F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

F1 and J1 Work Authorization PowerPoint Presentation

Per F-1 Regulations: 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i) - Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

An F-1 student may be authorized to participate in a Curricular Practical Training (CPT) program that is an integral part of an established curriculum. Curricular Practical Training is defined to be an 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. Students who have received one year or more of full time CPT are ineligible for post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Exceptions to the one academic year requirement are provided for students enrolled in graduate studies that require immediate participation in Curricular Practical Training.

CPT authorization for Duke-sponsored F-1 students is possible only if 1 of the following 2 situations apply:

An internship is required for every student enrolled in the degree program (foreign and domestic students alike).
An internship course has been specifically created in the degree program curriculum that establishes clear academic objectives and which conveys academic credit.

A request for authorization for Curricular Practical Training must be made to the Designated School Official (DSO) in the Duke Visa Services Office.

These advisors are assigned to review student applications based on the first initial of each student’s last name and not the student’s academic departments.

If you have questions regarding the application process, please email:

Andrew.Dockery@duke.edu (Last name beginning with letters A – L)
Kiersten.Davidson@duke.edu (Last name beginning with letters M – Z)

A student may begin Curricular Practical Training only after receiving his or her Form I-20 with the DSO endorsement.

Students requesting CPT are not required to file an application with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

If the primary purpose of the employment is to provide the student with work experience which will enhance his/her professional career, then the student must use Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Requirements for Curricular Practical Training

Students are eligible for CPT if they are in F-1 status and have been studying full-time for at least one academic year. The 1-year full-time enrollment requirement may be waived only if the academic program requires that the CPT begin in the first semester or year.
The practicum either may be a required or an optional part of the curriculum.
- If the CPT is a requirement for all students following a given curriculum, then it does not have to confer credit.
- If the CPT is a required part of an optional course in the field of study, then the course MUST be taken FOR CREDIT. (Please refer to the FAQ #2 below for more information.)
CPT can only be approved based on the student's major field of study verified in DukeHub. Undergraduate students must declare their major field of study through the Duke Registrar’s Office in order to be eligible for Curricular Practical Training.
The student must have a job offer in writing.

While there is no upper limit set on the amount of Curricular Practical Training used, there is a limit set based on the requirements of your program of study. For instance, if you are required to pursue 1 summer internship which is integral to your program of study and you successfully completed the internship in order to graduate from your degree program, you cannot pursue a second internship because it would not be required or integral to your program of study. If your program of study is designed for you to accumulate up to a year of CPT, please note the following::

Students who use 12 months or more of full-time (20 or more hours per week) CPT will have no available time for Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Students who use fewer than 12 months of full-time CPT still will be eligible for up to 12 months of OPT.

The Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Application Process page contains detailed instructions for your CPT application and submission instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

I am an undergraduate student and I want to work in the U.S. after my freshman year. Can I use Curricular Practical Training?

Curricular Practical Training is based on the field of study. Duke policy now allows undergraduate students to select their majors after their freshman year. This will allow undergraduate students with an internship component in the selected undergraduate program to apply for Curricular Practical Training or Optional Practical training. This is also true for Optional Practical Training.

Is CPT a separate visa status?

No, CPT is a benefit of F-1 status. While engaging in CPT, you still are considered to be an F-1 student under the visa sponsorship of Duke University.

An internship is not required for students in my major & there is no optional class that requires all students who take that class to do an internship, but I don’t want to use any of my OPT time. Can I use a “special readings” course or independent study?

No. If the internship is not required and if there is no class which requires all students taking the class to do an internship, you are ineligible for CPT. Your only option is to file for pre-completion OPT.

How much does it cost to apply for CPT?

There is no application fee for CPT but if course enrollment and tuition is required in order to pursue the internship, students must pay tuition for the course.

When should I apply for CPT?

For CPT, apply at least two weeks before you are scheduled to begin work.

Are applications for CPT ever denied?

Applications for CPT are denied only when the eligibility or course criteria are not met.

When can I begin work?

For CPT, you may begin work only after you have obtained work authorization from your Assistant International Student Advisor II in DVS. CPT authorization cannot be back dated, and working prior to obtaining approval is a violation of status. If you work illegally, you will have violated your F-1 status. You will need to schedule an appointment with your Assistant International Student Advisor II to discuss the options available for you to regain your F-1 status.

Can I begin work as a volunteer before my application is approved?

Under NO conditions should you begin working before obtaining appropriate work authorization. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) has very rigid interpretations of what activities constitute employment. Volunteering for a position which normally provides compensation is considered employment and is, therefore, not permitted without appropriate authorization. For more information, please see our Volunteer Activities page.

How long can I work on CPT?

It depends. There is no upper limit on part-time CPT, but any student who works on full-time CPT for 12 months or longer loses his/her OPT benefits entirely.

Do I have to work for the same employer during the entire period of my CPT?

Changing employers while on CPT requires submission of a new application to your Assistant International Student Advisor II. It is possible to have multiple employers simultaneously, but you must have CPT authorization for each employer before you may begin working for them.