Curricular practical training

Curricular practical training (CPT) is F-1 work integral to an established curriculum: internship, co-op, or required practicum. The DSO authorizes a named employer on a new I-20. There is no I-765 and no EAD. CPT exists only during the program, not after the end date (ICE Study in the States).

Will a summer internship use up my OPT?+

A standard 10-week full-time internship usually will not. ICE bars OPT at that degree level only after 12 months or more of full-time CPT (more than 20 hours per week). Part-time CPT does not trigger the bar. Stacking a summer plus a full-time academic-year residency can. Pre-completion OPT would spend the post-MBA bank; CPT is the usual internship tool for that reason.

CPT vs OPT

	CPT	OPT	Source / date
Timing	In program	Pre- and/or post-completion	ICE / USCIS
Authorizer	DSO only	DSO recommends; USCIS issues EAD	ICE / USCIS
Employer	Named on I-20	Related to major	ICE / USCIS
I-765 / EAD	No	Yes	USCIS
12 months full-time	Bars OPT at that level	N/A	ICE SEVIS

Work starts only after the I-20 shows those CPT dates. Working before the start date or after the end date is unauthorized employment. Changing employers needs a new authorization. Students generally need one academic year of full-time enrollment first, with limited exceptions for programs that require immediate training.

Example: 10-week, 40-hour consulting internship between MBA years, listed as an established course. DSO issues an I-20 naming that firm. After graduation the student still has 12 months of OPT. A 12-month full-time “residency” CPT would have killed OPT, and STEM OPT could not attach.

Common errors

• Using CPT after the program end date
• Treating a DSO email as authorization without the endorsed I-20
• Calling a full-time academic-year internship “part-time” because it is for credit
• Filing I-765 for CPT

FAQ

Does a summer MBA internship require OPT?+

Usually no. CPT is the in-program tool. Pre-completion OPT spends the post-MBA grant.

Can I CPT for two employers at once?+

Only if each is authorized. CPT is employer-specific. Concurrent authorizations depend on whether both are integral to the curriculum.

Is unpaid CPT still CPT?+

If it is training integral to the curriculum, the DSO still authorizes it. “Unpaid” does not make unauthorized work lawful.

What if I already used 12 months of full-time CPT?+

You are ineligible for OPT at that degree level. STEM OPT extends OPT, so it is also unavailable at that level.