Carnegie Mellon University

5000 Forbes Avenue

Warner Hall, Third Floor
www.cmu.edu/oie
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Students & Scholars: oie@andrew.cmu.edu
Tel: 412.268.5231
Study Abroad: goabroad@andrew.cmu.edu
Fax: 412.268.7832

CURRICULAR PRACTICAL TRAINING

EXPLANATION
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is only available to F-1 students who have not graduated and who have been enrolled
on a full-time basis for one full academic year (i.e. fall and spring.) Full time is defined as at least 36 units per semester. If
your degree program requires you to engage in off-campus employment before you have met this one full academic year
requirement, please see an OIE advisor.
Curricular Practical Training is defined as employment that is an integral part of an established curriculum and is
directly related to the student’s major area of study. In other words, you must be enrolled for a course that requires a
work experience (such as co-op, internship or practicum) or be enrolled in a degree program that requires an
internship/practicum. CPT is not meant to facilitate the creation of a special employment opportunity. If the primary
goal is practical work experience rather than an academic pursuit, you should apply for optional practical training (see
page 2). An academic advisor, department head, or dean must complete the attached recommendation form to help OIE
determine your eligibility for CPT. This type of training requires supervision by a faculty member, enrollment of at least 3
internship or practicum units, and must be listed in the university course catalog.
Students may be authorized for CPT only one semester at a time. If 2 consecutive semesters of CPT are desired, the
student must complete a new application 2-3 weeks before the next CPT period begins. As with any work authorization,
students may apply for full-time CPT during an annual vacation period and part-time CPT, no more than 20 hours per
week, during an academic semester. Students are not eligible for CPT once they have completed all course requirements
for the degree except for the Masters or PhD students who will be collecting data for a thesis or dissertation. CPT is not
meant to serve as a means to facilitate an employment opportunity and it cannot delay graduation; therefore, CPT
is not allowed in the final term unless the student is also enrolled in REQUIRED coursework simultaneously. There
is no limitation upon the length of time you may participate in full-time Curricular Practical Training, but if you
participate for 12 months or more, you will not be eligible for Optional Practical Training (see p. 2).

AVOID VIOLATING YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS DUE TO ILLEGAL EMPLOYMENT

It is illegal to work off-campus under any circumstances until you first receive authorization from OIE. If a student has a
job offer and meets the eligibility requirements for CPT, authorization is given on a new SEVIS I-20 form, and no
additional employment authorization document from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is required.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Complete this process as soon as you receive a job offer or at least 1 week before your expected start date.
1. Contact OIE to register for a CPT session. You MUST bring the following documents if you wish to submit your
application at the time of the appointment:
a) Valid passport
b) Department Recommendation Form (attached) completed by an academic advisor, department head, or dean.
c) Original letter from your employer that MUST include (Please note that an offer letter from the employer may not
include this exact information. If so, you would need a new letter from your employer with the required elements. Missing
elements will cause your CPT application to be delayed):
• number of hours per week
• location of employment
• beginning and ending dates of employment
If any of these details change, new forms must be completed and new authorization must be obtained.
d) Proof of enrollment for an internship or practicum course is required. (A printout from the HUB web site is
sufficient.)

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2. The CPT authorization is granted by the Foreign Student Advisor in OIE. Note that there may be a one or two day delay
in processing a new SEVIS I-20 with the CPT authorization. You may not begin working until you have the new SEVIS I-
20 with the CPT authorization. Apply for CPT as early as possible to avoid delay in starting employment.

WORK START AND END DATES

Once you have received the authorization from the Foreign Student Advisor, you can begin work no earlier than the date
specified on your SEVIS I-20. You must not to continue employment beyond the completion date authorized on your I-20
unless you apply for and are granted another period of work permission by a foreign student advisor in OIE.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

A. Curricular Practical Training and Eligibility for Optional Practical Training

If you participate in 12 months or more of full-time CPT you are not eligible to apply for Optional Practical
Training. However, if you participate in fewer than 12 months of full-time CPT, you may still use all 12 months
of Optional Practical Training. Participation in authorized “part-time” curricular practical training does not “add
up” and therefore, does not affect your eligibility for Optional Practical Training. Part-time employment is
defined as 20 hours or fewer per week.

B. Employment Eligibility Verification

When you begin work, you and your employer must complete a form entitled “Employment Eligibility
Verification” (Form I-9), which the employer retains. The I-9 must be updated each time you receive a renewal of
your work permission. This form requires you to document your identity and work authorization according to
directions on the back of the form. The most convenient combinations of acceptable documentation include:
• SEVIS I-20 with the Curricular Practical Training work authorization
• valid passport
• I-94 card marked for F-1 student status
• Social Security Number
Your employer, who keeps Form I-9, should make copies of the documents you submit, and return the originals to
you.

C. Social Security Number

For payroll purposes, you will need a social security number if you work in the US. If you do not already have a
social security number, or if you have a card marked “not valid for employment,” take your passport, I-94
Departure Record, form I-20 showing the CPT authorization and apply for a Social Security card. Note that your
number will remain the same if you already had one, but the notation on the card should change to “employment
valid with authorization.”

