Curricular Practical Training
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for F-1 students is intended to provide authorization for off-campus work experience that is an integral part of an established curriculum. Employment must be directly related to the student’s major and it must count toward the completion of an Earlham degree.
Although employment authorized under part-time curricular practical training is unlimited until the completion of a degree, students who receive a total of 12 months or more of full-time CPT are ineligible for Option Practical Training (OPT); this includes practical training after graduation.
Students on F-1 visas are ineligible to work off-campus without prior authorization; this encompasses providing services in exchange for any form of compensation (wages, travel allowances, housing, meals, etc.).
Please contact an International Student Adviser if you have any questions about CPT eligibility or the application process.
To be eligible for CPT, you must meet the following requirements:
1.) You must be in valid F-1 status.
2.) You must have been enrolled for at least two consecutive semesters immediately before starting CPT.
3.) You must continue to be enrolled for a full course of study during CPT (or immediately following CPT, for employment during the Winter or Summer break).
4.) You must have an employment offer (letter or contract) that includes:
1.) You must be in valid F-1 status.
2.) You must have been enrolled for at least two consecutive semesters immediately before starting CPT.
3.) You must continue to be enrolled for a full course of study during CPT (or immediately following CPT, for employment during the Winter or Summer break).
4.) You must have an employment offer (letter or contract) that includes:
(a) The employer’s name, address, and contact information
(b) the job description
(c) whether the position is part time (less than 20 hrs/wk) or full time (more than 20 hrs/wk)
(d) the employment Start and End Date.
(b) the job description
(c) whether the position is part time (less than 20 hrs/wk) or full time (more than 20 hrs/wk)
(d) the employment Start and End Date.
5.) The position must be directly related to your major and must meet a Major requirement or a General Education requirement (which usually involves earning credit for the internship course in your major).
6.) Your major must be declared with the Office of the Registrar.
To apply for CPT, please login to Terra Dotta via the home page and go to the Request Center to complete the request.
Note:
It is the student's responsibility to know F-1 student visa regulations, and it is the International Student Advisers' role to assist students in understanding these regulations. Please contact an International Student Adviser (internationalstudentadviser@earlham.edu) for any questions you may have when completing the CPT Recommendation form.
If you have specific questions about CPT that are not answered here, please download our Faculty Guide to CPT.
If you have specific questions about CPT that are not answered here, please download our Faculty Guide to CPT.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should complete the CPT Recommendation form?
The Faculty Supervisor should complete the CPT Recommendation form with information provided by the student. The student should not complete the form on their own.
Why do I need to do the CPT Recommendation form?
Students with F-1 visas are ineligible to work off-campus for any form of compensation unless they have approved work authorization. CPT (Curricular Practical Training) is one form of work authorization; it requires that the work be part of an established curriculum and directly related to the student's major.
What counts as compensation for employment?
Anything the student receives in return for off-campus work is considered compensation and is illegal unless the student has previously received work authorization through the Center for Global Education and/or USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services). Compensation can include, but is not limited to, payment, lodging, transportation, meals, and discounts.
What if I have questions about completing the CPT Recommendation form?
It is the student's responsibility to know F-1 student visa regulations, and it is the International Student Advisers' role to assist students in understanding these regulations. Please contact an International Student Adviser (by email or by calling x1424) for any questions you may have when completing the CPT Recommendation form.
What do I need before I can complete the CPT Recommendation form?
The student will need to provide a letter outlining the offer of employment. This letter should contain a description of the work the student will be doing, dates of employment, whether it is full- or part-time, and the hiring organization's name and address. In addition to this information, you should discuss the ways this employment is related to the student's declared major and how this employment is related to their academic program.
What is the Internship Petition?
The Internship Petition is a form from the Office of the Registrar that is used to grant academic credit for work done in an internship or employment opportunity. Most College majors have 481 or 381 course designations (called Internships, Field Studies, Other Field Experiences, etc.) that work well for granting academic credit for work done through CPT employment authorization. In addition to completing the Internship Petition with their Academic Adviser, the student must register for the course indicated on both the Internship Petition and the CPT Recommendation form. If you would like more information or have questions about the Internship Petition, please contact the Office of the Registrar.
The Faculty Supervisor should complete the CPT Recommendation form with information provided by the student. The student should not complete the form on their own.
Why do I need to do the CPT Recommendation form?
Students with F-1 visas are ineligible to work off-campus for any form of compensation unless they have approved work authorization. CPT (Curricular Practical Training) is one form of work authorization; it requires that the work be part of an established curriculum and directly related to the student's major.
What counts as compensation for employment?
Anything the student receives in return for off-campus work is considered compensation and is illegal unless the student has previously received work authorization through the Center for Global Education and/or USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services). Compensation can include, but is not limited to, payment, lodging, transportation, meals, and discounts.
What if I have questions about completing the CPT Recommendation form?
It is the student's responsibility to know F-1 student visa regulations, and it is the International Student Advisers' role to assist students in understanding these regulations. Please contact an International Student Adviser (by email or by calling x1424) for any questions you may have when completing the CPT Recommendation form.
What do I need before I can complete the CPT Recommendation form?
The student will need to provide a letter outlining the offer of employment. This letter should contain a description of the work the student will be doing, dates of employment, whether it is full- or part-time, and the hiring organization's name and address. In addition to this information, you should discuss the ways this employment is related to the student's declared major and how this employment is related to their academic program.
What is the Internship Petition?
The Internship Petition is a form from the Office of the Registrar that is used to grant academic credit for work done in an internship or employment opportunity. Most College majors have 481 or 381 course designations (called Internships, Field Studies, Other Field Experiences, etc.) that work well for granting academic credit for work done through CPT employment authorization. In addition to completing the Internship Petition with their Academic Adviser, the student must register for the course indicated on both the Internship Petition and the CPT Recommendation form. If you would like more information or have questions about the Internship Petition, please contact the Office of the Registrar.