Curricular Practical Training (CPT) at Georgia Tech

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an authorization issued by the International Student & Scholar Office (ISSS) within OIE that permits F-1 students to participate in off-campus experiential learning opportunities. During the CPT authorization, the student must be enrolled in an academic course that guides their experience and measures their learning outcomes. CPT is not available after a student completes degree program requirements.

F-1 students must receive the approval for their CPT authorization from OIE before starting their employment and are only authorized to participate in the CPT during the authorization dates listed and with the employer listed on the I-20 form. This means that when a student is authorized for CPT, they are authorized to work only for the employer listed on the I-20 form as well as only between the authorization dates listed on the I-20 form. For general information about CPT, please visit the Study in the States guidance provided by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

Please read through the information below to learn of additional eligibility criteria as well as the process to request CPT. If you still have questions after reviewing all of the guidance on this page, please contact an OIE advisor.

What is Curricular Practical Training?

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an authorization issued by the International Student & Scholar Office (ISSS) within OIE that permits F-1 students to participate in off-campus experiential learning opportunities. During the CPT authorization, the student must be enrolled in an academic course that guides their experience and measures their learning outcomes. CPT is not available after a student completes degree program requirements.

F-1 students must receive the approval for their CPT authorization from OIE before starting their employment and are only authorized to participate in the CPT during the authorization dates listed and with the employer listed on the I-20 form. This means that when a student is authorized for CPT, they are authorized to work only for the employer between the authorization dates listed on the I-20 form. For general information about CPT, please visit the Study in the States guidance provided by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

What are some of the factors that determine CPT eligibility?

In order for OIE to consider a student’s eligibility for CPT, the student must:

  • Complete at least one full academic year of full-time enrollment inside the U.S. (only fall and spring terms can count toward an academic year)
  • Be in good academic standing
  • Engage in a practical training opportunity integral to the student’s primary degree program
  • Have degree required courses remaining in their program.
What is the process to request CPT?

Once you have received and accepted an internship or co-op offer, review the steps below to understand the steps required to apply for CPT.

  1. Collect your offer letter and submit your request for internship or cooperative education experience online via CareerBuzz.
  2. Once the job opportunity is reviewed and approved by the Career Center, they will submit a CPT request e-form through iStart.
  3. You will then receive an email with a link to complete the second and final part of the CPT request. You will be asked to verify that you understand your CPT responsibilities and to pay the $35 Practical Training Fee (PTF) /isss/ptf . 
  4. After you complete your CPT e-form, ISSS advisors will review your CPT request within the advertised processing time. You will receive an email from an OIE advisor notifying you when your updated I-20 has been processed or if the ISSS advisor has more questions about the CPT request.
  5. If approved for CPT, your new I-20 form with the CPT authorization will include your employer's name, address, and the specific dates of employment. Please review the I-20 form for accuracy. You can only work during the dates of employment authorized on the I-20 form and for the employer listed on the I-20 form. The I-20 form with the CPT authorization is proof of employment eligibility, which you must show to your new employer to complete the hiring process.
  6. Once you receive approval for the CPT, double check your enrollment to ensure that you are registered in the appropriate number of credits. If you do not find that you are registered within 1 week of your CPT approval, please contact the Career Center. 
My program does not require an internship. Am I still eligible to apply for CPT?

Yes, if you are interested in participating in CPT, but your program does not require an internship, you may still be eligible. The experiential learning opportunity must be integral to your degree program and cannot impede your academic progress in the degree program.

Am I eligible to participate in CPT after I’ve met all degree requirements?

No. By regulatory standard, CPT must be an integral part of your degree program. F-1 student visa holder who have already met all degree requirements are no longer eligible for CPT. Students who have met all degree course requirements are eligible to apply for post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) to continue practical training

I am a thesis-track student, am I eligible to participate in CPT after my defense date?

No, because CPT must be an integral part of your degree program, student who have successfully defended are considered to have met degree requirements and are no longer eligible for CPT. Students in this scenario should consider applying for post-completion OPT to continue practical training.

Am I eligible for full-time CPT during my final academic term?

Only F-1 student visa holders in degree programs that require a practicum/internship in the final semester of the program are allowed to request full-time CPT in their final semester.

If your degree program does not require a practicum/internship in the final semester of the program, then you can apply for part-time CPT in your final semester.

I am an online student applying to study at the Georgia Tech Atlanta campus, will I be eligible for CPT when I gain F-1 student visa status?

Online students transferring to the Atlanta campus must enroll full-time for one academic year inside the U.S. before becoming eligible for Curricular Practical Training.

I changed status from H-4 to F-1, when do I become eligible for CPT?

You will be eligible for Curricular Practical training after your F-1 change of status is approved or gained via travel and you’ve completed one full year of full-time enrollment inside the U.S. in any status.

How many hours am I eligible to work while on CPT?

You can engage in one of two types of CPT; either part-time CPT or full-time CPT. If you plan to work a combination of on and off-campus employment, the total number of hours will be reviewed for CPT eligibility. Please see the bullets below for the amount of hours you are eligible to work each week while authorized for the two types of CPT:

  • Part-time CPT Authorization: 20 hours or less per week
  • Full-time CPT Authorization: more than 20 total hours per week
If I utilize my CPT benefit, will I still be eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT)?

