Curricular Practical Training (CPT) - Internships Enrollment 

As an F-1 student, you have a practical training opportunity that will give you practical experience in your field of study before you graduate, such as an internship, you may be eligible for a type of authorization called Curricular Practical Training (CPT).

In order to participate in part-time or full-time CPT, you must also enroll in a Special Topics, Independent Study, internship, or practicum course. This course will evaluate the work completed during the CPT for a grade. Enrollment in such a course must be verified before CPT permission will be given. You will be required to enroll in a corresponding course during the period of time that you will work.

Each CPT experience only lasts one semester and you are only permitted to work between start and end dates located on your I-20 that is authorized for that experience. Curricular Practical Training experiences are available for international students who have maintained their F-1 immigration status for at least one full academic year (fall and spring semesters) at the University of Indianapolis before applying for this benefit. Unpaid internships require CPT registration.

Are you eligible for Curricular Practical Training authorization?

You are required to meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for CPT authorization:

  • You are a full-time student for at least one full academic year.
  • You have F-1 status.
  • You have an offer letter outlining the training opportunity in your major field of study.
  • You have registered for an appropriate course that covers the duration of the training that you seek. Which course you are required to register for depends on what CPT option you pursue.

 

HOW TO APPLY FOR CPT

If you are an undergraduate or a graduate student, are to schedule a meeting with your career coach at the Stephen F. Fry Professional Edge Center who will help you take your initial step of looking for a CPT internship that will comply with an academic course at the university and for additional assistance with resume-writing and interview skills.

NOTE: Students are encouraged to meet with their academic and major advisor about doing CPT, but all needed application paperwork should come from Career Coaches in the Stephen F. Fry Professional Edge Center. If you have authorization paperwork coming from an advisor, your PDSO or DSO will ask you to get the correct documentation from the Stephen F. Fry Professional Edge Center.

Upon receiving a job offer, you will need to get from the employer a job offer letter on company letterhead that includes a job description, wages, start and end dates, and name of supervisor. CPT is authorized by USCIS through International Student Services by semester, and you may only work for the company authorized on their I-20. 

You will take this document to Stephen F. Fry Professional Edge Center, and your coach will create a Memo of Understanding (MOU) to verify approval and enrollment in an internship course. These documents will be taken to International Student Services for employment authorization.  

  • Offer Letter and Job Description (on company letterhead) issued by the Employer
  • Proof of internship approval from your coach in the Stephen F. Fry Professional Edge Center
  • Current I-20 issued by the University of Indianapolis

Once you have gathered all of the documents listed in step three, you will make an appointment with your International Student Advisor who is located in the Christel DeHaan Center for Global Engagement. 


During this meeting, the International Student Advisor will review the documents that you have brought with you to the appointment. If everything is in order, the International Student Advisor will enter the required information about your Curricular Practical Training into SEVIS and create a new I-20 with CPT employment authorization on page 2.

You are required to have authorization from the Office of International Student Services before you begin. Working without proper authorization is a violation of your legal status that will require the termination of your Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record.

Frequently Asked Questions

Employment during CPT must be directly related to your major area of study. Undergraduate students with CPT authorization during the academic year can only work part-time.
If you have found an internship or other unpaid training opportunity, International Student Services strongly recommends that you apply for CPT authorization before beginning that volunteer opportunity. If you are offered compensation for your experience, you can only accept it if you have CPT authorization.
If you have found an internship or other unpaid training opportunity, International Student Services strongly recommends that you apply for CPT authorization before beginning that volunteer opportunity. If you are offered compensation for your experience, you can only accept it if you have CPT authorization.
You can work 20 hours or less and must maintain a full course of study but may work full-time during summer with proper authorization and part-time enrollment. If you are working on-campus for CPT then you can only work 19 hours a week. Graduate regulations differ by program.
Students who wish to work on-campus while engaging in CPT should apply for part-time CPT and not exceed 40 hours of work combined between their on-campus work and CPT work. As a reminder, you cannot work more than 19 hours per week on campus while school is in session.
Students may only work for the company authorized on their I-20.
Employment during CPT must be directly related to your major area of study. It cannot be connected to a minor, concentration, or certificate.
CPT is authorized by your Principal Designated School Official (PDSO) or a Designated School Official (DSO) within the Christel DeHaan Center for Global Engagement. The PDSO or DSO must put your CPT experience into your SEVIS record and give you a new I-20 for this opportunity to be considered authorized.

You need to comply with the following policies while on CPT:

  • You may not use incomplete or deferred grades from a previous semester for CPT authorization.
  • You may not use CPT for a specific independent study course for more than three terms. If you are on your third term you will receive a warning from your International Student Advisor and Principal Designated School Official. Further independent study work needs to have a different course number and different academic requirements.
  • You have to enroll in each semester during which you are pursuing CPT.
  • Withdrawing from classes or dropping credits that are tied to CPT authorization immediately cancels the CPT authorization.
You cannot extend a CPT authorization. Each CPT authorization is required to enroll in a corresponding course during the period of time that you will work. If you have reached your authorized end date, you must stop working and reapply for CPT.
Social Security should not be withheld from the wages of an F-1 student on CPT if the student is classified as a nonresident for tax purposes. Earnings are, however, still subject to federal, state, and local taxes.

Other Important CPT Information

  • If you are working before or beyond your authorized start and end dates, it will result in termination of your SEVIS record. Training done without this authorization is illegal and a violation of status that will result in termination of your SEVIS record.
  • As F-1 students, it is your responsibility to maintain proper immigration status. One of those important ways of doing so is by following Employment Regulations. As Designated School Officials, it is the Christel DeHaan Center for Global Engagement’s responsibility to report through SEVIS if we know you are working without permission. Violating these regulations results in your SEVIS record being terminated, and you must leave the United States immediately. We will not be able to fix this for you, and you will not be allowed to return to the United States.
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