3-5 business days for ISSS to authorize CPT employment. 

Step 5: You will receive an e-mail from ISSS to come pick up I-20 with internship authorization and you can begin the internship. 

Step 6: After you have the new I-20 with the CPT authorization, you can begin the internship on the approved date.

Please note that you are not authorized to being working until the CPT start date on page 3 of your I-20. It is also important to understand that if you do not follow the steps in a timely manner or provide incomplete forms or information, the approval of you application will be delayed.