What is CPT?

| Updated On - Jul 6, 2024

Highlights

CPT - A training that allows students to work in the US while studying on an F1- Visa. You can work full or part-time. Students can work 20 hours or more per week under this program.
Eligibility - You must have an F1 visa, complete a full academic year, and obtain your CPT from a Designated School Official.
Documents Needed - Documents like a valid passport. F1 visa, certificate of completion of the CPT workshop, and job offer letter from your employer are needed for applying to the CPT program.
Rules - CPT authorization is limited to a certain employer. A full-time CPT can work for 40 hours per week and a part-time trainee can work for 20 hours per week.

Through Curricular Practical Training (CPT), students can work while studying in the USA. Students can work full-time or part-time, which means that they can work 20 hours and above per week. To apply for OPT / CPT for a 12-month term, you need to have an F1 visa and must complete one entire academic year. Additionally, you also need to show that your job is directly related to the field of your study. For documentation purposes, you need your offer letter from your employer, valid passport, F1 visa, and certificate of completion of CPT workshops.

This article talks about the Curricular Practical Training (CPT)employment program designed for overseas USA students on an F-1 visa. It allows eligible students to participate in paid/unpaid internships, a critical part of the academic curriculum.

Table of Content

How Does CPT Help Students?
Eligibility for CPT
Documentation Required for CPT
Facts about CPT
CPT rules for F1 visa
How to Apply for CPT?
What is OPT?
OPT vs. CPT: Differences and similarities
FAQs

How Does CPT Help Students?

CPT (Curricular Practical Training) is a work permit for F-1 international students studying in the United States of America. CPT enables such students to seek off-campus employment or internships or practicum that is connected to the major area of study and is vital for the course. This training helps students in the following ways -

Practical Experience- Provides a chance to gain practical work experience while you study in the USA. With the completion of CPT, you can have better professional prospects after graduation.
Networking Opportunities- helps in making business connections which will ultimately enhance your resume, find related jobs in the future, and have a list of prospective references.
Better Job Prospects- Allows students to start working right away as the curriculum needs an internship in the first or second semester of their course.

Eligibility for CPT

To check whether you are eligible to apply for CPT, you must check the below-mentioned criteria -

F-1 Student Status: To be eligible for CPT, a student must maintain F-1 status.
Completed One Academic Year: Students must complete one full academic year as full-time students before applying for CPT.
Relevance to Major: The CPT employment must be directly related to the student's major field of study.
Approval by Designated School Official (DSO): Students must obtain approval for CPT from their Designated School Official (DSO).

Documentation Required for CPT

The following are the documentation you must provide with your CPT:

Certificate of completion for CPT workshops (online) on the I-94 form.
Your valid passport and current F-1 visa.
A completed I-20 form with your DSO's CPT endorsement.
A job offer letter from your employer.
Enrolled full-time in an academic session for one year.
A confirmation of enrollment or transcript from your school.
A recommendation letter from your professor.

Facts about CPT

Here are a few other CPT-related considerations:

CPT is only accessible for off-campus jobs.
Usually, CPT authorization is given out in semester or summertime session increments.
You are limited to a 12-month CPT participation period for the duration of your academic program.
To be qualified for CPT, you have to continue your whole course of study.
You will cease to be eligible for work under CPT if you quit your employment or fail to complete the course of study.

CPT rules for F1 visa

Here are some key rules to know about Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for F-1 visa holders:

Authorization for Work:

CPT authorization is limited to a certain employer and period.
It is possible to hold more than one CPT authorization at once.
A full-time CPT can work up to 40 hours per week, whereas a part-time CPT can work up to 20 hours.
If you are on part-time CPT, you have to be enrolled full-time for the autumn and winter semesters (and be PRESENT on campus).
During the autumn and winter semesters, full-time CPT is subjected TO RCL clearance.
Crucially, following graduation, you are no longer eligible for OPT,
if you have used 12 months or more of full-time CPT.

Overarching Guidelines:

Until your CPT permission is issued, you are not allowed to start working.
Practical training, in addition to any job, is what CPT is for.
Keep up a strong academic status throughout your CPT authorization.

