F-1 CPT

F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

What is CPT?

Curricular Practical Training – called CPT – is a temporary employment authorization allowing F-1 students to work legally off-campus for a time limited period. The authorization for the employment is granted by DePauw University, your F-1 sponsor.

To qualify as CPT, the proposed employment must be directly related to your major area of study and have a curricular requirement. The “C” in CPT stands for curricular: related to your course of study.

You CANNOT begin any off-campus employment (paid or unpaid) without proper authorization. Authorization must be received before any off-campus employment (paid or unpaid) begins. We recommend that you begin the CPT application process at least several weeks in advance of the beginning of your internship/employment to allow for processing of the application and to gather the necessary documentation.

If you are pursuing employment after graduation, please refer to the F-1 OPT page instead. CPT is available only when you are pursuing your degree.

Additional Information

F-1 students who:

Have completed one full academic year (consecutive Fall and Spring semesters) of full-time study immediately prior to the semester of their requested CPT work authorization;
Have a declared major;
Are in good academic standing and have maintained their F-1 immigration status;
CPT occurs during the course of the student’s program of study.

As part of the CPT application process, students must meet with their major advisor, provide information about the proposed internship, and ask that the advisor complete a portion of the CPT application form through the International Student Portal.

Part-time CPT is 20 hours a week or less
Full-time CPT is more than 20 hours per week
During the Fall and Spring semesters, students are typically limited to part-time CPT (20 hours or less per week); if a student also has an on-campus job during the semester in which they are working, they cannot exceed a total of 20 hours per week between the on-campus employment and the CPT employment.
Full time CPT is typically only possible during breaks (Winter Term, Summer), through Media or Management Fellows, or occasionally through other pre-arranged curricular avenues. Questions should be directed to International Student Affairs.

Students who participate in 12 months or more of full-time CPT will lose eligibility to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) after the completion of their undergraduate degree. Part-time CPT does not affect eligibility for post-completion OPT.

All paid internships and employment require CPT. As a general rule, unpaid internships require CPT as well.

Volunteer positions do not require CPT authorization. To be considered volunteering:

No expectation of compensation
The volunteer cannot displace a genuine employee
The services provided by the volunteer should not be the same services for which they were previously paid and/or expect to be hired and paid for in the future
Services are performed for a non-profit organization for public service, religious or humanitarian objectives.

International students are permitted to volunteer in the United States without special authorization from DePauw. When students receive any form of compensation (academic credit, pay, stipend, housing, meals, transportation, scholarship/grant funds, etc.) in exchange for their work in an internship or practicum, this qualifies as employment and requires CPT authorization.

Work at a for-profit entity is always considered employment and must be for pay. The only exception is made for training programs where the trainee functions, to some degree, like an employee, but is under close supervision and provides no significant measurable work for the employer. The trainee must not take the place of a paid employee.

CPT requires course registration in an internship class during the semester in which the CPT occurs. This internship class is typically an Extended Studies class (WT, Summer), non-credit internship class (Fall/Spring), or appropriate Management/Media Fellows class (Fall/Spring). Independent study courses are not appropriate courses for CPT approval.

CPT in the final semester: Students must work with the Registrar on course approval.

Questions about internship courses and how to register for them can be directed to International Student Affairs, the relevant department or Fellows office, or the Hubbard Center.

CPT authorization cannot be back-dated. Make sure that your CPT work dates are in the future.

CPT authorization can only be given one semester at a time.

International students pursuing a "Micro-Internship" through DePauw's new Parker Dewey partnership must still secure work authorization (typically CPT) prior to beginning their internship.

A key step to obtaining CPT is enrolling in an internship class. Students are encouraged to enroll in this class no later than the fourth week of class. Students unable to secure an internship class will not be eligible for CPT or approved for a micro-internship.

We encourage students interested in applying for micro-internships to arrange for their internship as early as possible, ideally prior to the beginning of the semester.

Questions about the process should be directed to intlstudents@depauw.edu.

Applying for CPT: Documentation and Steps

Steps to Applying for CPT

Meet with your Faculty Major Advisor to discuss the appropriateness of CPT and the kinds of internships and opportunities you are pursuing for Curricular Practical Training
Secure Employment, including an appropriate job offer letter (details below)
Secure proof of enrollment (Extended Studies for Summer or WT, Zero-credit or departmental internship class for semester-long employment/internships) through the Registrar’s Office
Submit the CPT application through the International Student Portal, which requires faculty approval
Wait to receive your CPT approved I-20 before you can begin work

Required application documents for CPT

1. Offer Letter on official letterhead from your employer. Must include all of the following information:

Student’s full name according to their I-20;
Title and description of the position;
Number of hours worked per week;
Whether the position is paid/unpaid;
Type of compensation offered (academic credit, pay, stipend, housing, meals, transportation, and/or scholarship/grant from DePauw, etc.)
Name of the corporation/organization for which you will work;
Street address(es) where your employment activities will take place;
Name and contact information of the supervisor;
Start and end dates of employment. (Note: These should be within the dates of the relevant semester in which you are registered.)

2. Confirmation of enrollment in an internship class from the Registrar's Office

3. Completed CPT Application through the International Student Portal, approved by the faculty advisor for the major related to the internship. Management/Media Fellows: The faculty advisor must be your major advisor, not the faculty member supervising your Fellows program.