Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

To be eligible for CPT, a student must:

1. Complete at least one academic year as a full-time student at a US institution.*
    
2. Receive an offer for a position (paid or unpaid)* that is directly related to their academic major.
    
3. And qualify for CPT under one of the following categories:**
    
   • Option 1: Required for Degree - An internship, practicum, or other training experience is required of all students in the degree program.
     • Examples:
       • Rollins’ Applied Practice Experience (APE) for public health students
       • GBS’ required practicum for two-year MBA students
          
   • Option 2: Enrolled in a Course for Academic Credit** - Student will earn academic credit towards their degree.
     • Option 2a: The student is enrolled in a course that requires an internship, practicum or other training for course completion.
       • Examples:
         • The Pathways Center Independent Internship (INTERN 496 and INTERN 497) for Emory College students with a declared major in OPUS
         • GBS’ Senior Seminar (BUS 480), Internship (BUS 496) or Advanced Internship (BUS 496B) for BBA students
     • Option 2b: The student is enrolled in a research course and conducting the research off-campus.
       • Example: LGS’ Research course for master’s and pre-candidacy PhD students (XX599R)
          
   • Option 3: Required for Thesis/Dissertation - For graduate students who require training for completion of their thesis or dissertation.
     • For PhD students, this option is only appropriate for students who have entered into candidacy.
     • Enrollment in dissertation/thesis credits required.

*See “Special Eligibility Considerations” section below for more information.
**See “Course Options” section below for examples and a list of known internship/practicum/training courses by school.

• Students can only be authorized for CPT during their degree program:
  • F-1 students interested in working in the US after graduation may apply for post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).
     
• Exception to one academic year requirement:
  • The one academic year waiting period can be waived for students enrolled in a graduate program that requires a practicum during their first year.
     
• Leave of absences and other SEVIS terminations:
  • Students who have re-entered the US using a new SEVIS record after a previous record was terminated/completed will need to complete one academic year of full-time study under their new SEVIS record before becoming eligible for CPT.
  • This rule applies to a student who was given an authorized early withdrawal for a leave of absence (gap semester/year) and returned to the US with a new SEVIS record.
     
• Unpaid internships:
  • Financial compensation is not the only indicator of employment in the US. ISSS recommends that students obtain work authorization for any activity with non-Emory organizations.
  • In the case of unpaid internships, the student should also obtain written verification from the organization's Human Resources. The letter should confirm that the position does not violate the Fair Labor Standards Act.
     
• Part-time or full-time:
  • Part-time CPT (20 hours/week or less)
    • Students can participate in part-time CPT during the fall, spring or summer semesters.
    • If the CPT will take place during a student's final semester, only part-time CPT is allowed. See “CPT in Final/Graduation Semester” section below for more details.
  • Full-time (20+ hours/week)
    • A student may participate in full-time CPT during the summer unless the summer is their first or last term.
    • PhD students who have completed all coursework (excluding dissertation) can participate in CPT full-time during the fall and spring if it’s required to complete their dissertation.
       
• Employment dates:
  • If the CPT eligibility is based on enrollment in a course (option #2), the CPT authorization must fall within the semester dates as listed on the university academic calendar.
  • In rare situations, the CPT authorization may extend beyond the semester dates if there are extenuating circumstances or programmatic reasons. Examples may include, but are not limited to:
    • Cohort-based internships for which all students start and end on the same date.
    • Delays in start date due to student illness or personal/family emergency.
    • Other circumstances to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
  • Students requesting an exception should be prepared to provide documentation that explains the reason the position must start before the “Classes Begin” date and/or end after the “End of Term” date as listed on the university calendar. Documentation may include:
    • An offer letter, addendum/supplemental offer letter or email from the hiring manager stating that the established internship program is cohort based for which all interns start and end on the same date.
    • Official job posting that states the required start and end date for interns accepted into the program.
    • Other documentation explaining the medical or other extenuating circumstance.
  • Under no circumstance may the CPT overlap semesters (i.e. summer positions must start after the spring “End of Term” date and begin before the fall “Classes Begin Date” as listed on the university academic calendar).
  • Students may contact their ISSS advisor to discuss their situation, determine if they qualify for an exception, and what type of documentation may be required.
     
