What is Curricular Practical Training and what does the latest ICE memo on CPT mean? A guide for F-1 students

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a form of work authorisation that allows F-1 international students in the US to take up internships, cooperative education and other practical training linked to their degree programme. The training must be related to the student’s major and form an integral part of the academic curriculum. Students must receive approval from their university and obtain a CPT-endorsed I-20 before starting work.

Also Read| US immigration authorities tighten scrutiny of student work permits; warns colleges over improper CPT approvals

The US has not abolished Curricular Practical Training (CPT), but new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) guidance has led some universities to pause a widely used form of CPT. UC Berkeley and UC Davis have suspended new applications for “Course Credit CPT”, while continuing to process CPT that is a formal requirement of a student’s degree.


The changes could affect international students, including Indians, who depend on CPT for internships, practical training and paid work experience during their studies.

What is CPT?

Curricular Practical Training, or CPT, is work authorisation for F-1 international students in the US.

It allows eligible students to take part in paid or unpaid practical training, including:

• Internships
• Cooperative education programmes
• Practicums
• Work-based research
• Other employment linked to the student’s academic programme

CPT is available only while a student is pursuing a degree. It cannot be used after the student completes the programme. The training must be related to the student’s major and form an academic part of the curriculum.

What is the difference between CPT and OPT?

CPT is used during the degree programme. Optional Practical Training (OPT) is generally used before or after graduation.

CPT is authorised by the university’s Designated School Official (DSO), while OPT requires approval from US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

A student must receive CPT authorisation before starting work. The authorisation is recorded on an updated Form I-20.

OPT is usually available for up to 12 months after graduation. Students in eligible STEM fields may qualify for a further 24-month STEM OPT extension.

What are the two types of CPT?

Universities generally classify CPT into two categories.

Degree-Requirement CPT

This applies when practical training is compulsory for every student in a particular degree programme.

For example, an internship, practicum, clinical placement, field study or industry project may be required for graduation.

Under this arrangement, the student must complete the training to obtain the degree. UC Berkeley and UC Davis have said they will continue processing this type of CPT.

Course Credit CPT

This applies when a student receives academic credit for an internship or practical training, even though the training is not compulsory for graduation.

A student may enrol in an internship, independent study or field-study course and receive credit for related employment.

This is the category that Berkeley and Davis have paused after the latest ICE guidance.

What did ICE say?

On August 12, 2026, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which operates under ICE, issued a broadcast message titled “Reminder of Liability for DSOs Regarding CPT Authorization”.

The memo reminded DSOs that CPT can be authorised only when the training is an “integral part of an established curriculum” and directly related to the student’s major.

It said CPT cannot be approved only to provide employment or work experience that is not formally recognised as part of the academic programme.

The memo also warned that schools and individual officials could face consequences if they approve CPT applications that do not meet federal requirements. Schools could face additional scrutiny, while their certification to enrol international students could potentially be withdrawn.

Why have universities paused Course Credit CPT?

Universities are concerned about the responsibility placed on DSOs who approve CPT.

Course Credit CPT may be connected to a student’s major and may provide academic credit, but it is not necessarily required for graduation. Under the stricter interpretation of “integral”, universities may now have to show that the training is an essential part of the established curriculum.

Rather than assess the risk of every application individually, some universities have temporarily stopped accepting new Course Credit CPT applications.

This does not mean that all CPT has ended.

Also Read| UC Berkeley, UC Davis pause Course Credit CPT applications after ICE warning

Which universities have announced a pause?

UC Berkeley

The Berkeley International Office says Course Credit CPT is “temporarily unavailable” because of ICE guidance concerning the liability of school officials.

Berkeley’s CPT page says that, from August 12, 2026, Course Credit CPT will not be authorised. It continues to list and process Degree-Requirement CPT for eligible programmes.

Berkeley has also told students that they must have the CPT-authorised I-20 before beginning employment. CPT cannot be backdated.

UC Davis

UC Davis’s Services for International Students and Scholars announced on August 19 that it was temporarily suspending all Course Credit CPT applications until further notice.

The university said it would continue processing Degree-Requirement CPT.

Students whose Course Credit CPT applications had already been fully processed and who had received a CPT I-20 were not affected by the pause, according to the university.

Does this affect all international students in the US?