D. Social Security, Medicare, and Other Taxes

In general, F-1 students who have been in the US fewer for five or fewer years are “non-residents for tax
purposes” and are exempt from Social Security (FICA) and Medicare taxes (see Internal Revenue Service
Publication 519, “U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens”). If applicable, make sure these taxes are not withheld from your
salary. Your earnings are subject to other applicable federal, state, and local taxes. Depending on your country of
citizenship, you may also be eligible for tax treaty benefits (see IRS Publication 901). Tax forms must be filed on
or before April 15 each year for the previous calendar year, which will determine if any of the withheld taxes can
be refunded to you. In March of every year, OIE provides tax forms and filing assistance. Please call 412-268-
5231 for details.

D. Volunteer Internships
International students in non-immigrant status may participate in volunteer internships without work
authorization. In order to be eligible, there must be no compensation whatsoever for services rendered and the
position cannot be one that is normally filled by a paid employee. Compensation includes money, lodging, meals,
transportation, gift certificates, or other remuneration for services. Please consult a foreign student advisor before
engaging in a volunteer internship.

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 Carnegie Mellon University
5000 Forbes Avenue
Warner Hall, Third Floor
www.cmu.edu/oie
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Students & Scholars: oie@andrew.cmu.edu
Tel: 412.268.5231
Study Abroad: goabroad@andrew.cmu.edu
Fax: 412.268.7832

CURRICULAR PRACTICAL TRAINING RECOMMENDATION

To: Academic Advisor, Dean, or Department Head:

The student listed below wishes to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT). CPT is employment authorization that is an
integral part of the student’s established curriculum and is directly related to the student’s major area of study. CPT is not
meant to facilitate special employment opportunities for F-1 students. If the primary goal in the proposed work experience is
not academic, CPT should not be recommended. We ask that you complete page 2 of this recommendation form to help us
determine if the proposed program meets the Department of Homeland Security requirements for CPT employment
authorization. Feel free to call a foreign student advisor with questions at 412-268-5231.

Alternate Form of Off-Campus Work Authorization: Optional Practical Training (OPT)

If a student’s work experience is not an integral part of an established curriculum as outlined above, Curricular Practical
Training should not be recommended. However, students may still be eligible for off-campus work authorization in their field
of study by applying for OPT. This application process takes 1-3 months to be approved. If a student is ineligible for Curricular
Practical Training, please refer them to a foreign student advisor in OIE to discuss this option.

Carefully review the information provided by the student on this recommendation form, as well as the offer letter from
the employer. If you wish to approve the CPT request please complete page 2 of this recommendation form. The
completed recommendation form should be returned to the student.

To: Student CPT Applicant

Please complete the following information. The Foreign Student Advisor will use the information you provide to authorize
your CPT. If you do not know the answer to a question, leave it blank and the Foreign Student Advisor will assist you during a
CPT session.

Name: _____________________________________________________________________________________
(Family) (First) (Middle)

Employment Start Date: ____________________ Employment End Date: _____________________

(month/ day/ year) (month/ day/ year)

Hours Per Week: _____________________

Employer Name: __________________________________________________________

Employer Address: ________________________________________________________

(Street Address)

__________________________________________________________
(City) (State) (Zip Code)

How does the work relate to your major/degree program?: ___________________________________________________

Signature: Date:

(Over)
(Continued)

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THIS INFORMATION MUST BE COMPLETED AND SIGNED BY AN ACADEMIC ADVISOR, DEAN OR
DEPARTMENT HEAD, NOT BY THE STUDENT.

1. Approved Dates of Training Program: from to

(month/ day/ year) (month/ day/ year)

2. Academic course for which student will receive credit for this training:

Course Number: Course Title:

3. This course will be worth academic units during the semester.

(fall, spring, summer I, summer II, summer all)

4. The student’s progress while engaged in the internship will be monitored by this authorized department representative or
Carnegie Mellon faculty member:

Name: Title:

5. Is this internship an integral part of an established curriculum in the student’s major field of study? † Yes † No

6. A clearly defined description and objectives for this internship have been developed, and the course is listed in the
undergraduate course catalog or in the graduate department’s official course offerings. † Yes † No

7. This student is expected to complete all course requirements for the degree on ______________, and will receive the
(Date) *
degree of in the field or major of _______________________.
(BS, BA, MS, PhD) (Field of Study)
* This is not the date of the student’s graduation ceremony, but the date the student completes his/her last final exam or paper
in order to obtain the degree. For Ph.D. students, this is often the student’s successful defense date.

NOTE: If all degree requirements are already met, an undergraduate or course-option master’s student is not eligible for
CPT.

Please complete question 8 only for Master’s and PhD Students who have completed all required coursework and are working
towards their thesis or dissertation.

8. If this student has already completed all coursework and is working towards his/her thesis or dissertation, the authorized
employment must be necessary for the student to collect data for the thesis or dissertation.
Is the primary purpose of this employment experience to collect data for the student’s dissertation? † Yes † No

Name and Title of academic advisor, dean, or department head who completed the above information (please print):

(Print Name) (Title)

Telephone number and email:

Signature: ____________________ Date:

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