Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) provides valuable work experience for F-1 international students through internships, practicums, and other work opportunities related to coursework. CPT can be either paid or unpaid. APSU only offers CPT for course credits.
For Students: Here's a handy checklist!
For Faculty: PDF Sample Letter (email iss@apsu.edu for a Word doc)
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for CPT, you must:
- Be enrolled in a course during the CPT term that yields academic credit.
- CPT may be authorized for students who enroll in a course that requires employment to earn a grade, or a course where students design their own research project based on the employment. Enrollment in the course must be concurrent with employment. Authorization will be granted on a semester-only basis.
- Have an instructor supervising and evaluating your progress.
- Have completed at least one academic year (Fall and Spring semesters).
- Secure a job offer related to your field of study.
Additional Criteria
- Must maintain valid immigration status with full-time enrollment.
- Students in English language programs are not eligible for CPT.
- If you have had a gap in study or status violation, the one academic year requirement is recalculated.
Steps to Apply for CPT
- Complete the APSU CPT Request Form.
- Request a letter from your faculty advisor or course instructor.
- Obtain a hiring letter from your employer.
- Register for the appropriate CPT course.
- Schedule an appointment with the Office of International Student Services (ISS).
Important Deadline
- Submit your application one week before your earliest CPT start date.
Working Hours
- Fall/Spring Semesters: Typically part-time (20 hours/week).
- Summer: Full-time CPT is permitted regardless of course enrollment.
- Final Term: CPT is approved case-by-case; must meet specific requirements.
- OPT Eligibility: Full-time CPT exceeding 11 months and 29 days will negate OPT eligibility.
Taxes
F-1 students are exempt from Social Security taxes for up to five calendar years, but are subject to federal, state, and local taxes. Consult a tax professional for details.
Compliance with F-1 Status
- Maintain full-time student status (12 credit hours for undergraduates, 6 for graduates).
- Report any changes in address or employment within 10 days.
Required Documents
- Faculty Letter: Must include your name, internship details, course title, and requirements.
- Employer Letter: Must include your name, company details, employment dates, hours, and job description.
Contact Information
For questions or assistance, contact:
- Phone: (931) 221-6400
- Email: iss@apsu.edu
- Office Location: International White House, 325 Drane St., Clarksville, TN 37044
Frequently Asked Questions
The good news is, once you get all the paperwork in, your CPT I-20 can usually be made within 7 days. That makes it easier to start. However, when accepting job roles, keep the semester dates in mind:
- You can only work during the academic semester. Check the Academic Calendar to find semester dates.
- Continuing students can only work part-time during the Fall and Spring semester in most cases. Typically, you're limited to part-time
CPT for these semesters.
- International students must have face-to-face classes, so full-time CPT may not be authorized in Fall or Spring.
- During the summer, regardless of full-time or part-time course enrollment, you can work full-time.
- If your degree program requires full-time internships during fall or spring, you will need this noted by your advisor. Remember that you must have completed one academic year before accepting an internship.
- Part time if you are a Graduate Assistant in any capacity, and the internship is in the Fall or Spring. No exceptions.
- If you're in your final term, you can use CPT, but it is only approved on a case-by-case
basis. Student must sign an agreement to meet the following requirements:
- Part-time CPT if you have a full course load, including at least one in-person class.
- Part-time if you are a Graduate Assistant in any capacity, and the internship is in the Fall or Spring. No exceptions.
- Full time CPT if you have reduced course load/less than full-time, but:
- the class must be in person or require regular check ins (virtual check ins are allowed) and;
- you must check in with the ISS coordinator, advisor or graduate coordinator, and department chair as deemed necessary by your advisor or ISS
- Exception: Summer CPT may be full time even if the class is online.
- If you are a Graduate Assistant of any type, you may not accept a full-time CPT role in the Fall or Spring semesters unless you resign from your graduate assistantship role.
