Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

STEP 1) Please review the CPT Overview video before you start.

STEP 2) Fill out the NSU CPT Application, choose the one that applies to you:

• Undergraduate Students CPT Application
  • Undergraduate Student CPT for Academic Credit
  • Undergraduate Student CPT for ExEL Units
• CPT Application - General Masters and Professional
• CPT Application - Shepard Broad College of Law Students Only
• CPT Application - College of Pharmacy Students Only
• CPT Decision Chart - Use this document to identify when CPT is required
• 7 STEPS TO CPT - This document provides a brief overview of the CPT the application process  

STEP 3) Letter from prospective employer  including the following:

• Composed on company letterhead or on the bona fide company email account
• Date the letter was issued
• Physical address of employer and their contact information — if work will be at a different location than main address, include work address as well
• Whether the training will be full-time (more than 20 hours/week) or part-time (20 hours/week or less)
  
  • You are only allowed full-time CPT during your annual vacation time. 
  • Please note: There is not limit on how many times you can apply for CPT. Federal regulations, however, will not allow a student to apply for Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) if 12 months or more full-time CPT has been granted at the same level of education. Part-time CPT does not effect your ability to apply for OPT
• Start date
  
  • May start as early as the day after the previous term/semester ends as noted on the NSU academic calendar (graduation date/last day of finals) unless previously approved for the preceding semester/term
  • This means that if the last day of finals for summer term is June 16, you may have a start date of June 17
• End date
  
  • Must be before the first day of classes for the next semester/term or your I-20 end date; e.g. if the first day of classes for next semester is January 3, your current CPT needs to end by January 2
  • If you will be graduating, your CPT will end on the day you graduate. Students are not eligible to continue their CPT once they have graduated
• Full description of training and duties
• Signature of authorized hiring officer
• If your CPT is with a staffing agency, you must also obtain a letter from the agency stating:
  
  • you are an employee of the staffing agency (not a contract worker) and
  • the agency will not place you with any other employer during your CPT
• If some of these requirements are missing from this letter, you may include them in a separate document. This can include an email from your employer or the original job posting description. 

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

• The student is currently in valid F-1 status.
• The student has been enrolled full-time for at least one academic year (8 months) in their current level of education. Changes in academic level require that you wait another academic year. Please consider the following circumstances in your eligibility:
  
  • If you are a new graduate student in a degree program which mandates CPT during the first two semesters, you will be granted an exception and may begin CPT after the application process.
  • If you are a student in an integrated program, you an not eligible for CPT after you complete your last "undergraduate" year.
• The student will continue to be enrolled for a full course of study during the CPT.
• The training is an integral part of an established curriculum, and directly related to the student's major area of study, as confirmed in writing by their department Internship Coordinator.
• The student will receive internship credit for the training. (Degree curriculums which mandate practical training for all students, are not required to enroll in an internship class unless required for the degree.)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Can I get my CPT approved for more than one semester?