Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is work authorization which allows an international student to gain practical experience off campus usually in the form of an internship, co-op education, or practicum that earns credit toward your degree completion prior to graduation.
CPT Eligibility
To be eligible for CPT you must:
- Have completed at least one year of full-time study in the United States (3 consecutive terms, or approximately 9 months)
- Have F-1 visa status at the time you apply
- Be enrolled full-time, if your CPT happens during a regular academic term
CPT and On-Campus Employment
CPT is authorized separately from on-campus employment. This means that restrictions affecting the number of hours a student may work on campus and through CPT are applied independently of one another. A student's hours of CPT employment do not affect their allotted 20 hours of on campus employment hours and vice versa. From an immigration standpoint, as long as a student has obtained proper authorization for both CPT and on-campus employment, it is possible to do both simultaneously.
It is important to note, however, that an F-1 student's main objective in the US must be to study. Pursuing CPT and on-campus employment must not negatively impact a student's academic performance or unduly prolong their course of study.
Students who pursue CPT employment outside of the state of Oregon but desire to continue on-campus employment will need to follow PSU's Out-of-State Employee protocol as outlined by PSU Human Resources. Authorization must be requested and approved by HR at least 6 weeks in advance in order for out-of-state employees to continue work remotely in on-campus positions.