Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

CPT/Internships for F-1 students

CPT - Curricular Practical Training is a type of F-1 work authorization that is intended only for temporary internship experiences that are clearly demonstrated as being integral to the student's curriculum and program of study.  In other words, participation in an internship must be required for degree completion for all students in order to be authorized a CPT. Elective CPT requests that are not essential for degree completion will not be authorized.

CPT will only be authorized as per 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i) when the internship is an integral part of an established curriculum. Curricular practical training is defined to be 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. Full-time jobs that are not considered a temporary internship experience will not be authorized.

Students should not engage in any off-campus paid or unpaid internships without active work-authorization, such as CPT or OPT. Students applying for CPT must wait for their I-20 to be issued prior to starting any internship.

There are part time (20hrs/wk) and full time (40+hrs/wk) CPTs.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Policy is as Follows:

CPT may be requested by students who must participate in an internship as required for degree completion. The academic department must confirm that the CPT is required to fulfill degree requirements.
- Degree programs that require internship/practicum experience to fulfill degree requirements include: MBA in Sports Management, Hospitality & Tourism, Health Administration, Education, Music, Social Work, Nursing, Architecture. This list may update depending on a program's established curriculum and internship requirements.
- CPT may be authorized in cases of dissertation students who require CPT for the purpose of research collection. This requires an official letter from the academic department confirming that the CPT is integral and essential to the student's ability to collect research for their dissertation and that without the CPT the student would not be able to complete their dissertation research.
During fall and spring semesters, when full-time course enrollment is required, eligible students may request part-time CPT.
During annual vacation (summer term, unless it is the first term of study) and during official school breaks eligible students may request a full-time CPT to work over 20 hours per week.
Students are eligible for CPT after fulfilling one academic year of full-time enrollment equal to at least 30 weeks.
For final term of study, student must be taking an in-person course required for degree completion in addition to the CPT authorization. The CPT course should not be taken as the only course in the final term of study.
CPT cannot be requested for on-campus full-time positions. During official school breaks when classes are not in session and during annual vacation when enrollment is optional the student may exceed the 20 hour limit of on-campus employment. To review the on-campus employment policy, please click here.

Exceptions:

Graduate students may apply for CPT in their first term of study IF the internship is an integral part of the curriculum (e.g. only graduate level student with the required internship in their first term of study)
Graduate and undergraduate students may apply for CPT in their second term of study IF they are transferring from another U.S. institution or starting a new program following a period of OPT and have been in F-1 status for at least one academic year (e.g. students who graduated from another institution and have completed their OPT)
Eligible students may apply for full time CPT in spring and fall term IF their department offers an internship course for academic degree credit as a requirement for degree completion.

For university information on internship options, visit the FAU Career Center internship information page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a job and an internship?

An internship includes a learning objective; it is an opportunity to gain knowledge and skills through experiential learning as a complement to the theoretical knowledge gained in an academic setting. Internships are also intended as a temporary position. Internship experiences cannot be considered for self-employed positions as there must be a bona fide employee and employer (mentor) relationship. International students can only be authorized for internships that are an integral part of their academic curriculum. A job is a position of regular employment. CPT is intended for temporary positions that are documented as an internship as opposed to regular established positions.

How do I find an internship?

The best way to locate an internship is to work with the FAU Career Center . The Career Center has dedicated advisors and resources to help students identify internship opportunities on and off campus. Learn more about internships at FAU!

What if I find an internship on my own? How do I get approval to engage in this internship if it is not already offered through the Career Center?

Send an email to intern@fau.edu including any details you already have about the internship site (location, contact information, name of supervisor, dates of your internships, specific position title/description, etc.). An advisor from the Career Center will work with you to meet internship requirements for CPT eligibility.

FAU Tech Runway

FAU Tech Runway/Research Park employment opportunities do not fall under the definition of on-campus employment and must be authorized as off-campus employment following Curricular Practical Training (CPT) policies for F-1 students and Academic Training (AT) policies for J-1 students. Please work with the FAU Career Center to determine if FAU Tech Runaway opportunities align with internship objectives.

When can I begin my internship?

You may begin your internship as soon as you meet the minimum eligibility criteria for the Career Center and ISS and you receive the proper authorization from both offices. You should only work during the approved CPT dates reflected on page 2 of your I-20.

Additional requirements for international students:

F-1 students must fulfill at least one academic year at FAU (two consecutive full-time semesters equal to at least 30 weeks minimum of credit seeking courses compliant with F-1 enrollment requirements) prior to being eligible for CPT, which in turn will allow participation in an internship

Exceptions:

Students who pursue a graduate level degree with a required practical component (immediate internship participation required) within the program of study may engage in CPT from their first semester at FAU.

Students who are transferring from another program in the U.S. or starting a new program following a period of OPT may request CPT in their second semester of study at FAU.

