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.

An F-1 student may be authorized by the DSO to participate in a curricular practical training program that is an integral part of an established curriculum.

• Eligibility
  
  Students who have received one year or more of full time curricular practical training are ineligible for post-completion academic training.
  
  Exceptions to the one academic year requirement are provided for students enrolled in graduate studies that require immediate participation in curricular practical training. A request for authorization for curricular practical training must be made to the DSO. A student may begin curricular practical training only after receiving his or her Form I-20 with the DSO endorsement.
  
  
• Procedure
  
  (A) Non-SEVIS process
  
  A student must request authorization for curricular practical training using a Form I-538. Upon approving the request for authorization, the DSO shall: certify Form I-538 and send the form to the Service's data processing center; endorse the student's Form I-20 ID with ``full-time (or part-time) curricular practical training authorized for (employer) at (location) from (date) to (date)''; and sign and date the Form I-20ID before returning it to the student.
  
  (B) SEVIS process
  
  To grant authorization for a student to engage in curricular practical training, a DSO at a SEVIS school will update the student's record in SEVIS as being authorized for curricular practical training that is directly related to the student's major area of study. The DSO will indicate whether the training is full-time or part-time, the employer and location, and the employment start and end date. The DSO will then print a copy of the employment page of the SEVIS Form I-20 indicating that curricular practical training has been approved. The DSO must sign, date, and return the SEVIS Form I-20 to the student prior to the student's commencement of employment.
  
  
• Benefits
  
  Generally, participation in a CPT is a good chance for F-1 students to gain work experience and find potential employers.
  

For more information on F-1, please click on the following links:
Description
SEVIS
Application for an F-1 Visa
Obtaining an F-1 Status at the port of entry
Change into F-1 Status in the U.S.
Eligibility for change into F-1 Status in the U.S.
Maintaining F-1 Status
Change Name and Address
Transfer of School
Time limitation of F-1 Status
Extension of F-1 Status
Grace Period
F-1 Status reinstatement
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Change from F-1 Status to H-1B
Change from F-1 Status to immigrant status
Spouse and Children of F-1
Attorney and filing fees
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
The Impact of I-140 Filing on F-1 Students
Memo: Be Aware of Abandonment of COS and AOS Applications