{"id":1976,"date":"2025-11-24T10:34:50","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T15:34:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/?page_id=1976"},"modified":"2026-08-28T10:47:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T14:47:51","slug":"curricular-practical-training-cpt","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/international-students\/off-campus-student-employment-training\/curricular-practical-training-cpt\/","title":{"rendered":"Curricular Practical Training (CPT)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\" bu-callout aligncenter\">\n<h2>Temporary Pause<\/h2>\n<p>Based on new guidance from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), ISSO is temporarily pausing CPT processing for internships that are not required for all students in a particular program to provide time for schools and colleges to review curricular requirements. See ISSO\u00a0<a href=\"\/isso\/2026\/08\/28\/additional-sevp-guidance-further-restricts-cpt-eligibility\/\">news<\/a> for more detail.<\/p>\n<p><\/div><nav class=\"toc-wrapper\" id=\"toc\" aria-label=\"Page Section Navigation\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"toc-heading toc-nav-toggle\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Toggle Page Contents Navigation\" aria-expanded=\"true\">Page Contents<\/span><\/nav><\/p>\n<p>If your program requires a practicum for degree completion or a for-unit internship you may qualify for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization. CPT is an F-1 benefit used for any type of experiential learning that takes place while a student is physically present in the U.S. CPT is needed for any curricular placement or for-unit internship, paid or unpaid, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Internships\/practicums required for degree completion.<\/li>\n<li>Internships tied to BU courses for academic units.<\/li>\n<li>Off-campus placements arranged by BU for graduate thesis or dissertation research required to complete your degree.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Understanding CPT<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>CPT must be integral to your program and directly related to your major program of study. Internships for a minor qualify only if linked to your major. Internship opportunities that are not a program requirement do not qualify for CPT. An internship or employment opportunity that offers \u201cexcellent\u201d or \u201crelevant\u201d experience to your major for resume building but is not required must be authorized through Pre-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) before you can accept the position.<\/li>\n<li>CPT authorization must be authorized by the ISSO for every experiential learning opportunity that occurs off campus.<\/li>\n<li>CPT can be either paid or unpaid. Even if your experiential learning opportunity is unpaid, you still require CPT authorization.<\/li>\n<li>CPT authorization is required prior to the intended start date of the experiential learning. Beginning CPT without authorization is a violation of F-1 status.<\/li>\n<li>CPT can be either full-time (more than 20 hours per week) or part-time (20 hours or less per week)<\/li>\n<li>CPT is employer, location, full-time\/part-time, and date specific. The employer\u2019s name, address and the start and end dates must be authorized by ISSO in advance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>CPT Eligibility<\/h2>\n<p>To qualify for CPT, you must be in active F-1 status and have completed one full academic year of full-time study in your degree program (excluding intensive English programs).<\/p>\n<p>Exception: Graduate students whose programs require immediate internships are exempt from this one-year rule.<\/p>\n<p>Important: If you lose F-1 status and reenter the U.S. with a new \u201cInitial Attendance\u201d I-20, your CPT eligibility resets\u2014you must complete one full academic year after reentry in order to be eligible for CPT.<\/p>\n<p>Changing to F-1 status within the U.S. may affect CPT eligibility. Consult an ISSO advisor if applying for CPT within two terms of this change.<\/p>\n<h2>Part-Time or Full-Time CPT<\/h2>\n<p>CPT can be authorized part-time or full-time.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Academic requirements define allowable CPT length.<\/li>\n<li>Twelve or more months of full-time CPT makes you <strong>ineligible<\/strong> for Optional Practical Training (OPT).<\/li>\n<li>Part-time CPT does not affect OPT eligibility.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Part-Time CPT<\/strong>: 20 hours or less per week. Full-time course load is required in Fall\/Spring terms.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Full-Time CPT<\/strong>: Over 20 hours per week. Full-Time CPT is typically authorized by ISSO in summer unless otherwise required to meet academic requirements.<\/p>\n<h2>Request for CPT Authorization<\/h2>\n<p>To request CPT authorization:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Work with your academic advisor to understand what, if any, experiential learning opportunities are required in your program<\/li>\n<li>Obtain an official internship\/practicum job offer.<\/li>\n<li>Register for the related course in the term\u00a0you will participate.<\/li>\n<li>Log into ISSOPortal, go to Request Center, and submit a CPT \u2013 Add New request.<\/li>\n<li>Complete the questionnaire, upload required documents, and confirm you understand the conditions to maintain status.<\/li>\n<li>Provide the name and email of the BU staff or faculty academic approver. This approver is different in each department. Please confirm the correct contact with your academic advisor. Once submitted, your academic approver will receive an email with instructions from ISSO.<\/li>\n<li>After academic approval, ISSO will review and update the status within 10 business days.<\/li>\n<li>Download your new I-20 with CPT authorization from the ISSOPortal Document Center.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Application guidance:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Apply several weeks in advance. ISSO processing time is within 10 business days from receipt of a complete request. Allow for time required for academic approvers etc.<\/li>\n<li>Begin your internship only<strong> after receiving your CPT-authorized I-20<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>CPT authorization is employer, location, and date-specific; any changes require reapplication.<\/li>\n<li>Unauthorized work before CPT approval or outside authorized dates is a violation and risks termination of your F-1 status.<\/li>\n<li>Traveling outside of the U.S. while on a period of authorized CPT is risky and not advised.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Volunteering<\/h2>\n<p>If you are participating in an internship or placement that is required for your degree program or required for units, then CPT authorization is required. CPT is required whether or not you will be paid for the placement.