For all students requesting CPT with start dates after April 1, the CPT policy below applies.
Student Eligibility
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a type of employment authorization that allows LSU F-1 students to participate in an experiential learning or training opportunity that is deemed an "integral part of the established curriculum" and "directly related to the student's major area of study" (8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i)). Students who wish to apply for CPT must meet the criteria below:
- F-1 student who has been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis, in an approved SEVP-certified college, university, conservatory, or seminary for one full academic year (8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i)).
- Graduate students must have a cumulative 2.75 GPA and undergraduate students must have a cumulative 2.5 GPA to participate in CPT. Students are not eligible for CPT if they are on probation.
- Students must have enrolled full time for 1 academic year.
- Exception: graduate students who "require immediate participation in curricular practical training" (8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i)). All students in the program must be required to complete the internship/practicum during the first academic year.
- Transfer students, students completing OPT, and those who have fulfilled one year of full-time study in another status will be allowed to participate in CPT in the first term at LSU. To be eligible, students provide documentation that they have been enrolled full-time at their previous institution if they did not study at LSU previously. Documentation could be an enrollment verification showing full-time enrollment or a letter confirming full-time from the registrar or DSO.
- Please note: the time spent in pathway programs such as LSU Global's AAP program does not count towards the one year of full-time study requirement.
- Students must be enrolled for a full course of study during CPT (9 credits for graduate students, 12 credits for undergraduate students, only 1 online class) in the fall and spring semesters. Summer is an optional term, and students are not required to be enrolled full time unless summer is the student's first or last term.
- The training is ‘an integral part of an established curriculum’ (8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i)) and is verified by the academic department in the CPT request.
- The training is ‘directly related to the student’s major area of study’ and is verified by the academic department in the CPT request.
- The forms needed for CPT request are attached to this article. CPT requests can be submitted through the ISS secure link.
Experiential Learning or Training Opportunity Eligibility
The experiential learning or training opportunity must meet the following criteria to be eligible for CPT authorization:
- The experiential learning/training opportunity must be directly related to the student’s major field of study (8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i)).
- CPT will only be approved on a semester basis. Internship/practicum must be within the semester dates (from the first day of class to the graduation date of the semester). Click here for the academic calendar.
- Employers must provide an offer letter or cooperative agreement that includes the following:
- Letter must be on company letterhead
- Date of the letter no more than four months before the CPT request date
- Student name
- Company name
- Physical address of the experiential learning/training opportunity location
- Number of hours per week
- Start and end date
- Position title, position description, and duties
- Company representative signature (signatures can be a digital signature or scanned signature, typed signatures will not be accepted)
All of the information in the letter is required information to authorize CPT in SEVIS.
- Students may participate in experiential learning/training opportunities for more than one employer at a time, but CPT authorization is based on each position that has an offer letter. Each employer will have a separate CPT request. Vet Clinical students will not have to request a separate CPT request for each rotation.
- Each opportunity must have its own offer letter.
Integral to the Course Curriculum
Each experiential learning or training opportunity must be integral part of the established curriculum (8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i)). Therefore, students must be enrolled in one of the following to be eligible for CPT:
- Enroll in an internship course in student's academic department. Students can enroll full-time in internship credits. (12 credits for undergraduate students, 9 credits for graduate students)
- Enrolling in INT (CAR1001) or CEP (CAR1003) internship codes through the Olinde Career Center.
- Enrolled in thesis or dissertation courses and the opportunity is integral to the completion of research and the opportunity is required for the student to complete research. The research must be utilized in the student’s dissertation or thesis and confirmed by the academic department head.
CPT Dates
CPT is based on semester courses and will only be authorized on a semester basis.
- CPT dates will be approved between the first day of class to the first day of commencement each semester. Click here for the LSU Academic Calendar for the first day of class and commencement dates.
- Students in the final semester of study cannot extend CPT beyond the program end date.
- Students may begin the experiential learning/internship opportunity when they have the I-20 in hand and the during the dates listed on page 2 of the I-20 (8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i)). CPT dates cannot be backdated.
Extensions
CPT Extensions are for the purpose of adding a short amount of time onto existing CPT authorization. Remember that CPT cannot overlap into the next semester without a new CPT request. To request an extension of your current CPT authorization, please email to iso@lsu.edu. If you have questions about extending your CPT, please contact an advisor in ISS for assistance.
Full-time vs. Part-time CPT
Full-time CPT is 20 or more hours per week and part-time CPT is 20 or less hours per week. Please keep in mind if a student participates in full-time CPT for a cumulative of one year, they are no longer eligible for OPT. (8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i))
- Students are allowed to engage in part-time CPT (20 or less hours/week) in the fall and spring semesters between all off-campus employers.
- Students are allowed to engage in full-time CPT (20 or more hours/week) in the summer semester, if summer is not a mandatory term.
CPT Validity
Your CPT is valid only during the dates listed on the second page of the I-20 and only for the employer listed. Students must have an I-20 with valid CPT authorization dates to engage in their experiential learning/training opportunity. Students cannot begin employment before they receive the I-20 with CPT authorization from ISS. (8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i))
If any of the details of your training change (part-time/full-time, work location, etc.) those changes must be reflected in your CPT authorization before they can become effective. Contact an ISS advisor to discuss any changes to your approved CPT.
Student Responsibilities While on CPT
Students are required to:
- report employer information changes such as job responsibilities, location
- report changes in the number hours per week or end date changes
- remain enrolled in the CPT course that the CPT authorization is based on
These changes must be reported to ISS (iso@lsu.edu) before the changes go into effect. If students do not report changes in a timely manner, CPT authorization may be canceled.
Forms & Helpful Links