Some F-1 students are eligible for practical training. There are two types of F-1 practical training: curricular practical training (CPT) and optional practical training (OPT).

This article focuses on CPT.

Regulations and Policy

Complex rules apply to CPT because the training opportunity must comply with both:

• Federal regulations
• School policies regarding internships, experiential learning, etc.

Designated school officials must understand the following federal regulations and policy guidance to determine if a student qualifies for CPT:

Eligibility

A DSO can authorize CPT for an F-1 student enrolled at an SEVP-certified college, university, conservatory, or seminary if the student:

• Has been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis for at least a full academic year.
  Note: An exception exists for students in graduate studies whose programs require earlier training.
• Is not studying English as a second language.
• Has secured a training position.

CPT Process Overview

To authorize curricular practical training:

1. Go to the Student Information page.

2. Click CPT Employment Authorization in the Employment/Training section of the links on the left-hand side of the page. The CPT Employment page opens.

3. Click New CPT Employment. The Add CPT Employment page opens.

4. Complete the following fields:

• Employment Start Date: Enter the date the CPT training is to begin. Format MM/DD/YYYY. This is a required field.

• Employment End Date: Enter the date the CPT training will end. Format MM/DD/YYYY. This is a required field.
• Full Time/Part Time: Indicate whether the training is full or part time. This is a required field.
  • Full Time: More than 20 hours per week
  • Part Time: 20 hours of less per week

• Employer Name: Enter the name of the company or organizations where the training will take place. This is a required field.
• Click Add Employer Address: Enter the address where the training will take place in the Add Address modal. This is a required field. See the Address Standards article in the Help Hub.
• Explain how the employment is curricular: Describe how the training is an integral part of the established curriculum. These comments display on the Employment Information page. Completing this field is highly recommended. (250-character limit)
• Employment Remarks: Enter any optional remarks about the employment. These comments display on the Current Request/Authorizations page. (250-character limit)
• Student Remarks: Enter any remarks about the training. These remarks print on the Form I-20. They also display on the Student Information page until they are overwritten in the future. (1,000-character limit)

Note: SEVIS displays any comments previously entered for the student. You can choose to retain those comments, add new comments to them, or completely overwrite those comments.

5. Click one of the following: Add Employment, Reset Values, or Cancel.

• Add Employment: Adds the CPT authorization to the student record. An Update Successful page opens. Select either Return to Employment List or Print I-20:

• Return to Employment List: Returns to the CPT Employment page.
• Print I-20: Prints the Form I-20 with the CPT authorization on page two.

• Reset Values: Clears any values you entered.
• Cancel: Returns to the CPT Employment page without authorizing CPT.

DSOs can cancel curricular practical training before the CPT start date. After the CPT start date, the DSO can only edit the authorization to shorten the CPT end date.

To cancel CPT for a student:

1. Go to the CPT Employment page.

2. Click Cancel in the Command column for the CPT authorization you want to remove. The Cancel CPT Employment page opens.

3. Review the information. Click either Cancel Employment or Return.

• Cancel Employment: Cancels the CPT authorization. An Update Successful page opens. Click either Return to Employment List or Print I-20:
  • Return to Employment List: Opens the CPT Employment page.
  • Print I-20: Prints the Form I-20.

• Return: Takes you back to the CPT Employment page without canceling CPT.

Note: SEVIS continues to display canceled CPT authorizations. They are part of the history of actions taken on the student’s record.

DSOs can edit CPT authorizations to defer, update, or shorten the authorization. To edit CPT:

1. Go to the CPT Employment page.

2. Click Edit next to the CPT authorization you want to update. The Edit CPT Employment page opens.

3. Update the field(s) that needs to be edited.

4. Click Update Employment, Reset Values, or Cancel.

• Update Employment: Edits the CPT authorization in the student record. An Update Successful page opens. Select either Return to Employment List or Print I-20:

• Return to Employment List: Returns to the CPT Employment page.
• Print I-20: Prints the Form I-20 with the edited CPT authorization on page two.

• Reset Values: Clears any values you entered.
• Cancel: Returns to the CPT Employment page without authorizing CPT.

DSOs can view CPT information in four different locations in the student’s record:

1. Student List: Students with Curricular Practical Training (CPT): Accessed from Student Lists page.
2. Employment Information page: Accessed from Student Information page.
3. Current Requests/Authorization Details page: Accessed from Student Information page.
4. Event History page: Accessed from Student Information page.

Student List: Students With Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

This student list allows DSOs to find students with active or future CPT authorizations quickly. A student with multiple CPT authorizations will appear on the list more than once.

Employment Information Page

SEVIS displays CPT authorizations on the Employment Information page.

Current Requests/Authorization Details Page

The Current Requests/Authorization Details page displays information on current and future CPT authorizations only.

Student Event History

SEVIS captures and displays the history of CPT authorizations in the student’s Event History.

See the SEVIS Help Icons on the SEVIS Help Hub for a quick-reference of the icons used in this user guide.