F-1 Curricular Practical Training

If a student's degree program has a practicum or fieldwork requirement (i.e., all students must complete a certain number of hours in a practicum or fieldwork setting in order to qualify for the degree), then CPT is:

• Required if any part of the experience will lead to payment or compensation
• Strongly recommended even for unpaid experiences, to ensure that participation in the practicum / fieldwork is included in the student's immigration record as academically required and approved

CPT is usually done on a part-time (20 hours per week or less) during the fall and spring semesters. Full-time CPT (over 20 hours per week) is permitted during the summer vacation period.

Full-time CPT (over 20 hours per week) is generally not granted during the fall and spring semesters.

• Undergraduate students are restricted to part-time CPT only during the academic year at all times.
• Graduate students are eligible for full-time CPT during the academic year only if full-time internship or practicum experience is required for the degree; or for all-but-thesis or dissertation students for whom full-time CPT is needed to complete the thesis / dissertation. In other rare cases, graduate students may request approval from an academic dean to engage in full-time CPT.

Any student who is authorized for one full year or more (365+ days) of full-time CPT loses eligibility for OPT at their degree level.

F-1 students engaged in paid internships must have CPT or another form of employment authorization. However, even for unpaid internships, the International Center strongly recommends students to apply for CPT. By obtaining CPT authorization even for unpaid training or internship activities, a student:

• is able to demonstrate to US immigration authorities that the activities were reviewed and approved by the student's academic department and International Center, and certified as integral to their academic program and as appropriate academic activity
• is given the flexibility to accept compensation or payment or other forms of material benefits that would not otherwise be approvable or allowed without CPT authorization
• will have reassurance that any activities carried out that could be considered employment under US labor definitions (see below) were authorized

Note that in many cases internship providers will also require students to obtain CPT approval as a condition of participating in the unpaid internship, in order to demonstrate that the interns are engaged in academic activities rather than employment.

Unpaid Internships Defined. It is also important to realize that the US Department of Labor has set out several criteria that identify when an internship may be legitimately unpaid. Employers who fail to meet the criteria for unpaid internships may be expected to offer paid employment instead, and the interns may be expected to have appropriate authorization. Because an unpaid internship may actually be employment under Department of Labor guidelines, CPT authorization is strongly recommended for that purpose as well. The main criteria that determine whether an internship may be unpaid include the following factors:

• The internship, even though it includes actual operation on the facilities of the employer, is similar to training which would be given in an educational environment;
• The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern;
• The intern does not displace regular employees, but works under close supervision of existing staff;
• The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern; and on occasion its operations may actually be impeded;
• The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship; and
• The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the time spent in the internship

If all of the criteria are satisfied then the internship may be considered a legitimate unpaid internship. However, in the event of any uncertainty, then obtaining authorization is recommended.

If you are planning to include an unpaid internship experience as a part of your employment history (i.e., on your resume or CV), then we strongly recommend obtaining a letter from your internship provider that verifies the dates and location of your internship, that your internship was unpaid, and a brief description of the duties and objectives associated with the internship. This information may be useful in the event that you are ever asked to document that the activities were appropriately structured as an unpaid internship.

Under current US federal government practice, CPT approval has an impact on your OPT only in the rare case if you do one full year (12 months or more) of full-time CPT. If this happens, you will lose your eligibility for OPT. Part-time CPT or full-time CPT under 12 months should not have an effect on your OPT eligibility.

CPT is authorized on a term-by-term basis and cannot extend past the start of a new term. Any practical training experience that extends into a new term will require a new CPT application and authorization. Exception: graduate students who have a multi-term internship or practicum requirement, or who are approved for CPT for research activities that are deemed integral to an approved thesis or dissertation requirement, can be authorized for CPT that extends beyond one term. However, students in this situation are obligated to continue to register for internship or research credits and maintain full-time enrollment each term.

• You cannot begin or continue CPT unless you have a Form I-20 from the International Center with CPT approval with active dates
• Retroactive CPT authorizations cannot be issued, i.e., the International Center cannot approve CPT that has already started and/or completed
• If you start CPT without getting International Center approval first, you may be considered to be working without authorization

You can be authorized to engage in CPT in your final term as long as the following requirements are met:

• You must still be working toward your degree requirements in your final term
• Your CPT experience must either be required or optional training in your major (if the experience is optional, you must do the CPT for internship credit)
• CPT is limited to part-time (20 hours or less) if taking place during the fall or spring semesters
  • For certain graduate programs full-time CPT may be permitted; see the section above on Part-time versus Full-time CPT

Some students who are considering CPT may want to think about pre-completion OPT instead. Like CPT, pre-completion OPT allows for work related to your major. However, there some advantages and disadvantages, depending on each student's plans. See the table below. While pre-completion OPT requires preparation well in advance, it does not need a job offer to get started and does not require registration for internship credit, which is a typical requirement for most CPT requests.

To qualify for CPT, you must have a job offer from an internship provider. The internship site should provide a letter written on company letterhead that provides the following information:

• Name of the company or internship site
• Address where your training will take place (internship site address)
• Supervisor name and contact information
• Detailed description of internship or job duties
• Start and end dates of your internship
• Expected hours per week
• Salary information, if paid
• A statement from the employer declaring their support and cooperation to fulfill the curricular purposes of the employment/training

Once you have an internship offer, it must be reviewed by an academic advisor or faculty member in your department. For Fletcher School students, please complete this form for review by the Office of Career Services and the Registrar.

The academic advisor must determine if the training provides an appropriate learning experience in your major. If your department approves of the experience, they will assist you in registering for internship credit. Registration for internship credit is mandatory (except for programs that have a non-credit internship requirement) and must be completed before requesting CPT approval from the International Center.

Summer Internship Registration (A&S, Engineering, and SMFA Students Only)

If you are a student in Arts& Sciences, Engineering, or SMFA you must register for internship credit through Tufts Summer Session. CPT courses will be billed per credit at the applicable rate for each student's program.

Request Deadline 

Submit your request for CPT to the International Center by the following deadlines:

Students in all schools (except Fletcher) should contact their International Student Advisor if they have an exceptional circumstance that allows enrollment in a CPT-qualifying course after the standard deadline.

Requesting CPT

Access the online International Center Portal and access the Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Request through the Request Center. Follow the instructions provided on the application. The International Center will review your request within 5 - 7 days. If there are any questions, we will contact you.

Summer CPT Registration and Fee Reminder

Remember as indicated above in Step 2, most CPT authorizations require registration for internship credit in the same term when the internship is taking place. This includes the summer session.

• A&S, SOE, and SMFA undergraduate students should remember that they will be enrolled in one SHU of internship credit through the Tufts Summer Session. CPT courses will be billed per credit at the applicable rate for each student's program.

Once the International Center approves your request, you will be notified to pick up a new I-20 that contains your curricular practical training authorization (on page 2 of the new form). Sign the I-20 at the bottom of page 1. Also, review the I-20 to ensure that name of your CPT employer and the CPT dates are correct. Talk to your International Center advisor if you have any questions.

• Show your new I-20 to your CPT employer, especially if your CPT experience is paid, so that they have verification of your authorization to be employed with them
• If you do not already have a Social Security Number, you can apply for one after you have received your updated I-20 to apply following our Social Security instructions