Notice: Failure to meet the above requirements will result in immediate cancellation of CPT authorization and potential failure of the class which the student is enrolled in.
Yes, but there's nothing new here. F-1 students are responsible for complying with all immigration regulations, including employment regulations. The rules you normally abide by when not working are the same ones you'll abide by when working.
Working without the proper authorization is a serious violation of nonimmigrant status in the U.S. If you fail to comply with these regulations, you may not be eligible for benefits normally granted to F-1 students and may jeopardize your stay in the U.S.
Prior to accepting any employment in the US, students should consult with the Office of International Student Services. Some important points to remember are:
- Always Enroll Full Time. You must maintain full-time student status every semester; this is defined as 12 credit-hours for undergraduate students and 6 credit-hours for graduate students. F-1 students may only count three credit-hours of online courses toward full-time enrollment requirements.
- Update Local Address. If you're authorized to engage in Curricular Practical Training, you must report the following changes within 10 days: legal name, residence (including changes from one residence hall to another) or mailing address, employer name, employer address and/or periods of employment/unemployment.
- Maintain the validity of your immigration documents. You should keep your passport valid for at least six months into the future. Always keep your visa valid if traveling outside the U.S.
- Change of Program Dates. You will not be eligible for an extension of your I-20 due to a delay caused by CPT employment. Changes to a program date should occur at least two weeks prior to the new program date or expiration of the current date, whichever is earlier.
- Change of Degree Program or Level. All program changes such as major, secondary major, minor or degree level must be updated in the SEVIS system.
- Copies of Immigration Documents. You should keep copies of all immigration documents including the following: passport photo page, visa in passport, I-94, current I-20, and copies of any I-20 issued.
It's not too hard! There are a few steps here.
Here's a handy checklist!
- Fill out the APSU CPT request form.
- Request required letter from faculty advisor, course instructor, or graduate coordinator.
- Graduate students must contact their graduate coordinator.
- For Faculty: PDF Sample Letter (email iss@apsu.edu for a word doc)
- Request hiring letter from the employer.
- Register for the appropriate course for CPT. There are no exceptions.
- Note: you must be registered for CPT course in the same semester during which the work will be done (i.e., You must be registered for the CPT course in the summer if you will be working in the summer).
- Schedule an appointment with Office of International Student Services. The ISS DSO
will issue your I-20.
- Bring all docs from 1-4 above to ensure you can be approved at your appointment.
- Deadline: one week before earliest CPT start date
- You must schedule an appointment - drop-ins will not be accepted. This could delay your start date!
Once approved, remember to...
- Apply for Social Security Number
- Begin CPT only once start date listed on CPT I-20 has arrived.
- Comply with F-1 Status Regulations while on CPT.
Since CPT is directly approved by the school, it's imperative your documents have all the information below. Without it, you could jeopardize your future opportunities in the U.S. It seems strict, but we are here to protect you.
Letter from the faculty member (advisor, instructor, or graduate coordinator) who will supervise your internship stating the following:
- your name
- the specific internship opportunity
- the specific degree requirement or elective course (course title, course number and number of credit hours)
- the minimum requirements to complete the internship
- a reasonable period of time needed to complete the internship (e.g., satisfying the requirements of a one-semester, 3-credit course would normally be done in one semester or less)
- If CPT is for dissertation research, the student's adviser should provide a detailed letter stating the dissertation topic, what research will be carried out, and why it is necessary for the dissertation.
Letter can be sent by email from faculty member’s APSU email directly to Office of International Student Services DSO.
Letter offering internship employment from your employer on company letterhead that is signed by the prospective employer. The letter should include:
- your name
- employer’s name (company)
- employer’s (company) address
- beginning/ending dates of employment (keep in mind that CPT can only be authorized one semester at a time)
- how many hours you will work weekly
- location where employment will take place
- a description of duties in sufficient detail to clearly show them as appropriate to meeting the requirements for your degree