Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Full‑Time CPT: More than 20 hours per week. Accumulating 12 months (1 year) of full‑time CPT eliminates eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT). To protect OPT eligibility, students are strongly advised to limit full‑time CPT to no more than 11 months.

Part Time CPT: 20 hours or less per week. Any amount of work within that limit is permissible. Participation in part-time CPT does not impact OPT eligibility.  

To be eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), students must meet all of the following requirements:

• The training must be directly related to a student’s major.
• The student has been enrolled full-time for one academic year or is enrolled in a program that requires an internship or practicum before the one‑year eligibility period is met.
• Training is an integral part of the school’s established curriculum. An offer letter is required before CPT can be authorized. The job offer letter must be on official company letterhead and must state your job title, job description, exact start and end dates, hours per week, and the physical address where you will be working. 

STEP 1:  The student must log in to the Global Cardinal Portal (Terradotta) and download the CPT Agreement Form from the CPT request form.  Do not submit the CPT request form until you have completed all the steps

STEP 2: The student must complete the CPT Agreement form and obtain the required signatures.  CPT is approved for a semester at a time, and your CPT will start on the first day of semester and end on the last day of the semester. 

STEP 3: After the CPT Agreement Form is completed, upload it to the CPT request form in the Global Cardinal Portal (Terradotta)

STEP 4: Complete the CPT request form in the Global Cardinal Portal (Terradotta).

STEP 5: Submit the CPT request form.

When the student's CPT is submitted, a copy of your Form I‑20 with the CPT authorization will be sent to the student. Please allow around 1–2 business days for ISSS to create your Form I‑20 with the CPT authorization. A copy of the student's I‑20 will also be available in the Global Cardinal Portal (Terradotta).

The student signs the Form I‑20 and applies for a Social Security number (SSN), if necessary. The student can begin working on the CPT start date shown on the Form I‑20.

Do not start working before you receive your I-20 with CPT authorization or before the CPT start date.

Fall 2026 semester starts on 08/17/2026 and ends on 12/08/2026

Spring 2027 semester starts on 01/06/2027 and ends on 04/29/2027

Summer 2027 semester starts on 05/10/2027 and ends on 08/11/2027

• Students must have an internship, coop or training opportunity before CPT can be authorized.
• CPT must be authorized in SEVIS before the student can begin work. The CPT start date is the first day a student is eligible to work. Do not start working before you receive your I-20 with CPT authorization or before the CPT start date on your I-20.
• CPT is employer specific. If you receive a new CPT offer, you need to submit a new CPT request in the Global Cardinal Portal (Terradotta) and complete the CPT Agreement Form.
• CPT is approved for a semester at a time, and your CPT will start on the first day of semester and end on the last day of the semester.
• The job offer letter must be on official company letterhead and must state your job title, job description, exact start and end dates, hours per week, and the physical address where you will be working. 
• Fall 2026 semester starts on 08/17/2026 and ends on 12/08/2026
• Spring 2027 semester starts on 01/06/2027 and ends on 04/29/2027
• Summer 2027 semester starts on 05/10/2027 and ends on 08/11/2027