Visa guide

CPT Guide: Internships and Co-ops for F-1 Students

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorises employment that is an integral part of your curriculum — internships, co-ops and practicum placements. Unlike OPT, CPT is authorised by your school rather than USCIS, so approval is usually fast.

Sponsorship-signal roles
1
Remote-eligible
0
Employers hiring
1
Freshness
3 days

How CPT is authorised

Your DSO authorises CPT in SEVIS for a specific employer, specific dates and a specific number of hours. There is no USCIS filing and no EAD card — your updated I-20 is the authorisation, and you cannot start before its start date.

Most schools require you to have completed one academic year, and require the position to be tied to a course or a degree requirement.

Full-time CPT and the OPT trade-off

Part-time CPT is 20 hours per week or less and has no effect on OPT. Twelve months or more of full-time CPT eliminates your post-completion OPT eligibility entirely — the most consequential rule in this area, and one students routinely discover too late.

If you plan multiple full-time co-op terms, track the cumulative total carefully with your DSO before accepting the next one.

Turning an internship into a return offer

The strongest path from CPT to a full-time offer is a summer internship at a company that files H-1B petitions. Ship something measurable, get it into production, and ask your manager directly about return-offer timelines mid-internship rather than at the end.

Common questions

Do I need a job offer before applying for CPT?

Yes. CPT is authorised for a specific employer, so you need the offer letter with dates and hours before your DSO can authorise it.

Does part-time CPT affect my OPT?

No. Only 12 months or more of full-time CPT removes post-completion OPT eligibility.

How long does CPT approval take?

Usually days to a couple of weeks, because your school authorises it directly in SEVIS with no USCIS filing.

Can I do CPT in my first semester?

Generally no. Most programs require two semesters of full-time enrolment first, with narrow exceptions for graduate programs where practical training is required from the start.

Roles with sponsorship signals right now

Listings that either mention sponsorship explicitly or come from employers with verified H-1B filing history.

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