Curricular Practical Training
What is CPT | CPT Eligibility | Details for CPT | When To Apply
We encourage students to watch the CPT Video Series about Curricular Practical Training to learn about this benefit of their F-1 visa.
What is CPT?
Curricular Practical Training is an opportunity for students on F-1 visas to learn practical skills related to their majors while studying at the University of Washington. CPT serves as a work authorization as students engage in different types of activities related to their major. Common forms of CPT are listed below:
- Employment directly connected to your major
- A paid or unpaid internship
- A Cooperative (co-op) education experience
- Participation in a Practicum
CPT Eligibility
Students are eligible for CPT when they meet the following requirements:
- Have active F-1 status.
- CPT cannot begin before the start date of an I-20 document.
- Have completed one year (three academic quarters) of full-time academic study in the U.S.
- Are making normal academic progress.
- Have obtained a job/internship offer letter by the time you request CPT.
- You will be asked to submit a copy of your Job Offer Letter with your request in MyISSS. We have a CPT Job Offer Letter Template if you or your employer need one.
- Are registered for CPT credits for the internship/job offer
- Note: Some programs may have required internships/practicums that may not require credits. You will note this exception in your CPT application.
Details for CPT
- Hours
- Part-time CPT is 20 hours per week or less.
- Full-time CPT is over 20 hours a week.
- Changes to CPT
- Any changes to your CPT (i.e. shortening CPT, canceling CPT, or extending CPT) require a new application that must be approved by your academic department.
- Course Registration
- As CPT is curricular, you will need to be registered for your CPT courses to obtain CPT authorization from ISS.
- CPT authorizations that overlap do not require a credit for each authorization.
- Deferring CPT Credit
- Students doing CPT in summer (annual vacation quarter) may defer credit to autumn quarter (with approval from the student’s academic department).
- ISS will not approve CPT without autumn quarter enrollment.
- Timing
- No CPT authorization can extend into two quarters.
- Extending CPT into a new quarter requires a new CPT application and new credits.
- CPT can continue into breaks, if authorized.
- No CPT authorization can extend into two quarters.
When to Apply
- First register for your CPT credit.
- After you register for your CPT credit, submit your CPT application to ISS.
CPT Quarter | Winter 2023 | Spring 2023 | Summer 2023
(Dates only for if you plan to take CPT credit in summer 2023) |
Class registration opens; ISS begins accepting CPT applications: | November 4 | February 10 | April 10 |
CPT Authorization Dates:
- These are the earliest and latest possible CPT authorization dates for each quarter.
- Quarter breaks can be included before or after a quarter’s CPT request.
- Internships/jobs longer than one quarter require two separate CPT applications.
CPT Quarter: | Autumn 2022 | Winter 2023 | Spring 2023 | Summer 2023 |
Earliest possible start date: | August 20, 2022 | December 17, 2022 | March 18, 2023 | June 10, 2023 |
Latest possible end date: | January 2, 2023 | March 26, 2023 | June 18, 2023 | September 26, 2023 |