Curricular Practical Training
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a temporary work authorization for F-1 students who have been enrolled full time in a degree program for at least one academic year. It can be used for internships or co-ops directly related to your major. For general CPT rules, see the Penn State Global website.
If you have a qualifying offer, our office can help with the CPT process. Please note:
- On-campus part-time work does not require CPT.
- If you will graduate before the job begins, you are not eligible for CPT and must instead pursue Optional Practical Training (OPT). Please contact International Students and Scholars Advising (ISSA) for questions about OPT.
Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate engineering students are eligible for CPT for full-time internships or co-op rotations during summer semesters only; internships for fall or spring semesters must be either fully virtual or part-time (20 hours per week or fewer) and students must concurrently enroll in a full load of resident instruction (on-campus) courses.
Step 1: Get an Offer Letter
Your offer letter must be on official company letterhead and must include:
- Job title (e.g., Electrical Engineering Intern)
- Employer name and full worksite address, including street name/number, city, state, and ZIP code
- Address where you will be physically located if work is remote or hybrid, including street name/number, city, state, and ZIP code
- Exact start and end dates of employment (e.g., May 14–August 10, 20xx)
- Hours of work per week
- A list of detailed job duties clearly related to your major
For co-op offers, the letter must mention both intended work semesters so we can verify that the offer is for a rotational experience. For example, an offer letter should state that the offer is "for a summer 20xx and summer 20yy co-op." Employers may include a clause stating that they intend to bring you back for at least two co-op rotations "if business conditions and student performance permit."
Please highlight or circle all these items within your offer letter to make the review and approval quicker and easier.
Step 2: Complete the Employment Survey
Complete the Employment Survey and upload:
- Offer letter
- Job description, if separate from the offer letter
- An email from your academic adviser confirming the number of remaining credits in your degree program
Do not upload a degree audit.
You will choose from the following course options on the Employment Survey depending on the terms of your offer:
- ENGR 185: Internship less than 10 weeks in duration or less than 20 work hours per week; may work in summer semester onsite or fall or spring semester if work is local or virtual
- ENGR 195: Internship, 10–12 weeks in duration and 20–40 hours per week; may work in summer only
- ENGR 295: First co-op rotation, 10–12 weeks in duration and 20–40 hours per week; may work in summer only
- ENGR 395: Second co-op rotation, 10–12 weeks in duration and 20–40 hours per week; may work in summer only
- ENGR 495: Third or subsequent co-op rotation, 10–12 weeks in duration and 20–40 hours per week; may work in summer only
You must complete a new Employment Survey for each semester in which you plan to work.
Once you have completed the Employment Survey, we will review your documents and—if they meet ISSA requirements for CPT—we will enroll you in your requested course and notify you when you have been enrolled.
Step 3: Complete the Curricular Practical Training eForm in iStart
Complete the CPT eForm in iStart. As part of this process, you will need to have an academic recommendation completed by a Penn State faculty or staff member.
If you are a student in the College of Engineering:
- Please designate Carmen Bilén, Associate Director, Engineering Career Resources & Employer Relations (cpb10@psu.edu) (rather than your academic adviser) to complete your academic recommendation.
- After your recommendation has been completed and submitted, you will receive an automated confirmation email message.
If you are an engineering student in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences:
- You must work with your academic adviser and/or department head on this process; please review the EMS information for international students.
- After your recommendation has been completed and submitted, you will receive an automated email message.
Step 4: Pay for the Course
Once you see the course on your schedule for the appropriate semester, submit payment.
Step 5: Wait for ISSA Approval
You should expect ISSA's review and approval of your CPT to take place within 12–15 business days of receipt of the academic recommendation. Note that delays may occur during peak times, especially at the end of the spring semester.
If your CPT request is approved, an ISSA adviser will contact you directly when your new I-20 is ready. Please do not make any financial commitments—booking airfare, signing an apartment lease, etc.—until you have the new I-20 in hand.
If your CPT request is not approved, please notify us as soon as possible so we can cancel your enrollment in the internship or co-op course and help you avoid a financial penalty.
Graduate Students
Rules for graduate CPT depend on your program, funding source(s), thesis status, and work type.
Fall or Spring Work Experiences
You may be eligible if:
- The internship is required for graduation for all students in your program.
- The internship is part-time (20 hours per week) and allows you to work either locally or remotely while taking a full load of resident instruction courses.
- You are using the internship to collect data for your thesis (if you are completing a thesis as a degree requirement).
If your internship meets one or more of these criteria, please follow the instructions below to obtain CPT.
