1. Students can only be authorized for CPT during their degree program: F-1 students interested in working in the US after graduation may apply for post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).

2. Exception to one academic year requirement: The one academic year waiting period can be waived for students enrolled in a graduate program that requires a practicum during their first year.

3. Leave of Absences and Other SEVIS Terminations: Students who have re-entered the US using a new SEVIS record after a previous record was terminated/completed will need to complete one academic year of full-time study under their new SEVIS record before becoming eligible for CPT. This rule applies to a student who was given an authorized early withdrawal for a leave of absence (gap semester/year) and returned to the US with a new SEVIS record.

4. Unpaid Internships: Financial compensation is not the only indicator of employment in the US. ISSS recommends that students obtain work authorization for any activities with non-Emory organizations. In the case of unpaid internships, the student should also obtain written verification from the organization's Human Resources confirming that the position does not violate the Fair Labor Standards Act.

5. Part-time or Full-time

• Part-time CPT (20 hours/week or less)
  • Students can participate in part-time CPT during the fall, spring, or summer semesters.
  • If the CPT will take place during your final semester, only part-time CPT is allowed. Please see “CPT in Final/Graduation Semester” section below for more details.

• Full-time (20+ hours/week)
  • A student may participate in full time CPT during the summer unless the summer is the student’s first or last term.
  • PhD students who have completed all coursework (excluding dissertation) can participate in CPT full-time during the fall and spring if it’s required to complete the dissertation.

• In rare situations, the CPT authorization may extend beyond the semester dates if there are extenuating circumstances or programmatic reasons. Examples may include but are not limited to:
  • cohort-based internships for which all students start and end on the same date
  • delays in start date due to student illness or personal/family emergency
  • other circumstances to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
• Students requesting an exception should be prepared to provide documentation that explains the reason the position must start before the “Classes Begin” date and/or end after the “End of Term” date as listed on the university calendar. Documentation may include:
  • An offer letter, addendum/supplemental offer letter, or email from the hiring manager stating that the established internship program is cohort based for which all interns start and end on the same date
  • Official job posting that states the required start and end date for interns accepted into the program
  • Other documentation explaining the medical or other extenuating circumstance
• Under no circumstance may the CPT overlap semesters (i.e. summer positions must start after the spring “End of Term” date and begin before the fall “Classes begin date” as listed on the university academic calendar).
• Please contact your ISSS advisor to discuss your situation, determine if you qualify for an exception, and what type of documentation may be required.

7. Multiple CPT authorizations with the same employer: For CPTs that are not required by a degree program, students may not receive multiple CPT authorizations for the same experience.

• In rare cases, a student may be eligible for a second CPT authorization with the same employer, provided that the experience is significantly different from the first CPT authorization (ex: Student receives a CPT authorization for an internship in marketing with Company A, and then subsequently submits a CPT request for an second internship with Company A in the field of Accounting).
• A student may not receive a second CPT authorization to extend a practical training experience. If a student wishes to gain additional practical training in the same position, the student would need to apply for pre-completion OPT.

8. Impact on OPT: If you are approved for 12 months or more of full-time CPT, you will not be eligible to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) at your current degree level.

9. CPT in Final/Graduation Semester: CPT will not be approved during a student’s final semester at Emory unless all three of following conditions are met:

• The practical training is part-time. Full-time CPT is not permitted in a student’s final term as it is not an F-1 vacation term.
• A completed “Final Semester Course Enrollment” form is submitted with the CPT request. A link to this form and further instructions can be found in the introduction of the “CPT Request Form” in ISSS Link.
• The student is enrolled in at least one other degree required course, and this course has a physical presence requirement on Emory’s campus (i.e., class attendance is required).

• The name and email of your departmental reviewer (academic advisor, dean, program coordinator, etc.) will appear in the “CPT Request Form” in ISSS Link once you select your Emory school and program.
• Determine basis of CPT eligibility (see options 1-3 above)

2. Obtain an employment offer letter on the company's letterhead, signed by the hiring manager that contains ALL of the requirements listed below. Provide a copy of this letter to your departmental reviewer and upload a copy to the CPT Request Form.

This letter must include:

• Your full legal name
• Job title
• Brief description of the goals, objectives, and/or expected duties of your employment
• Exact start date and end date for your employment
  • If the CPT eligibility is based on enrollment in a course (option #2), the CPT authorization must fall within the semester dates as listed on the university academic calendar. See “Special Eligibility Considerations—Employment Dates” section above for exceptions.
• Full physical address of your employment including street address city, state and zip code.
  • If the job duties will be performed remotely, this should be indicated in the letter.
  • If the remote address is not in the letter, the student can provide the address in the “CPT Request Form.”
• Number of hours you are expected to work per week
• Name and email address of your supervisor
• Expected salary for your position

3. Enroll in the appropriate internship/practicum/training/research course (Only if CPT is based on Option 2: Enrolled in a Course for Academic Credit.)

4. Submit the CPT Request Form in ISSS Link

• Submit your CPT request at least 2 weeks before your start date to give your academic department and ISSS advisor time to review your request and issue the CPT I-20.
• You may not begin working until you have received an updated I-20 with the CPT authorization on page two. Working prior to receiving approval and/or before the CPT start date is considered a violation of your F-1 status.

• If your academic program confirms that the position meets a curricular requirement, your ISSS advisor will assess your eligibility and process your request within 5 business days.
• If approved, the CPT I-20 will be issued and provided to you.
• You may begin working after your CPT start date and after you have received the CPT I-20.

To be eligible for CPT, one of the following options must serve as the basis of the CPT authorization:

• Option 1: Required for Degree - An internship, practicum, or other training experience is required of all students in the degree program.
  
  • Examples:
    • Rollins’ Applied Practice Experience (APE) for public health students
    • GBS’ required practicum for two-year MBA students
• Option 2: Enrolled in a Course for Academic Credit** - Student will earn academic credit towards their degree. For example:
  
  • Option 2a: The student is enrolled in a course that requires an internship, practicum, or other training for course completion;
  • Option 2b: The student is enrolled in a research course and conducting the research off-campus.
  • Examples:
    • The Pathways Center Independent Internship (INTERN 496 and INTERN 497) for Emory College students with a declared major in OPUS
    • GBS’ Senior Seminar (BUS 480), Internship (BUS 496) or Advanced Internship (BUS 496B) for BBA students
    • LGS’ Research course for master’s and pre-candidacy PhD students (XX599R)
  • For a list of course options by school, please see below.
• Option 3: Required for Thesis/Dissertation - For graduate students who require training for completion of their thesis or dissertation. For PhD students, this option is only appropriate for students who have entered into candidacy. Enrollment in dissertation/thesis credits required.

Course Options:

• The following course lists were provided to ISSS but are not meant to be comprehensive.
• If your school is not mentioned below, please contact your academic program to determine if your program offers a training course for academic credit.
• ISSS can review the course description of any additional courses, and if it can serve as the basis of CPT, it can be added to the course list.
• CPT based on course enrollment cannot be approved until OPUS has been updated to reflect enrollment in the appropriate course.