• Multiple CPT authorizations with the same employer:
  • For CPTs that are not required by a degree program, students may not receive multiple CPT authorizations for the same experience.
  • In rare cases, a student may be eligible for a second CPT authorization with the same employer, provided that the experience is significantly different from the first CPT authorization (i.e. student receives a CPT authorization for an internship in marketing with Company A, and then subsequently submits a CPT request for an second internship with Company A in the field of accounting).
  • A student may not receive a second CPT authorization to extend a practical training experience.
  • If a student wishes to gain additional practical training in the same position, the student would need to apply for pre-completion OPT.
     
• Impact on OPT:
  • Students who are approved for 12 months or more of full-time CPT are not eligible to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) at their current degree level.
     
• CPT in final/graduation semester:
  • CPT will not be approved during a student’s final semester at Emory unless all three of following conditions are met:
    • The practical training is part-time. Full-time CPT is not permitted in a student’s final term as it is not an F-1 vacation term.
    • A completed “Final Semester Course Enrollment” form is submitted with the CPT request. A link to this form and further instructions can be found in the introduction of the “CPT Request Form” in ISSS Link.
    • The student is enrolled in at least one other degree required course, and this course has a physical presence requirement on Emory’s campus (i.e. class attendance is required).

1. Students should contact or meet with their departmental reviewer to discuss the off-campus training opportunity.
   • The name and email of each program's departmental reviewer (academic advisor, dean, program coordinator, etc.) will appear in the “CPT Request” in ISSS Link once the student selects their Emory school and program.
   • Together, the student and the departmental reviewer can determine the basis of the CPT (see options 1-3 above).
      
2. Obtain an employment offer letter on the company's letterhead that contains ALL of the requirements listed below.
   • The student should provide a copy of this letter to the departmental reviewer and upload a copy to the "CPT Request" e-form.
   • This letter must include:
     • Student's full legal name
     • Job title
     • Brief description of the goals, objectives and/or expected duties of the employment
     • Exact start date and end date for the employment
       • If the CPT eligibility is based on enrollment in a course (option #2), the CPT authorization must fall within the semester dates as listed on the university academic calendar.
       • See “Special Eligibility Considerations—Employment Dates” section above for exceptions.
     • Full physical address of the employment including street address city, state and zip code.
       • If the job duties will be performed remotely, this should be indicated in the letter.
       • If the remote address is not in the letter, the student can provide the address in the “CPT Request" e-form.
     • Number of hours expected to work per week
     • Name and email address of the supervisor
     • Expected salary
     • Hiring manager's signature
        
3. Enroll in the appropriate internship/practicum/training/research course.
   • This is only necessary if the CPT is based on Option 2: Enrolled in a Course for Academic Credit.
      
4. Submit the "CPT Request" e-form in ISSS Link.
   • Students should submit the CPT request at least 2 weeks before their start date to give their academic department and ISSS advisor time to review the request and issue the CPT I-20.
   • Students may not begin working until they have received an updated I-20 with the CPT authorization on page two.
   • Working prior to receiving approval and/or before the CPT start date is considered a violation of one's F-1 status.
      
5. Obtain the CPT I-20.
   • If the academic program confirms that the position meets a curricular requirement, the ISSS advisor will assess the student's eligibility and process the CPT request within five business days.
   • If approved, the CPT I-20 will be issued and emailed to the student.
   • Students may begin working after their CPT start date and after they have received the CPT I-20.

• The following course lists were provided to ISSS but are not meant to be comprehensive.
• If a student's school is not mentioned below, they can contact their academic program to determine if the program offers a training course for academic credit.
• ISSS can review the course description of any additional courses, and if it can serve as the basis of CPT, it can be added to the course list.
• CPT based on course enrollment cannot be approved until OPUS has been updated to reflect enrollment in the appropriate course.

Candler School of Theology

Emory College of Arts and Sciences

Goizueta Business School

Laney Graduate School

School of Law