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Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

CPT Forms Curricular Practical Training Guidelines (DISP 340)
Curricular Practical Training Memorandum (DISP 358) Practical Training Application Form (DISP 357)

 

What is Curricular Practical Training (CPT)?

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) defines “Curricular Practical Training (CPT)” as employment for practical experience/training which is an integral or important part of an established curriculum, including: alternate work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship.  The CPT work permission allows students to accept employment in a student’s major field of study while being enrolled at the University of Connecticut (UConn) to achieve their academic goals.

IMPORTANT: Your employment for training must be authorized as CPT by an International Advisor/Designated School Official BEFORE you can begin your training/employment.  Failure to do so is considered unauthorized employment and will result in a termination of your SEVIS I-20 record.

CPT Eligibility
  • Job Requirements:
  1. Typically, a department must list the training opportunity as a course in the course catalog, must list the responsible faculty member, and list a statement of the purpose of the training opportunity.
  2. The work must not only be related to your major field of study but must also be an integral part of your studies. This MUST be part of the plan of study.
  3. Training which is required by your program always meets the requirements for CPT, regardless of whether or not you receive academic credit for your work.
  4. At UConn all training opportunities (paid AND unpaid internships) require CPT authorization.

* If you have a training opportunity that involves employment, check with the Department of International Services and Programs (DISP) to determine if it qualifies as CPT.

  • Student Requirements:
  1. The student must have been enrolled on a full-time basis at UConn for a complete academic year (two semesters with full-time enrollment).  If you transferred from another school to UConn to pursue the same degree or changed your non-immigrant status to F-1 in the past year, please consult with a DISP International Advisor about your CPT eligibility.
  1. Training should be listed in your plan of study as a course, independent study, or otherwise described.
  1. Documents from academic advisor certifying the employment.  The employment must clearly be related to the student’s field of study.
  1. The official employment offer letter from the employer which includes name and address of the employer, the start and end dates of the CPT, required hours per week, and a brief description of the job/work you will be doing.

Note: Please consult with a DISP International Advisor to ensure that both you and any proposed employment meet CPT eligibility requirements. 

Part-Time vs. Full-Time CPT

Part-Time Training:  Employment for 20 hours or less per week while you are also enrolled is considered “part -time” CPT.  You must be careful to limit your work to no more than 20 hours per week. Once approved, part-time CPT is noted on Page 3 of your updated SEVIS I-20 form.

*IMPORTANT: The student is responsible to register for additional course work to maintain a full-time status.  There is no limitation upon the length of time you may participate in part-time CPT as long as you have academic approval to be engaged in training(s).  Participation in a “part-time” CPT program does not affect your eligibility for OPT (Optional Practical Training).

Full-Time Training:  Employment for more than 20 hours per week is considered “full-time” CPT.  Once approved, full-time CPT is noted on Page 3 of your updated SEVIS I-20 form.

*IMPORTANT: There is no limitation upon the length of time you may participate in full-time CPT as long as you have academic approval to be engaged in training(s).   If you participate in “full-time” CPT for 12 months or more, you will not be eligible for OPT (Optional Practical Training). 

Special Notes

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Graduate students must enroll in Grad 5924 (1-3 credits) for part-time CPT and Grad 5925 (3 credits) for full-time CPT.  If you are engaged in full-time CPT (Grad 5925), no other courses may be taken concurrently since this course denotes a full-time commitment; student may not hold graduate assistantships while taking this course.  All CPT requests must be reviewed and authorized by Graduate School before being submitted to the DISP. 

Attention:  If you are in any of the following Graduate Programs:  Psychology, MBA, Actuarial Science, Drama and/or Pharmacy you will be required to register for another graduate course other than Grad 5925 or Grad 5924.   Please check with your academic advisor or Graduate School Catalog.

BGS STUDENTS

BGS students must enroll in GS 296 (1-6 credits).  To do so, you must complete the Internship Proposal paperwork with a BGS academic advisor to obtain academic authorization to be engaged in internship.  If you would like to register for other course than GS 296 for your internship, you must consult with your academic advisor to get his/her approval.

JD and LLM STUDENTS

Law students must enroll for an Externship or a Special Research Project (SRP). For an Externshp, you must complete the Externship application paperwork and have received your Externship placement prior to applying for CPT. If you will engage in practical training through a Special Research Project you must have completed the SRP application and have registered for the SRP before applying for CPT.

MSW STUDENTS

Masters of Social Work students must enroll in one of the Field Education or Block Placement courses. Qualifying courses include FED: 5351or 5352; ADMN, CSWK, CORG, GRWK or POPR 5353, 5354, or 5355.

 

 

Application and Authorization Procedures

To apply for CPT, please submit the following documents to DISP:

  1. Completed “Curricular Practical Training Memorandum (DISP 358)”
  2. Completed “Practical Training Application Form (DISP 357)” 
  3. A copy of your training/internship offer letter
  4. Copy of your PeopleSoft course registration to show that you are registered for the course
  5. If you are a graduate student, a completed and signed “Business Practice of Processing CPT” by a Graduate School representative.
  6. If you are a BGS student, a copy of the internship approval letter from the Director of the BGS Program.

ATTENTION: Please confirm that the employer’s information, CPT dates, and course information filled in each material listed below are consistent before your submit the documents to the DISP Office.

Once approved, you will receive a revised SEVIS I-20 which you should present to your employer to accept your employment. 

Note:    If you wish to extend your CPT period, you need to complete another CPT application with the updated information BEFORE the original end date.
REMINDER: You can NOT start your employment before your CPT is authorized and reported to SEVIS by a DISP International Advisor.  The processing time at DISP may be up to two weeks.  Please plan accordingly and complete your required paperwork in a timely fashion.