All About Cpt Requirements

International students in the United States have the opportunity to work off-campus through the Curricular Practical Training (CPT) program. CPT employment includes alternate work/study programs, internships, and other forms of required practical experience provided by employers through an agreement with a school. But before applying for the program, students must meet certain CPT requirements.

Types of CPT programs

• Degree Requirement CPT

This CPT program isfor students who must complete an internship as part of their degree program requirements. Students may apply for part-time or full-time employment, depending on their school’s policy.

• Course Credit CPT

This CPT program is for students registered in courses that require work experience to earn a grade. Additionally, it applies to courses where students may design their own research projects based on their employment.

• Cooperative CPT

Cooperative CPT is for students who must complete an internship during their gap year. It is required by certain school-enterprise programs.

CPT eligibility

CPT is only for students participating in internships or training programs that are directly linked to their field of study and count as part of the school's curriculum.

For example, a student enrolled in a Master of Business Administration degree program at Trine University must work in an internship program related to strategy and business planning, business development, business analytics, and so on.

Meanwhile, students who wish to work in the tech segment as SWE must be enrolled in a Master of Computer Science program.

Here are some otherCPT requirementsto take note of:

• The student must have a valid F-1 immigration status.
• The student must be lawfully enrolled full-time in their college or university of choice.
• The student must have been physically present in the US for at least one academic year.
• The student must only start working after their school has approved their CPT application.

Some requirements will depend on your college or university. For instance, most schools expect students to maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher to be able to renew their CPT. You may also be asked to submit specific documents, such as your academic transcripts, a copy of your passport, and your resume.

Are you having trouble determining your CPT eligibility or meeting the CPT requirements? Work with a trusted and experienced CPT consultant to discover the best solution for your needs.

About The Company

CPTDog is an education consultancy based in Southern California, USA. We are the official partner of many US higher education institutions. Many university programs we work with specifically provide international students with Day 1 CPT,a type of work authorization that allows international students to work full-time during the duration of their Master's, Certificate, or Doctorate program. Our mission is to help those not selected for H1B or who have an expired OPT, to legally study and work in the US.