J-1 students may engage in AT any time during their program of study on a part-time basis (but this time will be deducted from the total period of AT eligibility; review the AT handout for more information).

Do I need to get authorization from ISS in order to engage in the internship?

Yes.

F-1 Students:

Paid and unpaid on-campus internship positions may be authorized as on-campus employment if not exceeding 20 hours per week or as CPT if exceeding 20 hours per week (F-1 students). Please note that regular on-campus jobs cannot exceed 20 hours per week during fall and spring (but may exceed 20 hours per week during the summer session for students continuing enrollment from spring).
Paid and unpaid off-campus internships must always have CPT authorization and may be authorized full-time or part-time depending on the internship criteria. ISS advisors will advise you accordingly.
ISS limits CPT authorizations to no more than two semesters per degree level. While there is no regulatory limit on part-time internships, students who wish to engage for a third internship must meet with an ISS advisor prior to requesting the authorization. We must ensure that this opportunity continues to be integral to students' program of study (for degree credit or degree completion requirements) and establish new learning objectives with each CPT authorization.
Students who completed all coursework except for thesis or dissertation credits may apply for CPT under the condition that the internship is required to collect research directly for thesis/dissertation
Students cannot be approved for only CPT in their final semester; student must take a course required for degree completion in addition to CPT authorization in the final term to be considered for approval.
12 months of full-time CPT will cancel eligibility for OPT

J-1 Students:

J-1 students must receive AT authorization for paid and unpaid internships on or off-campus. AT may not exceed 20 hours per week while students are enrolled in their program of study AT may be authorized full-time or part-time (min. 20 hours per week) after completion of the program of study.

Part-time versus Full-time CPT

Part-time CPT is up to 20 hours per week. Full-time CPT is for over 20 hours per week.

During fall and spring semesters, when full-time course enrollment is required, a student may request part-time CPT. During annual vacation (summer term, unless it is the first term of study) and during official school breaks a student may request a full-time CPT to work over 20 hours per week. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(9)(ii)

In addition, a student may be authorized to work off-campus under a CPT while also working on-campus if approved by the academic department and ISS.

Do I need to register for a course? What if I don’t need it for academic credit?

Yes. Only one internship course may apply per CPT authorization and the course must be taken concurrently with the CPT experience. The IDS 3949 professional internship course is authorized for up to two semesters and must be taken for each semester the CPT is being requested for. To view your internship course option, visit the FAU Career Center internship page

Dissertation/Thesis: PhD or thesis students (graduate level) who completed all core coursework and only enrolled into dissertation or thesis credits will instead need to apply for CPT under the purpose of research collection. The student will need to submit a letter of support from their dissertation/thesis advisor to support the CPT application. In addition, the student would need to enroll into dissertation or thesis credit(s) to take in the same semester as the CPT authorization period.

Do I need a Social Security Number (SSN) in order to apply for or accept an internship offer?

An SSN is not required to apply for positions, however, you do need the SSN in order to engage in a paid internship. The SSN is only issued for paid internship (not for unpaid positions). You will be eligible to apply for the SSN after you receive the CPT or AT authorization.

Please read the Social Security application guide for more details. To request SSN letter from ISS office please complete the Letter Request Form

Steps for Obtaining Authorization to Engage in an Internship:

Steps for an internship opportunity through your Academic Department:

Meet with the faculty advisor for the internship program to discuss internship options and requirements.
Register for the internship course through your department
After you secure an internship position and enroll into your internship course, submit your CPT Application Form and supporting documentation (F1 Students) OR AT application and supporting documentation to International Student Services.
Apply for your Social Security Number (SSN) if you do not already have one. To request SSN letter from ISS office please complete the Letter Request Form
Submit appropriate documentation to your employer/internship supervisor.
Complete all internship program requirements by the deadline dates to ensure that you receive a Satisfactory grade for the internship/co-op course.

CPT Online Workshop and Quiz

How to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT)?

Step 1: Please review the online CPT workshop and complete the quiz before you submit the paperwork to International Student Services office. (When you receive a score of 100% Total Points 100/100. Please be sure to print your results to include your score, Email, Name, Z# and attach to your CPT application. Note: CPT applications without confirmation of 100/100 quiz score will not be processed)

CPT Online Workshop

CPT Quiz

Step 2: Please submit electronically your CPT Application Form to the ISS office.

Step 3: It will take 5-10 business days to process your CPT request.

Step 4: ISS office will send out an e-mail to inform you the new CPT I-20 is ready.

If you have any questions, please contact IS at 561-297-3049 or send an email to ISSS@fau.edu.

If you do not already have an SSN then please read below:

You do need the SSN in order to engage in a paid internship. You will be eligible to apply for the SSN after you receive the CPT authorization. You will not be able to apply for an SSN for an unpaid position.

To request SSN letter from ISS office please complete the Letter Request Form