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International Student and Scholar Services

Curricular Practical Training

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is supervised practical work experience directly related to your major prior to the completion of your academic program. It is commonly referred to as an internship.
Curricular Practical Training
Requirements
Application Process
FAQS
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Updated as of September 2023

F-1 students are eligible to seek authorization for practical training to engage in temporary employment to gain practical experience directly related to their field of study. Federal regulations state that a student may participate in a "curricular practical training program" that is "an integral part of an established curriculum" and "directly related to the student's major area of study." They define curricular practical training as "alternate work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school."

This includes classes and clubs/groups on campus that provide students the opportunities to work with outside (non-BYU) companies on projects and internship experiences.

All cooperative agreements are negotiated and maintained by the BYU Experiential Learning & Internship Office. These internships must first be approved through your internship coordinator. See experience.byu.edu for further information.

Curricular Practical Training is granted directly by a Designated School Official (DSO) in the ISSS Office. Before granting CPT, a DSO must determine that:

  1. The student is currently in valid F-1 status.
  2. The student has been enrolled full-time for at least one academic year (8 months) in their current level of education. Please consider the following circumstances in your eligibility:
    • Changes in academic level require that you wait one academic year for CPT. For example: If you completed an associate degree at another institution before transferring to BYU to begin your bachelor degree, you will need to enroll full-time for one academic year before qualifying to participate in CPT.
    • If you transferred to BYU without changing education levels, having previously met the enrollment requirement, you may be eligible upon checking in with ISSS.
    • If you are a new graduate student in a degree program which mandates CPT during the first two semesters, you will be granted an exception and may begin CPT after the application process.
    • If you are a student in an integrated program, please visit our office to learn about CPT after your final undergraduate year.
  3. The student will continue to be enrolled for a full course of study during the CPT.
  4. The training is an integral part of an established curriculum, and directly related to the student's major area of study, as confirmed in writing by their department Internship Coordinator and/or course instructor.
  5. The student will receive internship credit. Degree and individual course curriculums which mandate practical training for all students, are not required to enroll in an internship class unless required for the degree. CPT work authorization must be tied to a specific enrollment period with associated course credit. CPT may not be approved to start earlier than the day after the last day of classes of the current semester/term as noted on the academic calendar for each enrollment period. End dates for CPT may extend until the day before classes start for the next available enrollment period. All CPT must be approved beforehand.

Please see this CPT PowerPoint presentation (2021) for more clarification.

(Students in English language training programs are ineligible for practical training.)

Please start this application process at least five days working days prior to your expected start date.

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There are two approvals required for international students to participate in a BYU internship:

Submit a "Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Request" though our E-forms portal under the "F-1 Student Services" menu.

  1. Fill out the online application
  2. Letter from prospective employer (having a cooperative agreement with BYU) including the following:
    1. Composed on company letterhead or on the bona fide company email account
    2. Date the letter was issued
    3. Physical address of employer and their contact information — if work will be at a different location than main address, include work address as well
    4. Whether the training will be full-time (more than 20 hours/week) or part-time (20 hours/week or less)
      • You are only allowed full-time CPT during your annual vacation period
      • Please note: There is not limit on how many times you can apply for CPT. Federal regulations, however, will not allow a student to apply for Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) if 12 months or more full-time CPT has been granted at the same level of education. Part-time CPT does not effect your ability to apply for OPT
    5. Start date
      • May start as early as the day after the last day of classes of the previous semester as noted on the BYU Academic Calendar unless previously approved for the preceding semester/term
      • This means that if the last day of classes for summer term is August 11, you may have a start date of August 12 for a fall semester CPT.
    6. End date
      • Must be before the first day of classes for the next semester/term or your I-20 end date; e.g. if the first day of classes for next semester is January 3, your current CPT needs to end by January 2
      • If you will be graduating, your CPT will end on the day you graduate. Students are not eligible to continue their CPT once they have graduated
    7. Full description of training and duties
    8. Signature of authorized hiring officer
      • Due to COVID, some advisors may accept digital signatures. Please check with your individual advisor.
    9. If your CPT is with a staffing agency, you must also obtain a letter from the agency stating:
      • you are an employee of the staffing agency (not a contract worker) and
      • the agency will not place you with any other employer during your CPT
    10. If some of these requirements are missing from this letter, you may include them in a separate document. This can include an email from your employer or the original job posting description
  3. INTERNSHIP COORDINATOR CPT VERIFICATION Form from your Internship Coordinator for your major field of study
    1. If you are a Law Student, obtain a Master Agreement from the Law School Registrar in lieu of the Internship Coordinator Form
  4. Proof of registration in internship class(es) recommended by Internship Coordinator
    1. If you are a Law Student, obtain a Master Agreement from the Law School Registrar in lieu of the class enrollment

