Definition of Curricular Practical Training

This type of work permission allows a student to accept employment in his/her major field of study.

The branch of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that oversees F-1 visa regulations defines "curricular practical training" as employment which is an integral or important part of your curriculum, including internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school. A department that offers "curricular practical training" must list the training opportunity as a course in the course catalog. It must also list the responsible faculty member (if the name of the responsible faculty member is not listed in the catalog, it must be included in the advisor's letter) and a statement of the purpose of the training opportunity.

Therefore, since only a handful of departments at Alliant offer internships/courses that meet the above requirements, only a limited number of Alliant students will be able to take advantage of curricular practical training.

Job Eligibility Requirements

To be considered curricular practical training, the work must not only be related to your major field of study but must also be an integral or important part of your studies. Training which is required by your degree program always meets the requirements for curricular practical training, regardless of whether or not you receive academic credit for your work. Training which is not required by your degree program may meet the requirements for curricular practical training if you receive academic credit from a special CPT course offered by your department for the employment experience and if it is an important part of your studies. If you have a training opportunity which involves employment, check with the International Student Services Office to determine if it qualifies as curricular practical training.

WARNING: If you are taking the training for practicum credit, you must be enrolled in the practicum course for the semester during which you are actually doing the practicum (training.) Failure to enroll in and complete the class will result in immediate violation of your legal status and could be cause for deportation. It is the student's responsibility to fulfill all requirements of Curricular Practical Training.

Student Eligibility Conditions

1. The student must be maintaining valid F-1 D/S status.
2. The student must have been in F-1 D/S status for nine months and must have completed 9 months of full-time study.
3. The employment must clearly be related to the student's field of study.
4. The paid employment may not exceed 20 hours per week during the school year. Full-time employment during the summer months is permitted. Students who work on-campus 20 hours per week or who have an RA/TA are not eligible for curricular practical training during the academic year.
5. Students who have already completed all course/unit requirements for their degree are not eligible for curricular practical training. Students may not enroll in the same CPT course more than once unless the department grants course credit for the course when it is taken more than once.

NOTE: Students may work full-time under CPT during the summer, but only part-time during fall and spring semesters. Students applying for curricular practical training must apply semester by semester. Undergraduate students must have declared a major and completed nine months of full-time study in order to be eligible for any form of curricular practical training. Students enrolled in English language training programs are not eligible for curricular practical training.

Part-Time vs. Full-Time Curricular Practical Training

Part-Time Training

Employment for 20 hours or less per week while you are also enrolled for classes is considered "part-time" curricular practical training. The employment authorization that will appear on your I-20 should therefore specify permission to engage in "part-time" training and you must be careful to limit your work to no more than 20 hours per week.

Full-Time Training

Employment for more than 20 hours per week is considered "full-time" curricular practical training and the employment authorization on your I-20 should, in this case, specify permission to participate in "full-time" training. There is no limitation upon the length of time you may participate in full-time curricular practical training. However, if you participate for twelve months or more, you will not be eligible for any type of optional (including post-completion) practical training. Full time curricular practical training is ONLY permitted during the summer.

Application and Authorization Procedures

To apply for Curricular Practical Training, please visit the International Student Services Office.

Employment Eligibility Verification

When you begin work, you and your employer must complete a form entitled "Employment Eligibility Verification" (USCIS Form I-9), which the employer retains. Form I-9 must be updated each time you receive a renewal of your work permission.

Social Security and Other Taxes

In general, F-1 students who have been in the US less than five years are exempt from Social Security (F.I.C.A.) taxes. Your earnings are subject to applicable federal, state and local taxes. Students must file a tax return on or before April 15 each year, which will determine if any of the withheld taxes can be refunded.

A Note of Caution

If your department does not offer a specific practicum course, or does not offer the course during the semester for which you are seeking employment authorization, then you will not qualify for Curricular Practical Training, but you might qualify for Optional Practical Training.

While immigration regulations provide a variety of opportunities for you to be employed during your time in F-1 status, working improperly or without authorization is a serious violation of your status. Lack of planning (or urgency in needing a work permit) does not justify issuance of a work permit based on Curricular Practical Training. The DHS prohibits the authorization of Curricular Practical Training issued for the primary purpose of facilitating employment.

It is not possible for the International Student Services Office to be flexible in the issuance of Curricular Practical Training to allow a student to defer the use of Optional Practical Training. Students applying for CPT must also meet any additional requirements set by departments concerning the minimum number of units they are required to take during the quarter they are enrolled in the CPT course.