Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Students may participate in CPT when the practical training is an "integral part of an established curriculum." In practice, this means the student must be engaged in an internship, clinical placement, practicum, or other off‑campus training experience that is a required component of their degree program and taken for academic credit. All CPT positions must be directly related to the student’s academic major.

CPT authorization is required for both paid and unpaid training experiences and is approved only for the specific employer, supervisor, location, and dates listed in the authorization. This information appears on page two of the updated Form I‑20 once CPT is authorized in SEVIS.

The Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) must authorize CPT in the student’s SEVIS record before any training begins. Students may only start working on the exact start date listed in their CPT authorization on the I‑20. Eligible students should submit the CPT Request in the ISS Portal at least two weeks before the intended start date.

How is CPT part of the curriculum? 

CPT may be granted for internships that carry academic credit or for required clinical placements and internships that all students in a program must complete to graduate. The internship course or requirement must appear on the student’s transcript. Because CPT must be directly related to the student’s major field of study, internship courses taken for a minor or in an unrelated discipline are not eligible for CPT.

Participation in an internship or experiential learning opportunity through CPT must be considered academic work and cannot delay the student’s expected degree completion date. There is no fee to apply for CPT authorization; however, students may be responsible for any tuition or fees associated with enrolling in the appropriate internship course required for their training experience. Unless a program requires experiential training or clinical hours for all students to graduate, the student must be enrolled in an internship course that applies toward their degree in order to be eligible for CPT.

Eligibility 

To be eligible for CPT, a student must: 

• Be in legal F-1 immigration status. 
• Have been a full-time student in the U.S. for at least one academic year. 
  • This requirement may be waived for graduate students only if off-campus training/CPT is required within the first academic year for all students enrolled in the academic program.  
• Have a written offer letter from the internship supervisor and the approval of their academic advisor or program director.  
• Earn academic credit for the internship experience.
   

 Additional Notes 

• Undergraduate students are eligible for CPT after they have been enrolled in the academic program for a full academic year and maintained F-1 status.
• Graduate students are eligible for CPT during their first academic year only if their program requires practical training for all students in the degree. Because most master’s programs at Quinnipiac do not include a universal training requirement in the first year, F‑1 students generally become eligible for CPT after completing one full academic year.
• CPT must be part-time (less than 20 hours per week) in the fall and spring semesters. 
• Employment of more than 20 hours per week is considered full-time Curricular Practical Training and can only be completed in the summer term. Exceptions will be considered for graduate programs which require full-time clinicals, the QU in DC, and QU in LA programs.  
• Students who use twelve months or more of full-time CPT are ineligible for Post-Completion OPT. 
• CPT is authorized for one semester at a time. You must reapply for any subsequent semesters of CPT by submitting a new CPT Request in the ISS Portal.  
• The student must be re-authorized for CPT if the terms of the position will change (e.g. full-time to part-time), if the student changes internship location, or if the dates of the internship change. The student must submit a new CPT Request in the ISS Portal before the new terms go into effect.  
• The student’s endorsed I-20 will serve as proof of permission to work in the U.S. for the specific employer and dates notes on Page 2 of the I-20.  
• Students engaged in a paid CPT position will need to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) upon receiving their CPT I-20 if they do not already have the SSN. 
  
  

CPT Request Process   

1. Meet with your academic advisor or program director within your academic school to determine if and when you may be eligible for a CPT experience based on your academic program requirements. 
2. Enroll in the appropriate credit-bearing internship or practicum course for the semester in which you intend to receive CPT authorization.
   • This step may require completing a school-specific approval process before you can register for the course. Depending on your academic program, you may need to secure approval from your academic advisor, program director, or internship coordinator. Some schools may also require submitting an internship experience request through Handshake. Students should confirm their program’s procedures in advance to ensure they are able to register for the course before submitting the CPT request to OISS.
3. Obtain an offer letter from your employer. The letter must include:   
   • Name of Company   
   • Address of Company  
   • Start and End Dates (within the semester)  
   • Number of hours per week   
   • Job title and description of role   
4. Submit the CPT request in the ISS portal, upload your offer letter and proof of enrollment in the appropriate course. You will also enter the contact information of your academic advisor or program director for approval.  
5. The Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) will review your request and issue you an updated I-20 with CPT Authorization noted on Page 2 within 3-5 business days of approval from the academic advisor or program director. You will receive an email when your request has been processed and your I-20 is ready for download.  
   
   

Extensions & Re-authorizations 

CPT approvals are authorized for a maximum of one semester at a time. Students must show proof of new course enrollment, an updated offer letter from the internship supervisor, and obtain the approval of the academic advisor indicating the necessity of continued internship.