Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
What is CPT?
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is one of the ways F-1 students can gain practical experience in their field of studies. This can include:
- Pomona College Internship Program (PCIP): Internships managed by the Career Development Office. These are generally unpaid internships for which you can request funding for expenses – housing, transportation, meals, etc.
- Required Internships: These are internships required by an academic program or course offered by one of the 7Cs (e.g. CMC’s Washington Programs)
- Elective or regular off-campus opportunities: Training opportunities where you do work for an employer or organization. These opportunities can be either paid or unpaid.
Remember that F-1 students cannot engage in off-campus opportunities or employment, either paid or unpaid, without specific authorization. Failure to receive authorization before working can severely impact your status and future opportunities to work and live in the U.S. If you are unsure whether you need CPT authorization for a professional or academic off-campus activity, ask the ISSS Office before engaging with the opportunity.
Eligibility for CPT
You can begin the CPT request process if you meet all the following eligibility requirements.
- You are currently in active F-1 status.
- You were enrolled full-time for at least 2 semesters before the term you want to do CPT.
- You have received an offer for a training opportunity that is directly related to your major.
- You will continue to be enrolled for a full course of study during the term you wish to do CPT.
Conditions for CPT
Your work under CPT authorization must meet the following conditions.
Relation to Your Major
Opportunities authorized for CPT must be directly related to your major. Your academic advisor can help you determine whether the job is appropriately connected to your studies.
Note: We will be unable to authorize you for CPT until your major has been officially declared with the Pomona Registrar.
Full Time or Part Time
While school is in session, only part-time participation (20 hours per week or less) in CPT is allowed.
Full-time participation (more than 20 hours per week) is permitted during school breaks.
Important:
- Participating in full-time CPT for more than 12 months will eliminate your ability to apply for Post-Completion OPT. Part-time CPT does not affect your OPT eligibility.
- If your employer wants to switch you from part-time to full-time work (or vice versa), inform the ISSS Office. You will need to get a new CPT authorization and new I-20 to reflect this change.
Employer
Your CPT authorization is granted for a specific employer during a designated time period. It is not a blanket authorization for you to work for any employer you wish. You must get a new CPT authorization if you want to work for a new employer.
Authorization Start and End Dates
Once you finish the request process, the ISSS Office will provide you a new I-20 that reflects your CPT authorization on page 2 of the form. You cannot work before you receive this I-20, and your CPT authorization is only valid for the dates printed on the I-20.
If you are found to be working before the authorized start date and/or after the authorized end date, you will be considered working without authorization and thus, in violation of your F-1 status. See Maintaining your Immigration Status.
CPT Application Process
For the ISSS Office to approve you for CPT, you will need to undergo an application process that will involve the ISSS Office, your employer, your academic advisor, and Pomona’s Career Development Office (CDO).
1. Secure an off-campus experience
Use the resources provided by the Career Development Office to find a job.
Upon securing a job, get a written offer letter (either physical or digital) from the proposed employer/sponsor. An offer letter is required for all CPT authorizations.
2. Complete all CPT application forms
Complete all the following forms. For your employer offer letter, you should ensure that it provides, at minimum, all the information in the provided sample letter below.
- CPT Request Form
- CPT Learning Agreement – Sample Learning Agreement
- Employer Offer Letter (provided by employer) – Sample Employer Offer Letter
Once you’ve filled out the learning agreement form, present it to your prospective employer/sponsor so they can review your goals and expectations. It is important for your employer to agree to provide supervision, mentoring and support in accordance with this learning agreement.
3. Email forms to and gather signatures from required Pomona offices
Email all your required forms to the following individuals/offices in this order:
- ISSS Office (for confirming CPT eligibility) – You must get this signature first before proceeding to signatures 2 to 4.
- Your academic advisor (for reviewing all forms and confirming activity is related to your field of study)
- Career Development Office (for reviewing all forms and approving student’s transcript notation)
- Registrar’s Office (for placing notation on transcript)
4. Email all reviewed forms and signatures to the ISSS Office
Once you’ve collected all signatures, send all forms back to the ISSS Office. The ISSS Office will provide you a new I-20 with the CPT authorization noted on Page 2.
Completing CPT
After you have completed your CPT opportunity, you will need to do one of the following steps to ensure that you receive the notation on your transcript.
- Elective/Regular Opportunities: complete the CPT Completion Form and the accompanying one-page reflection paper per the form’s instructions. Your academic advisor must review the reflection paper and sign off on the form after their review. Forward both items to the Registrar’s Office after receiving your advisor’s signature.
- PCIP or Required Internships: complete whatever is needed to finish PCIP or the course/program connected with the internship. Your completion will be reported to the Registrar’s Office.
If you stop working for any reason before the agreed end date, notify the ISSS Office, the Pomona Registrar, and your faculty advisor immediately so your records can be updated.
FAQ
I found a remote opportunity with a company outside the U.S. Can I do this without work authorization while I’m in the U.S.?
No. While you are physically in the U.S., you will need some form of work authorization (e.g., CPT or OPT) to do any work that is not considered on-campus employment.
Working for a Non-U.S. Company: CPT cannot be authorized for an employer without a physical presence in the U.S. If this company does not have a U.S. presence and you will not be supervised by their U.S.-based employees, the ISSS Office will be unable to provide work authorization for this opportunity.
A U.S. company is offering me an opportunity to work remotely over summer break while I’m back in my home country. Do I need CPT authorization?
CPT authorization does not apply to work done physically outside the U.S. If your company wants you to continue you to work after you return to the U.S. or if you will be physically in the U.S. at any point during this opportunity, you will need CPT authorization in advance of your return to the country.
Note: Even if you will be working abroad throughout the entire duration of your opportunity, there may be some risk that this work is mistakenly construed as working without authorization. If you wish to move forward with this opportunity, you may want to consider retaining documentation from your employer (e.g. employer offer letter, additional employer emails) specifying that you will be outside of the U.S. during the entire duration of the opportunity as well as any relevant I-94s.
I forgot to request CPT authorization and have already started my off-campus work. Can we add CPT now?
No. It is not possible to retroactively add CPT authorization after you have already started work. Unauthorized employment is the most serious violation of your F-1 status. Contact the ISSS Office immediately.
How do I know if a job is related to my major?
We highly recommend that you work with your academic advisor to look over the opportunity, as they would be able to provide more specific guidance.
Some helpful questions to consider when assessing the job:
- Does most of the job description (80% or more) line up with what I am doing for my major?
- Does this job require specific skills or knowledge that I am gaining from my major-related courses?
- Does the job description state a requirement or preference for candidates from my field of study?
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