For Employers of College of Business and College of Technology Students

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Frequently Asked Questions ~

For Employers of College of Business and College of Technology Students

What is CPT? Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an off-campus employment option available to international students on F-1 visa status. According to the immigration regulations, the employment may be an internship, cooperative education job, or any other work experience that is an integral part of an established curriculum, or for which academic credit may be awarded. Meaning, the scope of the work must be directly related to the students’ degree program.

What are the CPT eligibility criteria?

1.  Student has completed one academic year enrolled full-time at the campus identified on I-20 (excluding ESL)

2.  Experience must be an integral part of the degree program or part of a specific course

3.  Have an offer for work experience - paid or unpaid - employment or internship, that may also be approved for academic credit(s)

4.  Student must be enrolled full-time during the semester that CPT is being considered (except summer or final semester)

What is considered part-time CPT employment? Employment for 20 hours or less per week while students are enrolled for classes is considered part-time curricular practical training. The employment authorization will be noted on the third page of the I-20 and will specify maximum hours authorized to work.

What is considered full-time CPT employment? Employment for more than 20 hours per week is considered full-time. The employment authorization will be noted on the third page of the I-20 with “Full-Time.” Students may apply for multiple CPT employment authorizations as long as eligibility criteria are met.

Unpaid work or volunteering: Traditional volunteer work (e.g. at a soup-kitchen, homeless shelter) does not require CPT approval.However an internship, if it is unpaid, requires CPT authorization.

Employer Responsibility

1.  Provide student a detailed work / internship / job description

2.  Provide student an offer letter and / or sign the DU Employer Internship Decision Form

3.  If offering an internship, sign the Organization Experiential Learning Agreement

4.  Await confirmation from the student that experience has been approved, before planned start date

5.  Be prepared to enter student information into your e Verify system, if applicable

Student Steps to Apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT):

1.  Meet with Academic Advisor / [Principal] Designated School Official (PDSO / DSO) to determine eligibility for Internship or Experiential learning

2.  Provide From Employer

a.  Official offer letter, including position, hours of employment, start/end dates and job description

b.  If an internship, Signed DU-Organization Experiential Learning Agreement

3.  If an internship, Sign Student Experiential Learning Agreement

4.  Complete CPT form

5.  Submit above documents to Academic Advisor/DSO to attain proper approvals

Reminders:

  Upon CPT approval, student can apply for a Social Security Card, unless they already have one

  Please report any change in employment and end employment by the planned CPT expiration date noted on the third page of the I-20

  If needed, student apply for CPT employment authorization extension – granted only by the PDSO

  Employment beyond CPT expiration date on the I-20 is a violation of immigration law and cause for termination of status; student must work to extend or reauthorize CPT each academic semester

For questions please contact Davenport University DSO by email .