<\/p>\n<p>If you wish to volunteer for an organization in a role that is not a curricular requirement and not paid, <a href=\"\/isso\/international-students\/off-campus-student-employment-training\/volunteering\/\">volunteering<\/a> without ISSO authorization may be permissible in limited circumstances. Check with an ISSO advisor prior to undertaking any volunteer activities.<\/p>\n<h2>CPT FAQ&#8217;s<\/h2>\n<p>Review CPT FAQs for guidance on CPT limits, unpaid internships, and employment verification and taxation rules.<\/p>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">How is CPT authorized?<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p>CPT is authorized by a Designated School Official (DSO) at a school approved by the Student and Exchange<br \/>\nVisitor Program (SEVP) to enroll students in F-1 immigration status. The CPT authorization is employer, location and date-specific and<br \/>\nappears as a notation on page 3 of your I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 Status.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Can I withdraw from my CPT course?<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p>No. When CPT authorization is granted based on an academic registration, you must remain<br \/>\nregistered for the course for the entire term or summer session for which the CPT authorization was granted. If you withdraw<br \/>\nfrom a course on which CPT was based, your authorization will become invalid and you may jeopardize your F-1 immigration status.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Can I work for a company other than my CPT employer\/placement or outside of the authorized dates?<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p>No. CPT is employer, location, and date-specific. You may only work for the approved employer and within the authorized dates.<br \/>\nTo change employers, locations, or dates, you must obtain updated CPT authorization in advance\u2014until approved, no changes are allowed.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">How many hours per week can I work?<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p>CPT is usually part-time (20 hours or less per week) during terms, but may be full-time if required by your program or during breaks (e.g., summer). Your I\u201120 (page 3) specifies whether your CPT is part\u2011 or full\u2011time. Any changes must be approved by ISSO in advance.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Will my CPT authorization affect my eligibility to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT)?<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p>If you are authorized for an aggregate of 12 months of full-time CPT or more, you will lose eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT) authorization. If you are approved for less than 12 months of full-time CPT (in aggregate), or for any amount of part-time CPT, this will not affect your eligibility for OPT.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Can I apply for a Social Security Number (SSN)?<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p>Your CPT authorization is a type of U.S. employment authorization and, as such, allows you to apply for <a href=\"\/isso\/resources\/u-s-tax-information\/social-security-card\/\">Social Security<\/a> Number through the Social Security Administration. Your SSN card, when approved, will be stamped \u201cnot authorized for employment without DHS authorization.\u201d This stamp means that the Social Security card alone does not grant you work permission. However, the CPT authorization &#8211; noted on page 3 of<br \/>\nyour I-20 &#8211; is granted in accordance with U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations, and can be used along with your<br \/>\nSSN to allow you to be paid and taxed correctly in the U.S. for your work.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Can I be paid for my CPT placement?<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p>Once you have been granted CPT authorization, you are authorized to work and to receive compensation for your CPT employment only. Federal regulations related to hiring, payment, internships and taxation of foreign nationals in the U.S. are quite complex and are governed by U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">How do I complete my Form I-9?<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p>All employees hired in the U.S. are required to verify their identity and U.S. work authorization by<br \/>\ncompleting an I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification. Instructions on completing the Form I-9 for F-1 students with CPT authorization<br \/>\ncan be found in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uscis.gov\/i-9-central\/form-i-9-resources\/handbook-for-employers-m-274\">M-274 Handbook for Employers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Is my unpaid Internship compliant with U.S. labor laws?<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p>The U.S. Department of Labor has established <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/agencies\/whd\/fact-sheets\/71-flsa-internships\">guidelines<\/a> for employers related to Fair Labor Standards and for paid and unpaid internships.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">What are my tax obligations during CPT?<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p>Generally, Social Security\/FICA taxes should not be withheld from earnings for F-1 nonimmigrants, unless they are considered a \u201cresident for tax purposes.\u201d Earnings of F-1 nonimmigrants are usually subject to federal, state and local <a href=\"\/isso\/resources\/u-s-tax-information\/\">income taxes<\/a>, unless exempted by a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/seo\/international\/taxes-international\/\">tax treaty<\/a>. Additional information on federal income tax obligations can be found in IRS Publications <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/publications\/p515\">515<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/pub\/irs-pdf\/p519.pdf\">519<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If your program requires a practicum for degree completion or a for-unit internship you may qualify for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization. CPT is an F-1 benefit used for any type of experiential learning that takes place while a student is physically present in the U.S. CPT is needed for any curricular placement or for-unit [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10133,"featured_media":0,"parent":2031,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1976"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10133"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1976"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1976\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4399,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1976\/revisions\/4399"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2031"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1976"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}