Step 1: Get an Offer Letter
Your offer letter must be on official company letterhead and must include:
- Job title (e.g., Electrical Engineering Intern)
- Employer name and full worksite address, including street name/number, city, state, and ZIP code
- Address where you will be physically located if work is remote or hybrid, including street name/number, city, state, and ZIP code
- Exact start and end dates of employment (e.g., May 14–August 10, 20xx)
- Hours of work per week
- A list of detailed job duties clearly related to your program of study
Please highlight or circle all these items within your offer letter to make the review and approval quicker and easier.
Step 2: Complete the Employment Survey
Complete the Employment Survey and upload:
- Offer letter
- Job description, if separate from the offer letter
- An email from your academic adviser confirming the number of remaining credits in your degree program
Do not upload a degree audit.
For your internship course option on the Employment Survey, you may choose:
- ENGR 595: Internship, 10–12 weeks in duration and 20–40 hours per week
- Departmental research course (e.g., 601 level)
NOTE: If you are being funded by an assistantship, you must take ENGR 595.
Once you have completed the Employment Survey, we will review your documents to ensure that they meet ISSA requirements for CPT. If you have requested ENGR 595, we will enroll you in the course and notify you when you have been enrolled. If you plan to enroll in departmental credit, you should do so independently or seek departmental assistance in doing so.
Step 3: Complete the Curricular Practical Training eForm in iStart
Complete the CPT eForm in iStart. As part of this process, your departmental or thesis adviser will need to complete an academic recommendation form that is required for CPT. Guidelines for advisers can be found here.
After your recommendation has been completed and submitted, you will receive an automated confirmation email message. Forward this confirmation email to our office so we can update your Employment Survey.
Step 4: Pay for the Course
Once you see the course on your schedule for the appropriate semester, submit payment.
Step 5: Wait for ISSA Approval
You should expect ISSA's review and approval of your CPT to take place within 12–15 business days of receipt of the academic recommendation. Note that delays may occur during peak times, especially at the end of the spring semester.
If your CPT request is approved, an ISSA adviser will contact you directly when your new I-20 is ready. Please do not make any financial commitments—booking airfare, signing an apartment lease, etc.—until you have the new I-20 in hand.
If your CPT request is not approved, please notify us as soon as possible so we can cancel your registration in the internship course and help you avoid a financial penalty.
Summer Work Experiences
Step 1: Get an Offer Letter
Your offer letter must be on official company letterhead and must include:
- Job title (e.g., Electrical Engineering Intern)
- Employer name and full worksite address, including street name/number, city, state, and ZIP code
- Address where you will be physically located if work is remote or hybrid, including street name/number, city, state, and ZIP code
- Exact start and end dates of employment (e.g., May 14–August 10, 20xx)
- Hours of work per week
- A list of detailed job duties clearly related to your program of study
Please highlight or circle all these items within your offer letter to make the review and approval quicker and easier.
Step 2: Complete the Employment Survey
Complete the Employment Survey and upload:
- Offer letter
- Job description, if separate from the offer letter
- An email from your academic adviser confirming the number of remaining credits in your degree program
Do not upload a degree audit.
For your internship course option on the Employment Survey, you may choose:
- ENGR 595: Internship, 10–12 weeks in duration and 20–40 hours per week
- Departmental research course (e.g., 601 level)
NOTE: If you are being funded by an assistantship, you must take ENGR 595.
Once you have completed the Employment Survey, we will review your documents to ensure that they meet ISSA requirements for CPT. If you have requested ENGR 595, we will enroll you in the course and notify you when you have been enrolled. If you plan to enroll in departmental credit, you should do so independently or seek departmental assistance in doing so.
Step 3: Complete the Curricular Practical Training eForm in iStart
Complete the CPT eForm in iStart. As part of this process, your departmental or thesis adviser will need to complete an academic recommendation form that is required for CPT. Guidelines for advisers can be found here.
After your recommendation has been completed and submitted, you will receive an automated confirmation email message. Forward this confirmation email to our office so we can update your Employment Survey.
Step 4: Pay for the Course
Once you see the course on your schedule for the appropriate semester, submit payment.
Step 5: Wait for ISSA Approval
You should expect ISSA's review and approval of your CPT to take place within 12–15 business days of receipt of the academic recommendation. Note that delays may occur during peak times, especially at the end of the spring semester.
If your CPT request is approved, an ISSA adviser will contact you directly when your new I-20 is ready. Please do not make any financial commitments—booking airfare, signing an apartment lease, etc.—until you have the new I-20 in hand.
If your CPT request is not approved, please notify us as soon as possible so we can cancel your registration in the internship course and help you avoid a financial penalty.
Sample Offer Letter/Job Description
See an example of an offer letter (including job description) that meets ISSA requirements for CPT. Feel free to share this sample with your employer if you are having difficulty obtaining offer materials that meet the requirements.