No. The pause announced by Berkeley and Davis does not automatically apply to every university.

Each institution decides how to implement CPT within the federal framework. However, all SEVP-certified schools received the ICE guidance, so universities may review their own CPT policies.

Some schools may continue Course Credit CPT with additional documentation. Others may pause it or limit it to programmes where the training is clearly required for graduation.

Students must check their own university’s international office rather than assume that a policy announced at another institution applies to them.

What is “Day 1 CPT”?

“Day 1 CPT” is an informal term used for programmes that allow eligible students to begin CPT soon after starting a new academic programme.

Normally, F-1 students must complete one full academic year before becoming eligible for CPT. There are limited exceptions, including graduate programmes where practical training is required from the beginning.

The latest ICE guidance does not create a separate legal category called “Day 1 CPT”. Instead, it reinforces the requirement that the training must be genuinely integral to an established curriculum.

A programme that appears to use CPT mainly to provide employment, rather than as part of academic training, may face greater scrutiny.

What are the basic eligibility requirements?

Although university rules differ, students generally must:

• Hold valid F-1 status
• Be enrolled in an eligible academic programme
• Have completed one full academic year, unless an exception applies
• Obtain a qualifying job or internship related to their major
• Show how the training fits into the curriculum
• Receive approval from the academic department and DSO
• Obtain a new I-20 with CPT authorisation before starting work

The job must be related to the student’s current programme. A student cannot use CPT for unrelated employment.

How many hours can students work?

During the autumn and spring semesters, CPT is generally limited to part-time work of up to 20 hours a week.

Full-time CPT may be allowed during official university vacation periods, subject to the student’s eligibility and university rules.

Degree-Requirement CPT may have different limits if full-time training is necessary to meet the academic requirement.

The exact dates and number of hours must appear on the student’s CPT authorisation. Working beyond the authorised dates or hours can create immigration problems.

Can students work before receiving CPT approval?

No.

Students must not begin employment until they have received an updated I-20 showing CPT authorisation. An offer letter or a pending application is not enough.

Unauthorised employment can violate F-1 status and may affect future immigration benefits, including OPT and other visa applications.

Will students with an existing CPT I-20 be affected?

Not necessarily.

UC Davis said students whose applications had already been fully processed and who had received a CPT I-20 could continue with the opportunity listed on that document.

However, students should confirm their position with their DSO, particularly if they want to extend, change or renew their CPT.

A student should not assume that an earlier authorisation covers a new employer, new role or new period of employment.

Can CPT affect future OPT eligibility?

Yes.

A student who uses 12 months or more of full-time CPT at the same degree level becomes ineligible for post-completion OPT.

Part-time CPT does not count towards the 12-month limit in the same way. Even so, extensive CPT use may attract additional scrutiny when a student later applies for OPT, a visa or another immigration benefit.

Students should retain copies of all CPT I-20s and documents showing the academic basis of their training.

What does the pause mean for Indian students?

Indian students form one of the largest groups of international students in the US and many use internships and practical training to gain work experience during their degrees.

The immediate effect will depend on the university and the type of CPT involved.

Students whose internships are compulsory parts of their degrees may continue to qualify for Degree-Requirement CPT. Students relying on Course Credit CPT may have to postpone an internship, find an alternative academic arrangement or wait for their university to issue further guidance.

The pause may be particularly significant for students who had planned paid summer internships or part-time employment based on enrolment in an internship or independent-study course.

What should students do now?

Students should:

• Contact their DSO and ask whether their specific CPT category is affected
• Confirm whether the internship is a degree requirement or only an elective course-credit arrangement
• Ask whether the training is formally recognised in the programme curriculum
• Check the employer, job description, dates and number of hours listed on the CPT request
• Do not begin work until the updated I-20 is issued
• Keep copies of offer letters, course details, academic approvals and previous CPT I-20s
• Consult an immigration lawyer before making a decision if their status or future visa plans may be affected

What happens next?

ICE has not announced a nationwide cancellation of CPT. The current issue is the stricter enforcement of existing requirements and the liability faced by schools and DSOs.

Universities are likely to review their internship courses and determine which forms of practical training can be defended as an essential part of the curriculum.

For now, the key distinction is clear: CPT required for completion of a degree continues at the universities that have announced changes, while CPT obtained mainly through elective course credit faces greater uncertainty.