Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

The following types of employment are not eligible for CPT:

• Self-employment
• Creating a start-up
• Working for another student at the same degree level
• Working for another F/J student visa holder 

CPT and on-campus employment are separate authorizations. You are eligible for employment authorization as long as you maintain your F-1 status. It is possible to have an on-campus job and CPT authorization at the same time. 

• On-campus employment does not require additional authorization by ISS. CPT always requires authorization by ISS before you can begin your employment. 

Considerations for on-campus employment and CPT

• Your primary purpose in the U.S. is to earn a degree. Employment is a benefit of maintaining your F-1 status. It is important to prioritize your studies. 

• You are required to maintain valid F-1 status, including full-time enrollment during the fall and spring semesters. Full-time enrollment is required for summer term if you are in your first or last semester.

• If you are considering a combination of CPT and on-campus employment that totals more than 20 hours per week, meet with your ISS advisor about your plans.

• We encourage you to consider your wellness and work-life balance as you determine which employment opportunities you wish to pursue.
  • Consider accessing UHS’s resources as you manage your workload.

Limitations to on-campus employment and CPT

• CPT can be authorized part-time (20 hours or less per week) or full-time (over 20 hours per week). CPT authorization is for off-campus practical training experiences.
  • There are limits for eligibility on full-time authorization. Meet with your ISS advisor to discuss this option.

• On-campus employment is allowed for up to 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters. There is no exception to this rule. 

• There is no immigration limit on the hours per week you can work during authorized breaks (winter break, spring break, and summer break). However, the limit is 29 hours per week for most positions at UW–Madison. 

• We recommend that you consult with your employing department(s) and other funding sources for additional rules that may limit your work hours. 

An unpaid internship is a common example of when you should request CPT authorization. UW–Madison adopts the National Association of Colleges & Employers (NACE) definition of an internship, 

An internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. Internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths; and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent. 

UW–Madison follows the seven NACE criteria to determine an internship, which builds upon the U.S. Department of Labor criteria for an unpaid internship. If your offer meets the following criteria, you should request CPT authorization. 

1. The experience must be an extension of the classroom: a learning experience that provides for applying the knowledge gained in the classroom. It must not be simply to advance the operations of the employer or be the work that a regular employee would routinely perform. 
2. The skills or knowledge learned must be transferable to other employment settings. 
3. The experience has a defined beginning and end, and a job description with desired qualifications. 
4. There are clearly defined learning objectives/goals related to the professional goals of the student’s academic coursework. 
5. There is supervision by a professional with expertise and educational and/or professional background in the field of the experience. 
6. There is routine feedback by the experienced supervisor.  
7. There are resources, equipment, and facilities provided by the host employer that support learning objectives/goals. 

If you have an unpaid internship or practical training experience where CPT is not possible, it is important that you and your supervisor understand the Department of Labor criteria. We recommend that you get a letter to acknowledge your unpaid position, including job duties, dates, location, and supervisor, and that you received no remuneration or compensation for the duties performed. 

If your department does not have a course enrollment option for CPT for an unpaid internship, requesting authorization for pre-completion OPT may be an option. You should plan 3-5 months in advance to apply for OPT. 

You should always consult an ISS advisor before accepting an unpaid position. If the federal government determines that your unpaid experience should have had practical training authorization, you could face the following consequences: 

• denial of your USCIS application for OPT 

• potential accrual of unlawful presence 

• ineligibility for future visas that allow for work authorization, such as H-1B, O-1, TN, or permanent residency 

A practicum allows a student to integrate what they have learned in the classroom to a real- world work setting with the supervision of a professional in that field of study. 

If your degree program requires you to complete a practicum or series of practica, you may need CPT authorization. This will depend on the level of “hands on” practical training involved in your practicum experience. “Hands on” experience is when you are learning by actively doing or performing tasks versus learning in a book or traditional classroom setting. You are taking more of an active role instead of being an inactive observer. Consult with your academic advisor for clarification of practicum in your degree program.  

Some examples of “hands on” experience may include: 

• Developing the curriculum and actively teaching a class (education major) 

• Taking the lead to conduct home visits or client meetings (social work major) 

 ISS has defined practicum “tiers” to help clarify when CPT authorization is recommended and when it is likely not required. 

• Tier 1: Observation or Shadowing 
  • If the objective of the practicum is primarily your observation or shadowing of a professional in your field of study with little or no “hands-on” experience, CPT is not required. 
• Tier 2: Shadowing and Hands-on Training 
  • If the objective of the practicum is your observation or shadowing of a professional in your field of study and up to 50% “hands-on” experience, CPT is strongly recommended. 
• Tier 3: Hands-on Training 
  • If the objective of the practicum is primarily (51% or more) your “hands-on” training and experience, CPT is required. 

Practical training or experiential learning must be a curricular requirement of every in the academic program for:

• Master’s student with a thesis requirement
• Doctoral student in dissertator status

The thesis/dissertation and practical training cannot be an option selected by the student. Both must be required for all students in the academic program, meaning no student – U.S. or international – can skip the curricular requirement.

Full-time enrollment during the summer is generally not required for continuing students (that is, students who enrolled full-time for the spring semester and intend to enroll full-time for the fall semester).  

During the summer, you can be authorized for full-time or part-time CPT anywhere in the U.S. unless summer is your final term. If summer is your final term, you must meet the requirements of CPT During Your Final Semester. 

Requirements 

• Summer enrollment in a CPT course is required if your CPT authorization is for the summer (generally May-August) 

• The CPT course is typically 1-3 credits during the summer term

• Confirm summer enrollment requirements with your academic/faculty advisor and your employing department if you are a graduate assistant

• You must intend to enroll full-time during the following fall semester (or have an approved ISS RCL)  

Summer CPT dates 

• Earliest start date: day after spring semester classes end 

• Latest end date: day before fall semester begins 

• See the Academic Calendar for exact dates of each term 

CPT Pre-Review (summer only) 

Students who plan to do CPT during the summer can submit their summer CPT request in Terra Dotta early for pre-review by an ISS advisor. If your application is correct and complete, with exception of course enrollment, ISS will place it in “pre-reviewed” status until you are able to enroll in Summer courses. If anything is missing or incorrect in your application it will be rejected, and you will need to re-submit once the information is corrected. 

Once summer enrollment opens, ISS will confirm with the Registrar that you are enrolled in the CPT course. You do not need to submit a copy of your course list and you do not need to contact your ISS advisor once you enroll. Once ISS confirms your enrollment in the CPT course, we will finish processing your CPT request and issue your I-20 with CPT authorization. 

Processing timeline for CPT pre-review: 

• Pre-review: 15 business days from when you submit your application 

• CPT Approval: Starting the first day of the Summer enrollment period, 15 business days from when you enroll in your CPT course 

Once summer enrollment opens, you are required to follow the standard procedure for CPT authorization and upload your course list in Terra Dotta. 

You can do part-time or full-time CPT during your final semester only if you meet all of the following requirements: 

• You are enrolled for traditional, on-campus credits that are required to earn your degree (including dissertator credits) and you are physically present on campus  

• • This means that you must be both enrolled in classes full-time and be physically present on campus in order to maintain lawful F-1 status during your final term

• Your on-campus course enrollment is for the full duration of the final semester 

• • Fall/spring semester: 15 weeks 

• • Summer term: must match or exceed the dates of your CPT course summer term enrollment 
• The CPT end date does not go beyond the date that final grades are due for that semester or your current I-20 end date, whichever date is earlier