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Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is work authorization required for active F-1 students who wish to engage in off-campus employment that is directly related to their major field of study. CPT cannot be issued for employment related to a minor. Regulations state that an F-1 student may be authorized to participate in a CPT program that is “an integral part of an established curriculum.” CPT is further defined in the regulations as “alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school.”

Eligibility

All CPT applications will be reviewed carefully by ISSS, and ISSS reserves the right to deny CPT applications that do not meet requirements. You must meet the following criteria:

  • You must have held valid F-1 status or other nonimmigrant status for at least one academic year of study in the U.S. as a full-time student at a post-secondary institution. Students in English language training programs are ineligible for practical training.
  • You must be pursuing a degree at Miami University.
  • You must have a job offer for a position that is directly related to your major.
  • You must be enrolled in a course that links your employment to your curriculum.
    • Miami University requires that undergraduate students be in good academic standing at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average and 24 GPA hours earned at Miami (continuing students) or 12 GPA hours earned at Miami (transfer students) prior to enrolling for an internship.
    • For graduate students who have finished required coursework and are currently in the thesis/dissertation stage, CPT will only be authorized if the employment opportunity is necessary for completion of the thesis/dissertation.

When should you apply for CPT?

Your complete CPT request should be submitted to ISSS at least 3 or more weeks prior to your employment start date in order to allow sufficient time to process your request.

Extending CPT

Because CPT is linked to enrollment, it is generally approved for no more than one term at a time. If your job will continue beyond the end of the term, you will need to register in coursework related to your employment opportunity for the following term as well. ISSS recommends you submit a request to extend your authorization at least 3 weeks before your CPT expiration date to ensure you will be able to continue working without a gap in authorization.

Full-Time Enrollment and Degree Progress

If you wish to apply for CPT authorization during the regular academic year (Fall or Spring semester), you are still required to enroll full-time (12 credits for undergraduates or 9 credits for graduate students) with sufficient in-person coursework unless it is your final semester of study and you have been approved for a reduced course load, or you are in an approved co-op or other special program.

In addition, you must continue to make normal progress toward degree completion while engaged in CPT. CPT work authorization should not delay completion of study.

Because of these requirements, many students choose to pursue CPT during university break periods—particularly during the summer.

CPT Application Process

  1. Log in to your InterLink account using your UniqueID and password. Go to F-1 Practical Training and complete the e-form Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Request.
    1. Before submission, confirm that your job offer contains all needed information:
      1. On employer letterhead
      2. Start date and end date
      3. Number of hours per week that you will be working – it is not sufficient for it to say “part-time” or “full-time.” Regulations define part-time employment as 20 hours per week or less. Anything over 20 hours per week is considered full-time employment.
      4. Physical location of your employer (street address, city, state, and ZIP code) – P.O. Boxes are not acceptable.
      5. Job title
      6. Job description
    2. Most employers do not issue job offer letters that provide all required information. If your job offer is missing information, please email your employer for the documentation that is needed. Upload that email (with sender and time stamp) in addition to your job offer to your CPT request. If any information is missing at the time of review, ISSS will stop processing your request and require that you gather the missing documentation. Do not skip this step.
  2. After your CPT request and job offer are reviewed and determined to be complete, ISSS will contact your Department Internship Coordinator (or Faculty Advisor if you are a graduate student in the dissertation or thesis stage of program) to determine how the job opportunity connects to your curriculum.
  3. If your CPT request is determined to be integral to your curriculum, ISSS will work with the appropriate offices to facilitate your enrollment in a course that connects to your job opportunity. The course:
    1. Can be for as few as zero (0) credits (if available) through your department.
    2. May be an internship course, independent study, or, if a graduate student with thesis/dissertation, a research course.
    3. Should be completed during the same period for which you are requesting CPT authorization.
    4. May not have regular meeting times, but there will still be required assignments, even if the course is for 0-credits. It is important to remember that you must complete course requirements while completing your work experience.

You must remain in the internship course for entirety of the term. Withdrawing from the course that is linked to your CPT work authorization immediately cancels the CPT authorization. Work done without CPT authorization is a violation of status.

  1. After you are registered in the required course, ISSS will issue your CPT work authorization and email you an updated I-20 to your Miami email.

    You may NOT begin working until you have obtained CPT work authorization from ISSS!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I extend/shorten my CPT?

If you wish to extend your CPT authorization, please follow the instructions above and complete step 1 of the CPT Application Process. Make sure your job offer contains your new end date. ISSS must receive your application at least three weeks prior to your current CPT expiration in order to avoid a gap in employment.

If you wish to shorten your CPT authorization, email international@MiamiOH.edu at least two weeks prior to the expiration of your CPT. We will also need documentation of your change in end date from your employer.

Can I change employers if I have CPT authorization? Can I work full-time instead of part-time, or vice-versa?

No. CPT is job-specific. You will be authorized to work for a specific employer at a specific location either part-time or full-time for a specific period of time. Any work done outside of this authorization would be a violation of legal status. If you wish to change employers, you will need to submit a new CPT request in InterLink (see CPT Application Process above).

Do I need CPT authorization for unpaid work?

If you will be pursuing an unpaid internship (or practicum or student teaching, etc.) that is directly related to your major, ISSS strongly recommends that you apply for CPT authorization. If you are offered any compensation for your services (room, board, bonuses, etc.), this is considered employment and you MUST have authorization. In addition, you must be careful not to “volunteer” without pay for positions that would normally be paid. This is a violation of labor law.

What is the difference between CPT and OPT?

CPT is Curricular Practical Training and therefore may only be used by students who are currently pursuing a degree at Miami University. It may not be used prior to the start of a degree program or after completion of a degree program. OPT, or Optional Practical Training, is typically used after completion of a degree program.

View more information about OPT

Additionally, CPT does not have an application fee (OPT does) and applications are processed by ISSS, whereas OPT applications are processed by the U.S. government.

Can I apply for CPT after I have applied for OPT (for the same degree program)?

No. If you wish to apply for CPT for the final semester of your degree program, you must do so before applying for OPT. Since you must show proof of previous CPT when you submit your OPT application, once it has been submitted to USCIS you will no longer be eligible to apply for CPT.

Will CPT affect my eligibility for OPT?

Students who engage in a total of 12 months or more of full-time CPT at a particular degree level will lose their eligibility to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) for that degree level. Students who engage in less than 12 months of full-time CPT at a particular degree level will likely retain their full eligibility for 12 months of OPT for that degree level. Part-time CPT typically has no effect on OPT eligibility. Regulations define part-time employment as 20 hours per week or less. Anything over 20 hours per week is considered full-time employment.

At this time, the combination of utilizing both CPT and OPT is being reviewed more carefully by USCIS. If you have additional questions about this, please schedule an appointment with an ISSS Advisor.

View more information about OPT

Am I eligible for a Social Security number if I have CPT? If so, how do I apply?

Yes! For information about how to apply, please see Social Security.

International Students and Scholars

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International students and scholars can submit a variety of requests to ISSS via InterLink.

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