»Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

To obtain CPT:

• You must have valid F-1 status at the time of requesting CPT.
• You must have been in valid F-1 status for a full academic year (fall and spring) at Chapman University, unless stated otherwise by your academic program requirements.
  
  • Exception for some graduate students: as a graduate student, your degree program may require you to have an internship in your first academic year. If you are a graduate student in one of these programs, you are exempt from the full academic year requirement described above.
• You must receive academic credit for the internship or practicum experience.
• You must be enrolled for a full course load or approved for a reduced course load before applying for CPT.
• Your internship or practicum must be an integral part of your academic program.
• Your internship must be a core requirement for your program.
• You must be in good academic standing.
• You must obtain CPT authorization BEFORE beginning your internship/practicum; authorization cannot be retroactively backdated.

Degree Requirement CPT

CPT may be authorized when an internship/practicum is a requirement of a degree program (i.e., all students in the program must complete an internship to obtain the degree). Authorization can be for full-time or part-time training, depending on the academic department's requirement. Students should consult with their academic advisor or graduate advisor about internship requirements in their major.

Degree requirement CPT can only be used to fulfill the requirement and should occur during the program’s normal internship period. 

*Graduate Students: If a student's academic program requires them to start off-campus training before they have been in F-1 status for one academic year, International Student Services can authorize them to engage in off-campus training.  Students whose academic programs do not require an internship or practicum within the first year will need to wait at least one academic year before they are eligible for CPT authorization.

Internship Enrollment and Process

• Enrollment in the internship course must be concurrent with the CPT training and during semester dates. Internships may take place in the fall, interterm, spring or summer terms.
• CPT Start Date and End Date: CPT training can begin as early as the first day of the semester and must end no later than the last day of the semester. It is your responsibility to inform the internship host organization that your training dates must fall within the academic term dates.
• Internship start date must be only for the term in which you apply for the internship course. CPT start date cannot be the same date you submit your internship application if the term has started.
• Your application can take up to 7 business days to process.
• You cannot begin an internship without authorization on your form I-20.  
• Your academic advisor determines the appropriate number of internship units.
• Students who are offered a paid internship and need a Social Security Number (SSN) will receive a letter of support from ISS to apply at the SSN Administration Office. Review the SSN webpage for more information.
• New CPT Form I-20 is emailed to you.
• Authorization will be granted on a semester-only basis. A student who wants to continue with an internship must re-apply for an internship course and receive a new CPT authorization.

Depending on your academic program, you will need to determine with your academic advisor which internship option you must apply for.

Option 1: 

• Your academic program assists with course enrollment and internship placement.
• Contact ISS at iss@chapman.edu to receive the application material for CPT approval.
• Cannot begin internship until you receive approval from ISS with new updated Form I-20.

Option 2:

• Register and apply for an internship course and CPT authorization through the Office of Registrar.

While working on CPT, it is important for students to keep the following in mind:

• CPT is employer-specific: students can only intern for the employer listed on their CPT Form I-20.
• Students can only train for their authorized employer for the duration of time listed on their CPT Form I-20.
• Students must report any changes in training to the Office of International Student Services.

CPT can be authorized for:

• Part-time (20 hours per week or less).
• Part-time CPT authorization or less than one year of full-time CPT authorization will not impact a student's eligibility for OPT.
• Full-time (21 hours per week or more).
• One year of full-time CPT eliminates your eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Students who accumulate one year (365 days/12 months) or more of full-time CPT authorization are ineligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT) upon graduation. 

Options:

• Internships (paid or unpaid).
• Practicums (paid or unpaid).

Even if students are not paid for their time and work, they will still need approval for CPT for any off-campus engagement. Working for an organization without receiving pay can be considered an unpaid internship, which still requires the student to secure work authorization before engaging in the opportunity.

• Keep a copy of the completed CPT Request Form.
• Students must maintain full-time enrollment during their CPT authorization period.
• CPT is authorized for one term at a time.
• Keep a copy of all job-related materials as proof of employment and proper authorization.