How to Apply for CPT?

The steps to apply for the CPT program are mentioned below -

Contact your student advisor at your university to find out which CPT programs are available at your institution, eligibility requirements, and sponsoring employers.
Acquire an employment offer letter from your employer with all required details (e.g., workplace address, etc.).
Apply to the CPT program through your college or university. Your CPT authorization may take time, so make sure to plan as early as possible and prepare the requested documents (e.g., proof of university registration/enrollment).
After your CPT application is approved, you will receive a document with CPT start and end dates. Make sure to sign and have a copy of the CPT document with you.
Talk to your employer and send relevant CPT documents, if requested
Attend your CPT program on the start date.

Remember that CPT is a useful first step towards obtaining real-world experience. You may raise your chances of finding work following your F-1 visa adventure by doing well and making relationships.

What is OPT?

OPT is work for a brief period used for hands-on training directly relevant to the primary field of study of the student. Per degree level, F-1 students are qualified to apply for a maximum of one year of full-time OPT in total. Processing OPT can often take three to four months.

About OPT

You ought to be aware of the following OPT features:

It permits foreign students to work in an area connected to their studies for a maximum of 12 months.
A bonus extension is available to STEM graduates, extending their OPT period to a total of 17 months.
To take part in OPT, students must receive clearance from USCIS, the United States immigration office.

OPT vs. CPT: Differences and similarities

The table that follows compares and contrasts OPT with CPT.

Parameters	OPT	CPT
Qualifications.	For holders of F-1 visas who wish to find work either before or after graduating.	For holders of F-1 visas who wish to gain work experience before graduation.
Duration	One year, with a two-year extension option.	a year.
Application Cost.	33,369 Indian rupees.	No costs are required.
Work Duration.	Before graduation, part-time; following graduation, full-time.	Typically part-time; 40 hours per week during breaks and 20 hours per week throughout semesters.
Kind of Work.	Students may only work for companies that are highlighted on the I-20 list.	any American employer.
STEM Extension	Applied.	Not relevant.
Permission.	Authorized by USCIS.gov.	Approved by the DSO.
Documents Required.	EAD, or employment authorization document,	I-20 document.

For overseas students looking to gain real-world job experience in the US, OPT and CPT are great choices. Both of them contain requirements for eligibility, steps for applying, and restrictions on work. Comprehending and adhering to the requirements is crucial to prevent any legal difficulties.

Furthermore, extensions like the Cap-Gap and OPT STEM extensions can offer students additional time to obtain real-world experience in their chosen field of study and prepare for a career in the US.

All things considered, overseas students may make a lot of money and get useful experience in their chosen industries through OPT and CPT.

FAQs

Ques. Can someone on OPT / CPT work for more than one employer?

Ans. A person on OPT / CPT may work for more than one business, but they must make sure each position is relevant to their field. You should also make sure you don't exceed the program's maximum number of hours permitted and notify your designated school official (DSO) of any changes in work. Whereas CPT allows you to work both part-time or full-time according to your program requirements, OPT limits you to working an aggregate of 20 hours per week during the school year and full-time during holidays.

Ques. What makes OPT and CPT different from one another?

Ans. The primary distinction between CPT & OPT is that the former is meant for students who want to complete internships and obtain real-world job experience while still enrolled in classes. OPT is intended for F-1 learners who wish to pursue employment in their area of study after earning their degree. Furthermore, OPT may be used to obtain on-campus and off-campus employment, but CPT is exclusively eligible for off-campus employment.

Ques. Can I submit a CPT application after graduating?

Ans. No, after graduating, you are not eligible to apply for CPT. Only students enrolled in degree programs who have finished at least a year of full-time enrollment are eligible for CPT. But you can submit an OPT application after.

Ques. What advantages does CPT offer?

Ans. The chance for overseas students to obtain real-world employment experience in their chosen area of study whilst still enrolled in school is the main advantage of CPT. Students can also earn money through CPT to help pay for their living expenses and school while also acquiring useful job experience.