Program Overview

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is defined in the Code of Federal Regulations as "alternate work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school" [8CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i)].

Student Eligibility Requirements

To apply for CPT, a student must:

• Be a full-time student in the US in a valid non-immigrant status for at least one full academic year (fall and spring semesters, excluding summer);
• Be maintaining F-1 status for at least one full academic semester (fall or spring, excluding summer) at the time of application;
• Have declared a major (undergraduates);
• Have completed at least one academic semester at Mason in the degree program for which the CPT is being requested;
• Be making good academic progress towards the degree, and eligible to graduate or enroll in the next semester;
• Be enrolled for a full course of study on campus while engaged in CPT during required academic terms (fall, spring, and summer if last semester of program).

Position Eligibility Requirements

A training opportunity may be considered for CPT authorization if:

• The student will be supervised by an expert who can serve as a mentor for the student's learning and training experience;
• The position is directly related to the student's major field of study and commensurate with the student's level of study;
• The experience provides training that will allow the student to apply concepts learned in his/her degree program in a practical setting.

Part-Time and Full-Time CPT

• Part-time CPT: 20 hours per week or fewer
• Full-time CPT: more than 20 hours per week

Types of CPT

Starting in Fall 2020, CPT is only authorized for training opportunities that are for credit or required to complete the degree.

• Internship/Practicum CPT: Undergraduate students and Master's/PhD students taking required coursework who are enrolled in a program that offers a departmental internship/practicum course must enroll in at least one credit of the internship/practicum course in order to apply for CPT in the term that they will be participating in the internship.
• Thesis/Dissertation CPT: Master's/PhD students enrolled only in 799/999 are only eligible to complete Thesis/Dissertation CPT. The training opportunity must be required for students to complete their Thesis/Dissertation.
• Required Training With No Internship Course CPT: Undergraduate students and Master's/PhD students still enrolled in coursework who are enrolled in a program that requires an internship as outlined in the George Mason University Catalog but the program does not offer an internship/practicum course for credit must apply for Required Training With No Internship Course CPT.

CPT with On Campus Employment

Students may participate in both on-campus employment and CPT simultaneously. CPT is directly fulfilling an academic course requirement and may be a paid or unpaid position.

Application Steps

To receive CPT authorization, follow these steps:

1. Meet with an OIPS advisor to be pre-approved for CPT.
2. Complete the CPT Application on the OIPS website.
3. Provide required documents, which vary depending on the type of CPT.

Required Documents

Based on the type of CPT, required documents may include:

• Offer Letter
• Proof of enrollment in internship/practicum course
• Proof of enrollment in 799/999
• Thesis/Dissertation Letter from Advisor
• GA Supervisor Letter of Support
• Entry from George Mason University Catalog

Maintaining F-1 Status and Full-Time Enrollment

CPT is available only to F-1 students in legal status. To maintain status, students must:

• Register for a full course of study every fall and spring
• Maintain a valid passport at all times
• Update address in Patriotweb within 10 days of moving

Difference between CPT and OPT

Both CPT and OPT involve training related to a student's major field of study. The primary difference is that CPT is "curricular," meaning it is a requirement for completing the academic program, a for-credit course, or undertaken to gather data for the master's thesis or doctoral dissertation. Practical training that does not meet one of these requirements would be considered optional and fall under the OPT category.

Unpaid Internships

Unpaid internships are governed by immigration law and labor law. To be unpaid, an internship must meet specific criteria, including:

1. The internship is similar to training given in an educational environment.
2. The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern.
3. The intern does not displace regular employees but works under close supervision.
4. The employer derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern.
5. The intern is not entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship.
6. The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the time spent in the internship.