- If a student’s academic program requires immediate participation in Curricular Practical Training (CPT), then the first academic year requirement can be waived. This is very rare, as most academic programs do not require that CPT be done in the first academic year.
- F-1 students are not permitted to finish their program by only doing CPT. Students doing CPT during their last term must have remaining academic work that is required for completion of their degree. This academic work typically comes from the student's enrolment in courses, which are additional to the work that students do during CPT.
- Graduate students working on their thesis/dissertation only receive CPT approval if the CPT work is integral to the completion of their thesis/dissertation. This CPT would need to be approved by both the graduate student's thesis advisor and his/her/their school's dean.
- F-1 graduate coursework students are not permitted to do CPT in their last semester and need to apply for Pre-Completion Optional Practical Training (Pre-OPT) should they wish to work off-campus in their last semester.
- An F-1 student making up an incomplete is not eligible for CPT.
- A student completing their program in the summer is not permitted to do CPT unless they are a graduate thesis student who has work that is required for the completion of their degree.
- CPT is authorized per academic semester by the ISSO and USCIS. CPT work authorization should fall within the semester dates.
- Each F-1 CPT work authorization must be registered on a student's transcript. CPT must count for a minimum of one credit (as per department requirements). CPT can only count for zero credit if it is required for completion of degree as per the course catalog.
- If an F-1 student uses 12 months of full-time CPT, they will not be eligible for Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (Post OPT). However, 12 months of part-time CPT will not prohibit a student's eligibility for Post OPT.
