Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Updated 12/05/2025

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a type of work authorization that allows F-1 international students to participate in paid and unpaid off-campus academic internships and practicums during their degree program. The purpose of CPT is academic, not just for employment purposes, and the internship/practicum must be considered an integral part of a student’s degree program.

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Eligibility Requirements

Valid F-1 Student Status
  • Must have properly maintained F-1 status each semester.
  • Must be full-time enrolled for the semester they wish to pursue the CPT. The only exception to this is during student’s final semester. Refer to the “Hours of Employment” section for details. Students who were granted CPT but subsequently drop below the full course load will need to stop working immediately and notify OIS of this change.
  • Students must successfully complete all internship courses to be eligible for current and future CPT authorizations.
  • Students can work remotely at home in the U.S. if the employer allows it and the student adheres to the in-person requirements of their courses.
  • Students must have been in F-1 student status for at least one academic year in a degree-seeking program before they can apply for CPT. There are two exceptions to this regulation.
    1. Students who attended another school in the U.S. as an F-1 student and transferred their SEVIS record to USC. These students must submit copies of their previous school’s I-20 and official transcripts to ois@usc.edu for review.
      • Students cannot use CPT as a way to continue OPT/STEM OPT employment that has since ended. CPT must be an integral part of the new degree program’s established curriculum. Therefore, students who transfer to USC upon completion of OPT/STEM OPT or during a period of OPT/STEM OPT at previous school must wait at least one semester to apply for CPT at USC.
    2. Students who are enrolled in degree programs that require an internship or practicum hours in their first year to fulfill degree requirements and is stated as such in the USC Catalogue. Students in the following master’s degree programs DO NOT need to fulfill the one academic year requirement in order to apply for CPT (list subject to change without prior notice):
Annenberg: Global CommunicationPrice: Urban Planning
Cinematic Arts: Peter Stark ProgramPrice: Health Administration
Dornsife: Applied Behavior AnalysisPrice: Public Administration (Pre-service designation only)
Dornsife: Applied PsychologySuzanne Dworak-Peck: Social Work
Keck: Physical TherapyViterbi/Keck: Wireless Health Technology
Keck: Speech-Language PathologyViterbi: Health Systems Management Engineering (ISE 509 only)
Marshall: IBEAR MBA
Must have internship offer
  • Students must have a specific job/internship offer.
  • Job must be related to student’s major.
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Internship Course Registration

  • Students must register for an internship course or a class that requires an internship at USC during the semester they wish to do CPT. Successful completion of the course is required to be considered for future CPT authorizations.
  • Students who are enrolled in degree programs that require an internship or practicum hours to fulfill degree requirements (must be stated as such in the USC Catalogue) are exempt from registering in an internship course for CPT purposes. Students in the following master’s degree programs DO NOT need to register for an internship course in order to apply for CPT (list subject to change without prior notice):
    Cinematic Arts: Peter Stark Program Price: Health Administration
    Keck: Physical Therapy Price: Public Administration
    Price: Urban Planning Ostrow: Advanced Pediatric Dentistry
  • Selecting the appropriate internship course
    • Graduate Students:
      • Students must register for the internship course that is offered by their academic department. They can submit the completed Request for D-Clearance Form to their department staff advisor for review.
        • Graduate engineering students: register for the appropriate ENGR course. Viterbi students must follow the CPT instructions on the Viterbi Career Connections (VCC) website.
        • Graduate business students: Register for ACCT, BAEP, BUCO, DSO, FBE, MKT, or MOR 595. Visit Marshall’s website for additional information and the registration application form.
    • Undergraduate Students:
      • Register for MDA 250, a general internship class through USC Dornsife (unless academic department has a specific internship course).
Please note:
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Hours of Employment

Part-Time (20 hours per week or fewer): Students are limited to part-time CPT during the fall and spring terms. 

Full-Time CPT (21 hours per week or more): Students are eligible for full-time CPT authorization under the following circumstances:

  • Summer Term
    • Students may qualify for full-time CPT during the summer term. 
      If summer is the final semester, the Half-Time Enrollment rules apply (see below).