It will take approximately 3-5 business days to approved. If approved by ISSS Office for CPT, a new Form I-20 will be issued listing your CPT on page 2. Present this to your company as part of your work authorization documentation. Training cannot begin until the start date listed on your I-20. **If you are granted CPT for classes that require in-class engagement with outside entities, you do not need to show the I-20 to the outside company. Rather, you should keep it for your records. It serves as proof of your authorization to complete the course-required project for the company.**

Starting curricular practical training without an approved Form I-20 is a violation of federal law and will result in the termination of your visa status!

Note: You are required to renew authorization every semester.

Frequently Asked Questions

For further clarification on any of these questions, please contact our office.

  • Please follow this link to view the Internship Coordinators List and find your Department.

  • There is not limit on how many times you can apply for CPT. Federal regulations, however, will not allow a student to apply for Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) if 12 months or more full-time CPT has been granted at the same level of education. Part-time CPT does not effect your ability to apply for OPT.

    We recommend students to stay well below 12 months of full-time CPT so you can have the best chance to be approved for OPT.

  • Please see item 2 on the requirements tab for more information on when you are eligible to apply for CPT. Once you meet these requirements, please wait to apply until you have talked to your internship coordinator and received a job offer.

  • CPT is only approved for the semesters/term you have registered for the internship class. This often means that CPT is approved one semester/term at a time. You will need to submit another CPT E-form application and get it approved again through our office.

    • If you are continuing the same CPT, we only need an updated letter stating the new start and end dates of when your employer is wanting to hire you. This letter should still contain the information listed in step 2 on the application tab.
    • If you have a letter that states working days for more than one semester, you may use this letter again and request new start and end dates on your E-form.
    • If your internship is required for your major, you can have your CPT approved for multiple semesters at a time.
    • If you are doing a new internship with a different employer, you will simply need to go through the application process again.

  • Granted that you have submitted all of the correct information and have registered for your internship class, it will take approximately 3-5 business days to be approved from that day. You will receive an email once your CPT Form I-20 is ready and approved.

    We recommend students apply for CPT in advance so that if any problems come up, you have time to makes the necessary changes and can start your CPT on time.

  • Yes, federal law requires that your internship be directly related to your major.

  • You may begin working once your CPT has been approved by our office and you have received your Form I-20 with CPT listed on page 2.

    DO NOT begin working before you have gone through the application process and the CPT shows as approved on your I-20.

  • Students are eligible to do multiple CPTs at the same time as long as they follow all of the requirements mentioned. While you can do multiple CPTs, this cannot exceed a combined 20 hours during a normal, full-time school semester. During your vacation period, you may work full-time (over 20 hours).

  • Once you have received your I-20 stating that you are in a Masters degree program, you must wait one academic year before beginning any off-campus employment. If you are an doing an integrated Masters degree program, please contact our office for more information regarding off-campus employment and changing education levels.

  • Yes. F-1 visa holders are legally allowed to work off-campus through Curricular Practical Training (after their first two semesters) and Optional Practical Training (after graduation) as long as they receive authorization through ISSS and USCIS, respectively, prior to working.

  • Students do not need sponsorship from their employer while employed before graduation and participating in CPT. Companies may choose to sponsor a worker on an F visa during their OPT as long as they meet the H-1B (sponsored worker visa) criteria. If you are choosing to pursue sponsorship then you may want to indicate this as part of your discussions with prospective employers, but we encourage you to make sure each prospective employer understands that you are legally eligible for work for up to 12 months (36 if in a STEM designated field) regardless of sponsorship beyond this term. If you are sponsored for an H-1B you enter a visa lottery and we encourage you and your employer to work with a qualified immigration attorney as part of that process.
    We encourage you to work with your Career Advisors from each college as you navigate these employment opportunities
    BYU Career Services
    Marriott School of Business Career Center

How to Apply for CPT // BYU ISSS

Please watch this video for step-by-step instructions on how to apply for CPT and be eligible to work off-campus.
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