Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is work authorization available to F-1 international students who participate in a training experience as part of a curricular requirement. CPT opportunities are called a variety of names at WashU including, but not limited to, practicums (Brown School), externships (Law School), internships (Olin Business and Sam Fox), co-ops (McKelvey Engineering), clinical experiences (School of Medicine) and research-based training (Arts & Sciences).
While each school refers to CPT differently, OISS broadly defines CPT as a paid or unpaid training experience that is required for a course and/or graduation. Course enrollment is required for all CPT opportunities. Each school or department oversees approval of eligible training experiences, but OISS is the only WashU office that can grant CPT work authorization.
Students who are fully-funded by WashU are limited to part-time employment up to an average of 10 hours per week.
Apply for CPT (3 steps)
You must already have an offer of employment for a CPT opportunity before applying for work authorization.
Step 1: Receive permission from your academic department
Each department has a specific office or staff member who reviews all requests for CPT. Please meet with your assigned approver to determine if your training experience qualifies. If your program is not listed below, your degree program does not have a curricular requirement for practical training, which means that you are not eligible for CPT.
| School | Degree Level/ Program | Approver Name | School Specific Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arts & Sciences | Bachelor’s | Emma Merrigan | Must be enrolled in the Major Internship 299, 2PA, or the General Students Internship course |
| Arts & Sciences | MS in Statistics | Faculty Adviser (Director of Graduate Studies if no faculty adviser is available) AND Andy Wiegart (2nd approver) | Must be enrolled in Math 591. CPT authorization is not allowed in the last semester of the program. |
| Arts & Sciences | DBBS | Research Based Practical Training: Program Coordinator (1st approver), PI/Thesis Mentor (2nd approver), and Cami Spampani (3rd approver) Non-Research Based Practical Trainings: Cami Spampani | Must enroll in LGS 9000 or BIO 590 (do not enroll in LGS 9001). Position must be part-time. |
| Arts & Sciences | All PhD programs | Department (1st approver) and Director of Graduate Studies (2nd approver) and Andy Wiegart (3rd approver) | PhD students must enroll in GSAS 9000: Graduate Research and Study Class (do not enroll in LGS 9001). |
| Brown | Master’s programs | Office of Field Education | Must enroll in practicum course for 1-3 credit hours. |
| Brown | PhD programs | Office of Field Education | Must enroll in GSAS 9000: Full-time Graduate Research and Study |
| CAPS | All programs | Academic adviser | Please discuss with OISS adviser first. |
| Law | Two Year LLM or JSD | Sarah Hellin | Must enroll in Supervised Research course. |
| Law | JD | Sarah Hellin or Katie O’Flynn | Must enroll in Supervised Research or Externships course. Externships must be unpaid. Non-St. Louis based externships must be full-time. |
| McKelvey | All programs | Anna Eggemeyer | Complete the McKelvey CPT Instructions and Request Form. Position must be paid. |
| Medical School | MS in Biostatistics, or MS in Applied Health Behavior Research | Shelby Cripe (Sara O’Neal if Shelby is unavailable) | Must enroll in MSIB 630 Internship course. |
| Medical School | MS in Biostatistics and Data Science | Shelby Cripe (Sara O’Neal if Shelby is unavailable) | Must enroll in MSIB 630 Internship course. |
| Medical School | MS in Biomedical Informatics | Shelby Cripe (Sara O’Neal if Shelby is unavailable) | Must enroll in M18-5401 BMI Internship course. |
| Medical School | MS in Deaf Education (MSDE) | Beth Elliott | Must be enrolled in Practicum course that counts towards practicum requirement. Minimum 8 hours per week; maximum 2 employers/sites allowed per semester; position must be unpaid. |
| Medical School | MD or MSTP | Dr. Steve Lawrence (1st approver), Clarissa Craft (2nd approver) | Must enroll in course M8 1535 Explore. If enrolled in coursework, position must be part-time. |
| Medical School | MD or MSTP | Dr. Koong-Nah Chung (1st approver), Clarissa Craft (2nd approver) | Must enroll in Year-Long Research Program (MD5). If enrolled in coursework, position must be part-time. |
| Medical School | Occupational Therapy | Shannon Eckhoff | Must enroll for credit in Clinical Experience I, II, III, or IV |
| Medical School | Physical Therapy | Alice Morland | Must enroll for credit in Clinical Experience I, II, III, or IV |
| Medical School | Doctor of Audiology (AuD) | Beth Elliott | Must be enrolled in Observation and Practicum in Audiology, Practicum in Audiology or Clinical Externship course. Minimum 8 hours per week; maximum 1 employer/site allowed per semester; position must be unpaid, unless in final year. |
| Medical School | PhD in Speech and Hearing Sciences | Beth Elliott | Must be enrolled in Mentored Teaching experience course, or LGS 9000 that counts towards practicum requirement. Maximum 1 employer/site allowed per semester; position must be unpaid. |
| Olin | Bachelor’s | Yoon Groves | Must be enrolled in MGT 450A for 1-3 credit hours. Position should be full-time. Part-time positions are approved on a case-by-case basis. |
