CPT Authorization Needed For Internship Of Students With F-1 Status

CPT or Curricular Practical Training is employment provided by sponsors through cooperative agreements with schools. It is an essential part of conventional curriculum that includes alternate work, cooperative education, internship or practical job. CPT is available before completion of degree program.

Types of CPT

1. Required CPT - The academic curriculum commands a need for practical work experience (internship) to graduate in relevant study field.


2. Non-required CPT- Studentreceives course credit directly, if training is not necessary for major degree program.

Failure to complete CPT course will end in falling out of legal F-1 status, and adding CPT course can affect your tuition fees.

Full time vs. Part time CPT

Full time CPT- Full time includes employment duration of more than 20 hours/week. Remember that 12 months and more of participating in full-time CPT invalidates your eligibility for OPT. During academic years, make sure to be present in all the class sessions full time, to maintain your legal F-1 status.

Part-time CPT- Part time includes employment duration of not more than 20 hours/week. There is no limitation on the duration you contribute in part-time CPT, but maintain your class sessions simultaneously to maintain legal F-1 status.

Criteria for CPT eligibility

• Maintain F-1 status for minimum 2 semester (one academic year) with good academic standing


• Training needs to be in your major study field


• Have job offer


• Have health insurance policy approved by U-M 


• Not enrolled in English language training course

Documents needed for application

• Signed certificate of CPT online course completion


• Faculty advisor/academic recommendation form filled and signed


• Unofficial record from Wolverine Access


• An appointment letter copy on company’s letter head from the employer. It will include the following information -

o   Starting and ending of internship dates

o   Number of hours/week

o   Workplace address

o   Compensation amount

o   Job description

o   Supervisor’s name

o   Specific internship term

o   For Ph.D. student, a statement that this job is a part of research

(All the information mentioned above must be included in job offer letter or the CPT application will not be processed)

Application process

• Take CPT online certificate course and print the course completion certificate


• Get the necessary paperwork and visit the U-M International centre with complete CPT request with an advisor, during advising hours or after scheduling an appointment.


• The center will transfer your CPT application to SEVIS electronically for generating new I-20.


• CPT work authorization is printed on 3^rd page of new SEVIS I-20


• You will be notified about the availability of new I-20


• Bring U-M ID to collect the new I-20 from International Centers front desk


• Sign on new I-20 and make sure to keep record of every I-20 issued on your name

Paid and unpaid internships

Volunteering refers to investing time with charitable organizations. Private sectors provide paid and unpaid internships. For legitimate unpaid internship, candidates must understand the following criteria.

• Internship, even though includes practical working on employers facility, needs to be similar to training given in educational environment


• Internship experience needs to be beneficial to the intern


• Intern must not replace regular workers, but work under the close supervision of trained personnel


• The employer providing training, gains no instant advantage due to intern’s activities, but on some occasion, the operation may really get delayed


• The intern is necessarily not entitled for a job, after internship


• Employer and intern know that there is no wages for time spent in internship

Is CPT authorization needed for F-1 students to take part in unpaid internship?

It is recommended to obtain CPT authorization for unpaid internship. It depends on the student to submit or not to submit the employment authorization document to the employer. For legal F-1, CPT authorization is necessary to perform practical training, which is a vital part of academic program curriculum.

In addition, employer gets an approval for employment eligibility. If at some point, an unpaid internship turns into a paid one, then you can easily accept the payment with an authorized CPT.

Remember to request your employer to provide a confirmation letter stating that there was no  compensation or remuneration provided, during internship.