Students who utilize full-time CPT for 364 days or more during their degree program are ineligible for post-completion Optional Practical Training at that degree level. Those participating in part-time CPT or less than 364 days of full-time CPT will not lose eligibility to participate in post-completion OPT.

Part-time CPT does not currently have an impact on a student’s eligibility for OPT. Meaning, a student may engage in more than 364 days of part-time CPT during their degree program and they can still be eligible for post-completion OPT.

Once a student begins a new degree program, the CPT allowance starts over again and CPT authorizations at previous degree levels are not counted toward the 364 days.

How can I calculate my CPT days to check to see if I am eligible for OPT?

Review the I-20 issued to you for Curricular Practical Training and list the authorization dates for all periods in the following format: 

Full-time CPT Start Date 

Full-time CPT End Date 

Total Full-time CPT Employment Days Utilized  

Example: January 1, 2022 

May 1, 2022 

120 days 

For each CPT period, enter the dates in an online date calculator to calculate the total number of full-time employment days. Some options available for online calculators are listed below: 

Calculator: Add to or subtract from a date (timeanddate.com) 

Date Calculator | How many Days Between two Dates? (date-calc.net) 

Once you have the number of days for each period of CPT, add these together to calculate the total number of full-time CPT employment days utilized. To remain eligible for post-completion Optional Practical Training, you must not exceed 364 days of full-time CPT employment.

Can I participate in CPT if my employer wants me to work remotely?

Yes, students can participate in internships that allow them to participate in the experiential learning opportunity remotely inside the U.S. as long as the employer can assess student engagement and attainment of learning objectives electronically.

What is the deadline to request CPT?

Typically, the deadline to complete your CPT request with Career Center is by the end of phase II registration. For more information on Career Center’s deadlines, please review their website: https://career.gatech.edu/calendars-and-deadlines.

As a reminder, you cannot begin your experiential learning opportunity until you are approved by OIE for the CPT authorization, you have received your I-20 form with the CPT authorization, and until the start date of your CPT authorization. 

If my CPT doesn't meet Career Center requirements or I'm unable to use CPT what are my options?

You may meet with an OIE advisor to discuss Pre-Completion OPT if you are not able to gain authorization for CPT. 

While authorization for CPT is given by OIE, pre-completion OPT authorization eligibility is ultimately determined by USCIS. Please note, you will need to work with OIE before applying for pre-completion OPT with USCIS. Please consider that pre-completion OPT takes USCIS on average about 90 days to process and the time on pre-completion OPT subtracts from your total eligible Post-Completion OPT days. (F-1 students are eligible for a total of 12 months of optional practical training once per education level.)

What is the difference between co-ops and internships through the Career Center office?

An internship is a one semester commitment. The internship can be either part-time or full-time. Co-op is a three semester commitment with the same employer. Students alternate between work and school until they have completed three work terms. Co-op work terms are always full-time, students do not attend classes while on work rotation. Students on co-op assignment take a schedule of full-time classes following a work term. Visit the Career Center webpage for more information. http://career.gatech.edu/faq

What resources are there to help me find an experiential learning opportunity?

We recommend students use a variety of resources to enhance success in the job and internship search, such as: career fairs, employer information sessions, and online resources such as CareerBuzz. https://career.gatech.edu/employer-information-sessions  https://career.gatech.edu/campus-career-fairs

Can I accept a job offer before CPT is approved?

You can accept a job offer before your CPT is approved, but we encourage you to let your employer know that your eligibility to perform the work is contingent on the CPT approval.

Can I begin working before OIE approves my CPT?

No, it is very important that you understand the serious consequences of engaging in unauthorized work while waiting on your CPT approval. The U.S. government regulations specifically state that students must wait until they receive an I-20 form with the CPT authorization and CPT authorized start date before they are eligible to begin their experiential learning opportunity. If you begin your experiential learning prior to receiving your I-20 form for CPT, prior to the date authorized for you to begin CPT, or beyond the authorized CPT end date, then you are considered to be engaging in unauthorized work within the U.S. which will result in the immediate termination of your SEVIS record. Unauthorized work within the U.S. is a serious infraction and can result in loss of future benefits or the ability to remain legally inside the U.S.

How do I register for my Co-op or Internship Course?

Students no longer register for the Co-op or internship courses themselves. The Career Center coordinates with the Registrar to register students in the appropriate course once the student is approved for CPT. We encourage you to wait one week to allow for the Co-op or internship course to be added to your schedule. If you find that the Co-op or internship course isn't added within one week of your CPT approval, you are encouraged to contact the Career Center directly.

It is important that you check your course registration to be sure that you have enough space in your schedule to allow for the addition of the Co-op or Internship credits in your schedule. If the additional credits will place you over the credit maximum for the term, you will not be enrolled in the internship/co-op credits. Students who are not enrolled in internship/co-op credits are ineligible to participate in CPT.

