• Students
• Current International Students
  • Concurrent Enrollment
  • Curricular Training
  • Departing WSU Spokane
  • Employment
  • Extending F-1 Status
  • Immigration Documents
  • Maintaining F-1 Status
  • Optional Training
  • Reduced Course Load
  • Tax Regulations
  • Transferring Out
  • Travel

Curricular practical training

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) allows eligible F-1 students the opportunity for paid internships and employment integral to their major fields of study. Your international student advisor—not Immigration Services—authorizes CPT.

• CPT employment must be a supervised, temporary position.
• CPT can be part-time (less than 20 hours per week) or full-time (more than 20 hours per week).

Eligibility

You must meet all of the following requirements:

• Have lawful F-1 status; be lawfully enrolled, on a full-time basis, for at least one full academic year prior to the proposed CPT start date. Graduate students enrolled in a program that requires immediate participation in CPT are exempted from this requirement.
• Major in a field of study that requires the proposed internship or employment.
• Have a job offer.
• Meet CPT eligibility (PDF)

When to apply

You must apply and be authorized for CPT in advance. Allow one to two weeks for CPT processing.

Procedures

Step 1

• Discuss CPT eligibility with your academic advisor and international student advisor.
• If CPT is appropriate to your program, obtain a CPT packet from the international student advisor.

Step 2

• Secure a CPT job.

Step 3

• Have your academic advisor complete the academic advisor recommendation form.
• Have your employer complete the employment confirmation form or write a letter verifying your CPT job.
• Drop these forms off at the Student Affairs office (SAC 130).

Step 4

• After you are authorized for CPT in SEVIS, we will contact you about picking up a new I-20.

Step 5

• You are authorized to be employed only at the employer and for the period specified on page three of your new I-20.

Important

After twelve or more months of full-time CPT, you become ineligible for post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) at the same educational level.

Part-time CPT does not affect your eligibility for post-completion OPT; however, you must continue full-time enrollment unless you are doing CPT during the summer vacation.

You must obtain a new authorization in advance if you wish to change employers or extend your CPT.

Contact information

Liz West
Academic Center, 130
Telephone: 509.358.7534
E-mail: liz.west@wsu.edu