What is CPT?
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a benefit of F-1 status that allows an international student to take part in alternative work/study programs, internships, or cooperative education programs that are considered an integral part of the student’s educational program.
Reasons for CPT
CPT can only be authorized if both of the following are true:
- Participation in CPT is required by all students in a specific academic program as outlined in the Course Catalog, regardless of citizenship.
- The proposed CPT employer has entered into a cooperative agreement with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where it has been agreed that the employer will sponsor the school’s students for this specific training.
CPT cannot be authorized for optional internships and other work opportunities that:
- Are part of the student curriculum and pursuant to an elective class with a formal work component.
- Related to student thesis topic and proposed research area but not mandatory for graduation.
Who is eligible for CPT?
- F-1 students who have completed one full academic year (consecutive Fall and Spring) of full-time study immediately prior to the semester of their requested CPT work authorization. This requirement is waived for graduate students in a program that requires immediate internship participation.
- CPT occurs during the course of the student’s program of study.
Full-Time vs. Part-Time CPT
- Part-time CPT is 20 hours a week or less
- Full-time CPT is more than 20 hours per week
- Generally, students are limited to part-time CPT (20 hours or less per week); if student will also hold on-campus employment while pursuing part-time CPT, the total combined hours cannot exceed 20 hours per week
- Students who will hold on-campus employment and CPT employment and whose total combined hours will exceed 20 hours per week should speak to ISSS first
Full-time CPT eligibility depends on several variables. Please discuss possible full-time CPT opportunities with your department and ISSS.
If a student participates in twelve months or more of full-time CPT, they will lose eligibility to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) after completion of studies. Participation in part-time CPT does not affect eligibility for post-completion OPT.
Unpaid Internships
ISSS recommends CPT/OPT for all internships, paid or unpaid.
Charitable work that DOES NOT need CPT:
- Non-profit work.
- Work for a volunteer food bank.
Civic purpose that DOES NOT need CPT:
- Work for state or local government agencies must have a civic purpose.
“For-profit” private employers must meet the Department of Labor’s “Six Factor Test” for an internship to be unpaid*:
- Similar to training that would be given in an educational environment, rather than the work of regular employees.
- The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern.
- The intern does not displace regular employees but works under close supervision of existing staff.
- The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern and on occasion, its operations may be impeded. (The “pest test.”)
- The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship.
- The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the time spent in the internship.
Additional Information
- CPT authorization cannot be backdated. Please make sure your CPT work dates are in the future.
- You are only authorized to work on CPT for the dates listed on your new I-20 (2nd page). You cannot start your CPT employment without having the I-20 in hand. The employment must also end on the date specified on your CPT I-20.
- CPT authorization can only be given for one year at a time.
- If you wish to change employers or dates of employment while on CPT you must submit a new CPT application form through iSTART.
How do I apply for CPT?
- Meet with your academic advisor to discuss the mandatory internship requirement.
- Complete the CPT application form. Once the form is completed, a notification will be sent to your academic advisor by email with instructions and a link to submit their section of the application.
- After you have submitted the form and it has been approved by your advisor, it will take ISSS ten (10) business days to approve the CPT and create the new I-20. Please make sure you give yourself plenty of time before employment begins to submit the application.
Make sure all sections of the CPT application form are completed correctly before submitting to ISSS. ISSS will not accept incomplete/incorrect application forms.
CPT approval is not guaranteed. Each application is evaluated based on its own merits, and even if you believe your application includes all the requested information, ISSS could still deny your application or request further clarification.