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International Student and Scholar Services

CPT for Employers

What is CPT?

CPT stands for Curricular Practical Training. It is a type of work authorization for F-1 students who are currently pursuing degree programs at ISU and have completed one academic year.

CPT is often used for internship and practicum experiences, and the primary purpose is educational.

CPT is authorized by ISSS only for the specific employer, location, and dates listed on page 2 of the student’s I-20

Student’s Role

  • It is the student’s responsibility to determine if they are eligible for CPT
  • It is the student’s responsibility to apply for CPT through ISSS
  • The student must be enrolled in credit associated with the CPT work experience
  • As part of the application process, the student must upload a job offer letter that contains ALL of the following data points:
    • Job Title
    • Specific Start Date
    • Specific End Date
    • Specific Number of Hours Per Week
    • Address of Employment Work Site
    • Description of the Work to be Performed

Employer’s Role

  • There is no cost to you as an employer to hire an F-1 student.
  • Provide a job offer letter (see above for what must be included).
    • NOTE: If your offer letter template is missing required information, you can provide the missing information in an email to the student from a company representative.
  • Provide supervision and mentorship to enhance the student’s overall academic experience.

Timing Considerations

  • ISSS will need 10 business days to authorize CPT.
  • Students must submit a CPT application each semester they will be working (see the ISU Academic Calendar for dates).
  • Students cannot begin work until they have their CPT I-20.
  • Any work outside the approved CPT dates is unauthorized and could affect the student’s legal status.

Hiring Paperwork

  • Employers should request a copy of the student’s CPT I-20 for I-9 purposes.
  • Employers can refer to the F-1 Students section of the I-9 Handbook for Employers for instructions on how to complete the Form I-9 for an F-1 student on CPT.
  • The CPT employment end date listed on page 2 of the student’s I-20 is the date their CPT employment authorization expires.
  • Many F-1 students will have a Social Security Card from prior on-campus employment. However, if the student does not yet have a Social Security Card, they will need to apply for one. The student can begin working while they wait for their SSN card to arrive.
  • F-1 students who have been in the U.S. for less than five years are generally exempt from FICA (Social Security and Medicare) tax withholdings on their wages.

Additional Resources