| Olin | MBA and Specialized Masters Programs (SMP) | Olin Graduate Student Affairs Office | Must be enrolled in MGT 551E or MGT 513. |
| Olin | All Doctoral programs | Olin Doctoral Programs Office | Must enroll in CPT 684: Independent Study course. |
| Sam Fox | College of Art Undergraduate | Aaron Akins | Must be a BFA or BA and enroll in 1.0 credit internship course. |
| Sam Fox | College of Architecture Undergraduate | Jennifer Boudreau | Must enroll in 0.5 credit hours of Training and Development Practice. The position must be paid, and can only be authorized during the summer semester. |
| Sam Fox | Master of Architecture, Master of Landscape Architecture & Master of Fine Arts | Jennifer Boudreau | Must enroll in 0.5 credit hours of Training and Development Practice. The position must be paid, and can only be authorized during the summer semester. |
Step 2: Complete the CPT Authorization request in MyOISS
As part of the CPT Authorization request in MyOISS, you must submit information regarding your training opportunity including requested start and end dates, employer name and address and additional details. The information you provide in the request will appear on your I-20 with CPT authorization.
You are required to upload the following documents in the request:
- Employment offer letter, or the Certification of Employment Form (PDF) if an offer letter is not provided
- Completed and signed CPT Application & Approver Form (PDF) (for all programs except McKelvey)
- McKelvey CPT authorization form (for McKelvey students only)
Step 3: Obtain your I-20 with CPT authorization
Once OISS receives a completed CPT Authorization request in MyOISS, the processing time is up to 7 business days. You will receive an email when your CPT request has been processed and your updated I-20 is ready. You will be able to access and download your I-20 with approved CPT authorization from the “Documents and Requests” section of your MyOISS profile. Be sure to print your I-20 and sign (in ink) in the “student attestation” section.
In order to maintain your student status and not accrue unlawful presence, you may only work for the employer listed on the I-20 and only during the period authorized on the I-20. If you need additional time, you must apply for an extension of your CPT before the current CPT period expires. You must apply separately for each semester you want to CPT authorization.
See example I-20 with CPT authorization below.
Important notes regarding CPT
This can be completed in F status or a previous immigration status. The only exception is Brown graduate students, where practicum is required as part of the academic program.
Part-time and full-time practical training is defined by immigration regulations as:
- Part-time CPT is 20 hours per week or less
- Full-time CPT is over 20 hours per week
CPT must be authorized as either part-time or full-time. If the number of hours you work per week changes, and you will not be within the approved hours under the part-time or full-time definition, you must receive a new CPT authorization before you change your work schedule. A change in part-time/full-time CPT authorization requires a new CPT Authorization request in MyOISS.
If you are authorized for 365+ days of full-time CPT, you are not eligible for Post-Completion OPT at the same degree level.
Independent contractor work is not allowed under CPT. When you work as an independent contractor, you are considered to be self-employed. Because training and supervision as well as a clear employer-employee relationship are an integral part of CPT, prospective employment where you would be considered an independent contractor will not be approved under CPT. Independent contractors often receive a Form 1099 tax form.
If there are any changes to an already approved CPT authorization, you must submit a new CPT Authorization request in MyOISS.
If you are not enrolled in a CPT course after the CPT is approved and after the training opportunity ends, you are considered to be in violation of F-1 status. If this applies to you, contact your OISS adviser immediately.
If the start date of your training opportunity has passed, you must provide a letter from your employer (on company letterhead) confirming your correct employment dates or confirming that you did not perform any work before you were authorized to do so.
It is essential that your SEVIS record is accurate. If you apply and/or are approved for CPT, but do not end up using it, notify OISS as soon as possible. Your work authorization for CPT must be cancelled or removed if the intended employment does not occur.
Unpaid internships are allowed under CPT. As a best practice, always consult with your OISS adviser before agreeing to or starting any unpaid off-campus work. In some instances, your work may qualify is requiring CPT, but the specific requirements will depend on the nature of your opportunity. Learn more about unpaid internships and volunteering here.
If you are paid for presenting at a conference, or if you receive an honorarium, you generally need off-campus work authorization before engaging in the activity for which you will receive payment. In many cases, CPT will be the appropriate type of work authorization. Talk to your OISS adviser for more details.