Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

CPT is primarily viewed from a curricular perspective and only secondarily from an employment perspective. It is driven by the requirements of the program's curriculum, not the student’s desire for employment. Because of this, CPT is not available to all F-1 students. Accordingly, CPT must fulfill a specific academic objective that is directly tied to the student's program of study. Employment sought solely because it is beneficial, relevant, or provides valuable professional or personal experience does not qualify for CPT authorization.

Eligibility Requirements

• Student must have been lawfully enrolled full-time in a degree-granting program and physically present in the U.S. for at least one full academic year (3 quarters or 2 semesters) before becoming eligible for CPT. (There is an exception for graduate students whose programs require immediate participation in CPT.)
• You must have an internship or training offer that is directly related to your field of study.
•  The practical training must be required for all students to graduate from your program, regardless of immigration status. If there is a course associated with the practical training requirement, you must be registered in the corresponding co-op, internship, practicum, or practical training course during the term your CPT is authorized, unless otherwise specified by your school's curriculum.
• CPT is limited to 20 hours per week, except for:
  • Students registered for full-time co-op programs
  • Students participating in CPT during an approved vacation or break term
  • Students whose programs require full-time practical training (for example, to meet minimum clinical hour requirements)
• CPT must not cause a delay in the completion of studies.
• CPT cannot continue beyond a student's graduation date or I-20 end date.*
  *Important Note: There is a DHS Final Rule scheduled to go into effect September 15, 2026. According to the final rule, students will receive a fixed Admit Until Date (AUD) when entering the U.S., and cannot continue employment beyond this date unless they timely file an Extension of Stay (EOS) with USCIS prior to their AUD expiration. Students who timely file will be permitted to continue employment (including existing CPT) for up to 240 days while the EOS is pending with USCIS.

Procedure

• Students participating in the cooperative education program must first meet with their Steinbright Career Development Center Co-op Advisor to initiate the CPT process.
• Students who are not participating in the cooperative education program must meet with their academic advisor to confirm that the proposed CPT is required for their academic program's established curriculum.
• PhD students requesting CPT for off-campus work related to their dissertation must submit secondary approval from the Office of Graduate Studies and a written statement from their PhD advisor explaining why the off-campus training is required to complete their dissertation.
• Once the student has confirmed whether their practical training opportunity can be used to fulfill their degree requirements, they must submit their CPT application to ISSS for final review. CPT application forms can be found on the ISSS Student Portal.

Duration of CPT

• CPT start and end dates are driven by official term start and end dates as listed in the Drexel academic calendar. Students may not engage in CPT-related employment activities before the official CPT start date.
• Extensions beyond the last day of the term (for example, during break week) may be considered by ISSS on a case-by-case basis; however, such extensions cannot continue into the following term.
• Term-by-term CPT authorization is required for all non-Steinbright Career Development Center-designated experiential education programs. On the other hand, CPT for Steinbright Career Development Center-designated co-op programs are authorized according to the established co-op cycle dates.
• Use of full-time CPT for one year (364 days) or more eliminates eligibility for Optional Practical Training. Use of part-time CPT or international co-op (see below) does not affect eligibility for Optional Practical Training.

Training which may not require CPT:

Under F-1 on-campus employment regulations, F-1 students may work up to 20 hours per week on-campus while maintaining valid F-1 student status at the institution sponsoring their F-1 visa without additional work authorization. Students who will complete practical training requirements on Drexel’s campus as defined by F-1 on-campus employment regulations do not need additional CPT authorization. Exception: Students who are required to work over 20 hours per week on-campus as part of their curricular requirements must still apply for CPT. See our On-Campus Employment Website for more information. 

Students who complete an international co-op or other training with an employer abroad are not required to apply for CPT if their employment will take place entirely outside of the United States. However, students may NOT work remotely while physically present in the U.S. without proper work authorization, regardless of where the employer is located.