As a reminder, students authorized for CPT are required to register full-time that term. If your internship/co-op credits are not enough for you to be enrolled full-time, you will need to find additional credit hours to register to make up 12 credits.

What is the process to make updates or cancel CPT?

To extend or amend the dates of an approved CPT authorization, you must work with Career Center to submit a CPT update request through iStart. Please note the following important considerations to ensure maintenance of status and accuracy of your SEVIS record:

  • If you are hoping to extend your CPT, you are encouraged to work with the Career Center well in advance of your authorization date. If you do not receive the approval for the CPT authorization extension and the updated I-20 form prior to the CPT authorization end date listed on your I-20 form, then you will need to stop engaging in the employment until the authorization can be issued by OIE.  
  • If your practical training opportunity ends earlier than the authorization end date listed on page 2 of your CPT I-20 form, you should notify Career Center prior to the end of your CPT authorization. To shorten CPT authorization, you will be required to request an updated letter or email from your employer verifying your employment dates.
  • To cancel a CPT authorization prior to beginning employment, you must request a letter or email from your employer verifying that you did not participate in any employment with that company. This documentation will be collected by Career Center.
  • If you start your Internship or Co-op and then choose to discontinue the experience, please contact OIE and Career Center to learn of your options.
How can I find out more about CPT?

If you have additional questions about CPT, you are welcome to seek additional assistance during ISSS Advising Hours Hours or email info@oie.gatech.edu 

Additional Eligibility Considerations

  • F-1 students must be enrolled full-time (12 credit hours) on the main-campus for a fall and spring semester before becoming eligible for CPT. 
    • An F-1 student who begins their academic program in a fall semester can be eligible for off-campus practical training after enrolling full-time at the main campus in fall and spring semesters.
    • An F-1 student who begins in the spring semester must enroll full-time at the main campus in spring semester and the following fall semester before becoming eligible for CPT. 
  • F-1 students may be authorized for full-time CPT or part-time CPT. 
    • CPT can be authorized as full-time (more than 20 total hours per week) for F-1 students participating in the co-op program or enrolling in a degree-required academic practicum. 
  • Students enrolled in their final semester are not eligible for full-time CPT unless they are completing a degree-required practicum or degree-required research experience. 
  • F-1 students authorized to work more than 11 months and 28 days of full-time CPT are no longer eligible for OPT. Part time CPT has no impact on eligibility for OPT.

Internship or Co-op through Career Center

CPT can be authorized when a Georgia Tech student participates in the co-op or internship program through the Career Center. More information about the co-op and internship programs can be found on the Career Center's website.

Required Internship for Academic Credit

Undergraduate students majoring in Building Construction who enroll in the internship for academic credit must work with their academic advisor to submit a request for CPT. 

Graduate students majoring in City and Regional Planning or Informational Design and Technology who enroll in the internship for academic credit must work with their graduate coordinator to submit a request for CPT. 

Considerations

Enrollment to Maintain F-1 Status:

  • F-1 students are required to enroll in at least 12 credit hours during their first semester of enrollment at Georgia Tech and each subsequent fall and spring semester.  
    • To meet the 12 hour minimum requirement, students must enroll in 12 hours of academic class, alternating work-study semesters which include 12 hours of co-op credit, or 6 hours of internship credit with the remaining 6 hours of academic class credit which count toward academic degree completion.  
    • While engaged in CPT, F-1 students must maintain full-time enrollment in at least 12 credits. (Remember that either all or some of the credits will either be internship or co-op credits)
  • Once the CPT has been authorized by the OIE, Career Center will register the student in the internship course for the appropriate term.  
  • CPT authorization can begin prior to the start of the term and continue until the day before the next available term. The student's academic progress will be monitored based on the CPT dates and grades will be adjusted after the term dates if a student fails to complete the academic work associated with an internship. 
  • All CPT requests must be submitted via iStart by Career Center by the deadline dates outlined on the Career Center website, please see graduate information here and undergraduate information here.
  • Students not enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits by the end of phase 2 registration, are in violation of their F-1 status which can result in the termination of their SEVIS records.
  • Students who lose their employment need to consult with Career Center right away. If the employment termination is determined to be due to the student's failure to meet internship and thereby academic requirements, then the student is removed from the credits. If the removal of credit hours results in less than full time enrollment, the student will be considered in violation of status. 

Tips for Obtaining CPT

1. Explore Career Center resources to find a practical training opportunity aligned with your degree program. 

2. Seek practical training opportunities in your field of study. 

3. Once you have an internship offer, don't wait to get the process started. Submit your request for internship or cooperative education experience online via CareerBuzz. If you have any questions about CareerBuzz, you are encouraged to contact the Career Center: https://career.gatech.edu 


Practical Training Fee

The Office of International Education will collect a $35 fee each time an international student holding an F or J student visa receives practical training benefits in the form of Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Academic Training (AT). Student e-forms submitted to the OIE for review after June 15, 2017 will be required to show evidence of PTF payment. Specific instructions for paying the fee will be include in the respective eform.

For more specific information about the PTF, please visit OIE's PTF website.