  • Final Semester with Half-Time Enrollment
    • During their final semester, students may qualify for full-time CPT only if their total course load, including the internship course, does not exceed half-time enrollment.

      Half-time enrollment is defined as:
      • Undergraduate: 6 units or fewer 
      • Graduate: 4 units or fewer, or only 1 remaining course.
        • Graduate students with one final course may qualify for full-time CPT if the final course + internship course does not exceed 5 units total. 
          (Example: 4-unit final course + 1-unit internship course = 5 units → Eligible)

  • Graduate Students at the Thesis/Dissertation Stage
    • Graduate students who have completed all required coursework and are enrolled only in thesis/dissertation units (594/794) may qualify for full-time CPT during the fall or spring term.
    • Restriction: PhD students are not eligible for CPT during any fall or spring term in which they hold a 50% Graduate Assistantship appointment (Teaching Assistant/Research Assistant/Grader).

Concurrent CPT and On-Campus Employment

  • Students can participate in CPT and on-campus employment concurrently, provided that such employment does not impede satisfactory academic progress.
  • Restriction: PhD students are not eligible for CPT during any fall or spring term in which they hold a 50% Graduate Assistantship appointment (Teaching Assistant/Research Assistant/Grader).
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Duration of Authorization

CPT authorization is given on a semester basis and students must apply separately for each semester they wish to do CPT. CPT is only authorized for the dates of the specific semester. CPT I-20 start dates will be listed either as the requested start date or the approval date, whichever is later. Restrictions on end dates may occur based on the start of RA/TA positions. Program extensions will not be granted for the purpose of CPT. Current start and end dates for CPT are below (dates not guaranteed).

  Fall 2025  Spring 2026 Summer 2026
If this is your final semesterAug 25 – Dec 17Jan 12 – May 15May 18- Aug 11
If this is NOT your final semesterAug 25 – Jan 9Jan 12 – May 15May 18 – Aug 21

CPT and OPT

CPT does not interfere with students’ eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduation unless they have done a total of 12 months full-time CPT during their degree program. In this case, they would lose the option to do OPT. Amounts under the 12 months full-time DO NOT cancel any portion of OPT.

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CPT Application Process

CPT I-20 Request
CPT I-20 Request (Viterbi students)
  1. Student secures an internship offer.
  2. Student enrolls in a full course load or indicates that they are in their final semester on the CPT request
  3. Student registers for internship course, if applicable. If D-Clearance is required, the student will register after Step 5 is completed.
  4. Student completes the Curricular Practical Training (CPT) I-20 Request Form and attach an internship offer letter for review by their Academic Advisor/Internship Coordinator.
  5. Academic Advisor/Internship Coordinator signs CPT I-20 Request Form and gives D-Clearance (if applicable) for internship course registration
  6. OIS emails electronically signed CPT authorization I-20 to the student within four business days.
    • CPT authorization and employment information will be annotated on page 2 or 3 of the CPT I-20
    • Student must review CPT authorization to ensure accuracy
  7. If the student does not have a Social Security Number (SSN), they should visit the Social Security Administration Office at 1122 W Washington Blvd #201, Los Angeles, CA 90015  (800) 772-1213 with their employment letter, CPT I-20 and passport.
  8. Student begins working on CPT.
    • Student may not begin working until s/he has received the CPT I-20 from OIS and the employment start date has been reached
IMPORTANT:
  • CPT application deadline is the last/add-drop date of each semester unless student is able to add the internship course with special permission—at the discretion of academic department.
  • CPT authorization is employer-specific and is valid for the student’s current employer only. If the student changes jobs, s/he will need to apply for a new CPT authorization.
  • Students must keep all original copies of CPT I-20s as they will be required for future USCIS applications such as OPT, H1Bs, and permanent residency.
  • Working improperly or without authorization is a serious violation of F1 status.
  • CPT cannot be issued for employers that do not have a physical presence in the U.S. The employer must have a U.S.-based office or operations and a physical address to be eligible for CPT. Students working for non-U.S.-based companies while physically present in the U.S. without proper work authorization violate their F-1 status.
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