A student must:
- Have been enrolled full-time at John Carroll University for one full academic year,*
- Be in F-1 status, and
- Have not yet completed their academic objective (ie not finished degree level yet)
*Exception exists for graduate students whose programs require immediate CPT.
The internship and skills used at it MUST be directly related to an F-1 student’s academic major, and doing an internship must be a required part of an established curriculum of that academic major area of study. This means that doing an internship must be a written graduation requirement in the student’s academic major and that student will receive academic credit for the internship.
Yes. If an F-1 student is learning career-related skills, he or she must apply for CPT.
Students may engage in CPT only for the specific employer, location, and period approved and recorded by the Designated School Official (DSO) in the Student and Exchange Visitor System (SEVIS). If the location, number of hours worked, or the employer name changes during the authorized CPT period, a student must apply for new CPT authorization
CPT authorization can be approved for part time (20 hours or less) or full time (over 20 hours), e.g. part time during the academic year and full time during summer recess.
CPT may be granted by DSO in increments of no more than one year, or until expected date of employment completion, whichever is shorter. There is no cumulative maximum (however, see below.)
Use of full-time CPT for 12 months or more eliminates eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT). Use of part-time CPT does not affect reliability for OPT.
Yes, students must continue to maintain a full course of study in F-1 status during the period of training if the CPT occurs during a required term (ie during fall or spring semesters.)
“An F–1 student may be authorized by the DSO [Designated School Official] to participate in a curricular practical training program that is an integral part of an established curriculum. Curricular practical training is defined to be 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 curricular practical training are ineligible for post-completion academic training. Exceptions to the one academic year requirement are provided for students enrolled in graduate studies that require immediate participation in curricular practical training. A request for authorization for curricular practical training must be made to the DSO. A student may begin curricular practical training only after receiving his or her Form I–20 with the DSO endorsement.” [SEVIS Regulation 8 C.F.R. ¶ 214.2 (f) (10) (i)]