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Curricular Practical Training

Employment Overview

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is defined as an “an integral part of an established curriculum” and "directly related to the student's major area of study." Students must receive academic credit to participate in CPT. This may include internships, cooperative education programs, thesis research, or independent study.

CPT Eligibility Requirements

  • Students must be enrolled full-time in active F-1 status for at least one academic year (continuous fall and spring semester).
  • Student must receive academic credit specifically for participating in the CPT.
  • Students must be maintaining F-1 status and be in good academic standing. "Good academic standing" is not defined by OISS, but by university policy. See the Registrar's website for more details.
  • Students must continue to make normal academic progress towards their degree program and must continue to meet the full-time enrollment requirements.
  • CPT will be revoked if a student does not maintain good academic standing throughout the CPT.
  • All work on CPT must be directly related to a student's major field of study and coursework.

Semester Eligibility Dates

Because students are required to be in good academic standing and receive academic credit for the CPT, CPT is only authorized on a semester-by-semester basis. Students will need to submit individual applications for each semester of CPT requested. Check the UNCW Academic Calendar for semester dates.

Fall Semester

  • Earliest Start Date: Day after last day of exams in Summer Session II
  • Latest End Date: Day before first day of classes in the spring semester

Spring Semester

  • Earliest Start Date: Day after last day of exams in the fall semester
  • Latest End Date: Day before first day of classes in Summer Session I

Summer Semester

  • Earliest Start Date: Day after the last day of exams
  • Latest End Date: Day before first day of classes in the fall semester

Note: If a student is completing their degree requirements in the semester they are participating in CPT, the CPT cannot extend beyond the I-20 program end date.

CPT Application

To apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), students must submit a complete CPT application through the OISS Immigration Portal. After you submit your CPT application with all required documents, your OISS advisor will authorize the CPT in your SEVIS immigration record and will issue a new I-20 with CPT authorization. You must apply for CPT at least two weeks before your employment start date to allow adequate time for processing of your new I-20.

  • Students must receive a new I-20 with CPT authorization before beginning employment.
  • Students are only authorized to work on CPT for the specific employer, hours, and the dates listed on the I-20 with CPT authorization.
    • Immigration defines part-time employment as 20 hours per week or less, and full-time employment as anything more than 20 hours per week.

The CPT application includes:

  • Employer's Certification for CPT Authorization, completed by your employer. You will send a link to the certification to them through the online application.
  • Academic Advisor's Recommendation for CPT, completed by your academic/faculty advisor. You will send a link to the recommendation to them through the online application.
  • Upload a screenshot of your transcript or class schedule in SeaNet that includes your name and the course(s) for which you are enrolled to receive academic credit specifically for participating in the internship.
  • You must login to the OISS portal with your UNCW account credentials (username without "@uncw.edu").
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CPT Extensions

Students who would like to extend their CPT for an additional few days or weeks within the same semester may request an extension of CPT, as long as nothing will change except the CPT end date. Students requesting an extension must email their OISS F-1 advisor at least 2 weeks before the CPT end date to allow adequate time for processing of a new I-20 with the CPT extension.

Eligible students who would like to extend their CPT through the next semester must submit a separate application with new materials, as listed above, for the additional semester of CPT.

Students cannot work on CPT past the CPT end date authorized on page 2 of their I-20.

Add'l Information

  • Time spent working on CPT is not deducted from the 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT) available, however;
  • A student who participates in 12 or more months of full-time CPT (anything more than 20 hours per week) will lose eligibility to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) at that degree level.
  • Students are required to meet the full-time enrollment requirements while participating in CPT.
  • Students must have a social security number to accept a salary or wages from their U.S. employer.
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