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Curricular practical training refers to various work/study options such as internships, cooperative education, and required internships or practicums offered by employers in cooperation with the school.  To be eligible for practical training, an F-1 student must have been enrolled full-time for one academic year in a college, university, conservatory, or seminary approved by the U.S. Graduate students who need to engage in curricular practical training immediately as part of their studies may be exempt from the one-year requirement. The student must request authorization for curricular practical training from the DSO and can only commence the training after receiving an endorsed Form I-20.

If a program includes "curricular practical training," it must be listed as a course in the course catalog. The catalog should also mention the faculty member responsible for the training (if not listed, the advisor's letter should include the name), along with a statement explaining the purpose of the training opportunity.

In order to qualify as curricular practical training, the work undertaken should pertain to your primary field of study and serve as a significant or crucial component of your educational pursuits. Training that is mandatory for your degree program automatically fulfills the criteria for curricular practical training. If you come across a training opportunity that involves employment, it is advisable to consult with the Designated School Official (DSO) at your campus to ascertain whether it meets the requirements for curricular practical training.

Kindly be aware that if you are pursuing the training to earn practicum credit, it is imperative that you are officially registered for the practicum course during the same semester or term in which you are undertaking the curricular practical training. Failing to enroll in and successfully complete the course will lead to an immediate breach of your legal status and may even result in deportation. The student bears the responsibility of fulfilling all the obligations associated with curricular practical training (CPT).

Part-Time Training 

When you are enrolled in classes and work for 20 hours or less per week, it falls under the category of "part-time" curricular practical training. Consequently, the authorization on your I-20 form should clearly indicate permission for "part-time" training, and it is crucial to ensure that your work hours do not exceed 20 hours per week.

Full-Time Training

Engaging in employment exceeding 20 hours per week is classified as "full-time" curricular practical training, and accordingly, the employment authorization noted on your I-20 form should explicitly state permission for "full-time" training. There is no set duration limit for participating in full-time curricular practical training. However, if you engage in it for twelve months or longer, you will become ineligible for any form of optional practical training, including post-completion practical training.

Please be aware that if your program lacks a specific practicum course or does not offer it during the semester/term for which you seek employment authorization, you will not qualify for Curricular Practical Training. However, you may still qualify for Optional Practical Training.

While immigration regulations present several opportunities for practical training during your time in F-1 status, it is crucial to adhere to proper procedures and obtain authorization. Working improperly or without authorization is a severe violation of your immigration status. The Department of Homeland Security strictly prohibits the issuance of Curricular Practical Training authorization primarily for the purpose of facilitating employment.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) refers to temporary employment that directly corresponds to the major field of study pursued by an F-1 student. Students who meet the criteria can apply to obtain employment authorization for a maximum of 12 months, either prior to completing their academic studies (pre-completion) and/or after completing their academic studies (post-completion). It's important to note that any duration of pre-completion OPT will be subtracted from the total period of post-completion OPT available to the student.