Curricular Practical Training

*If you are applying for CPT for the first time and intend to begin your practical training opportunity in the Fall 2024 Semester or Winter Session 2024, do not submit your CPT request in the ISS Portal until after you have either attended our in-person CPT workshop on Wednesday, October 30 from 3pm-4pm in Fisk 413 or viewed the above video recording.

IMPORTANT: We have updated our CPT policy regarding starting an off-campus internship or other employment opportunity in between semesters. Please carefully read the following guidance as this new policy means the information about summer dates for CPT outlined in the video recording above (starting at the 5:12 mark) is no longer relevant.   

Spring 2024 Semester CPT: Part-time CPT authorization for Spring 2024 spans January 25^th (first day of classes) through May 17^th (last day of final exams). April 8^th was the deadline to apply for and receive part-time CPT authorization for the spring semester. When you submit your CPT request in the ISS Portal, you must select “Spring 2024” as the term for your authorization. Full-time CPT is not permitted during the spring semester as it is a required term of full-time study for F-1 visa status international students.   

Summer 2024 Term CPT: CPT authorization for Summer 2024, which may be full-time or part-time, spans May 18^th (the day after spring semester final exams finish) through September 1^st (the day before the Fall 2024 Semester begins). August 1^st is the deadline to apply for and receive CPT authorization for the summer term. When you submit your CPT request in the ISS Portal, you must select “Summer 2024” as the term for your authorization. If your CPT authorization starts before May 29^th (the first day of the summer term), you will be pre-enrolled in the summer section of the CSPL 493 internship course.

Fall Semester 2024 CPT: Part-time CPT authorization for Fall 2024 spans September 2^nd (first day of classes) through December 14^th (last day of final exams). November 6^th is the deadline to apply for and receive part-time CPT authorization for the fall semester. When you submit your CPT request in the ISS Portal, you must select “Fall 2024” as the term for your authorization. Full-time CPT is not permitted during the fall semester as it is a required term of full-time study for F-1 visa status international students.   

Winter Session 2024 CPT: CPT authorization for Winter 2024, which may be full-time or part-time, spans December 15^th (the day after fall semester final exams finish) through January 22^nd (the day before the Spring 2025 Semester begins). December 20^th is the deadline to apply for and receive CPT authorization for winter session. When you submit your CPT request in the ISS Portal, you must select “Winter 2024” as the term for your authorization. If your CPT authorization starts before January 7, 2025 (the first day of winter session), you will be pre-enrolled in the winter section of the CSPL 493 internship course.  

Overview & Eligibility

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an F-1 visa benefit that allows students to participate in off campus internships, work, clinical placements, or other experiential learning that is part of their academic programs and directly related to their academic majors. CPT must be authorized for both paid and unpaid experiences. CPT can only be granted when the internship/training is part of the academic curriculum.  

CPT is authorized by OISA and must be approved by our office before the internship begins. Apply at least four weeks in advance of the internship start date. Students may not begin working without CPT authorization in hand. 

Please note the following: 

• Students must complete one full academic year before being eligible for CPT. 
• CPT is available to undergraduate students only. 
• Internships must be credit-bearing and the internship must take place in the same semester as the corresponding credits. 
• Internships must be directly related to a student’s academic major. 
• Students may only work within the authorized CPT start and end date. 
• During the fall and spring semesters, CPT authorization is limited to 20 hours or less per week. 
• Students must complete a minimum of 40 working hours through the entire internship experience (not 40 hours per week), within the academic term in which they are enrolled in CSPL493.

How to Apply

Applications for CPT can be made through the International Student and Scholar (ISS) Portal. You must secure your internship prior to submitting your application and have attended a CPT Workshop.

Before making this request, please gather the following documents/information:

• Your Employment Offer Letter
• CPT Employer Job Description
• Your CPT Employer’s First and Last Name and email address (Required) and Phone Number (Optional)

Please carefully read the instructions when you are completing your CPT request in the ISS Portal. You will be asked to input information to request four recommendations:

• Office of Academic Affairs – To confirm the relationship between the student’s internship/employment and the student’s academic major
• Dean of Students Office – To confirm the student is in good standing with Wesleyan University’s Honor Code and the Code of Non-Academic Conduct
• Academic Advancement Office – To confirm the student is in good academic standing at Wesleyan University
• Your CPT Employer

If you start a request in the ISS Portal but are unable to complete it, you may return to this request at a later time. Do not start a new one. To return to an existing request, please go to your ISS Portal User Home Page.

Proof of CPT Enrollment (CSPL493)

Once an OISA staff member has reviewed your CPT request and confirmed your eligibility, we will email the Office of the Registrar to request that you be enrolled in CSPL493. On the day that our office requests that you be enrolled in the course, you will receive an email from OISA explaining your enrollment in CSPL493 will appear in your academic history within two business days. 

Next, you must provide proof of your enrollment through the ISS Portal so that OISA can proceed with authorizing you for CPT. To submit your proof of enrollment, log in to your ISS Portal account, select F-1 Student Requests from the menu on the left side of the page, and click on Proof of CPT Enrollment Request from the menu choices on the next page.

You will be redirected to a page where you can indicate the semester and year that you have been authorized for CPT and upload a screenshot confirming your enrollment for CSPL493. When you have provided the information requested, click the "Update" button at the bottom of the page to submit your Proof of CPT Enrollment Request.

After Approval

Once approved, you will receive an updated I-20 with the CPT authorization. If your internship is paid, you will need to show this authorization to your employer as proof of employment authorization. Paid employment also requires by law that a student apply for a Social Security Number.

Work Authorization FAQs

Here are common questions asked by employers and answers:

Q: Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?