CISS

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an employment authorization benefit that allows F-1 students to work off-campus during their program of study to gain practical experience in their major field of study. 

  • CPT must be an integral part of the established curriculum
  • It is designed to provide work experience directly related to the internship course in which the student is enrolled.
  • It can be authorized part-time (20 hours a week or less) or full-time (more than 20 hours a week).
  • CPT is authorized on a semester-by-semester basis
  • CPT can be paid or unpaid
  • CPT is employer and date-specific
  • CPT is authorized by the CISS and does not require an application to USCIS

Participation in CPT does not affect your ability to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) unless you use 12 months of full-time CPT. If you use 12 months of full-time CPT, you will not be eligible to apply for OPT. 

CPT Information Sessions

The CISS hosts multiple CPT Information Sessions during the year for you to learn more about the CPT process. During these sessions, CISS Advisor will present an overview of the CPT process and answer questions.

CPT Information Sessions

Register in Campus Groups Here
CPT Eligibility

To be eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), you must:

  • Have completed at least one full academic year (fall/spring semesters) of full-time study in a valid status immediately before the CPT experience.
    • Time spent at other U.S. schools may count towards your CPT eligibility. (E.g., If you were a full-time student for the past two academic terms immediately before enrolling at Bentley.) It is recommended that you check with CISS to confirm your eligibility.
  • Enroll in the appropriate internship course. Certain degree programs may have restrictions on how early students can enroll in an internship course. (Check with your academic department/internship coordinator before searching for an internship.
  • Be authorized with an additional in-person class if you are in your final term.
CPT Dates

CPT employment start and end dates must fall within the academic term set by the Bentley academic calendar. You may be permitted to begin your internship 1-2 weeks before the semester start date with permission from your Internship Coordinator/Faculty Advisor, but it must end by the end date of the semester.  Students starting a new degree program at Bentley may not begin their CPT internship before the term start date. 

CPT employment cannot begin before the CPT authorization start date and must end on or before the CPT authorized end date. 

Fall 2025 CPT Dates:   9/2/2025-12/17/2025

Spring 2026 CPT Dates:  1/20/26-5/15/2026

Summer 2026 CPT Dates: 

  • Continuing Students: 5/18/2026-8/28/2026
  • Summer Graduates:
    • Graduate Students: 5/18/2026-8/3/2026
    • Undergraduate Students: 5/18/2026-8/17/2026
How to Apply for CPT

To apply for CPT:

Step 1: Contact your Academic Advisor and consult with your Internship Coordinator/Faculty Advisor to determine if you are eligible to enroll in an internship course.  Your Internship Coordinator may be the faculty member responsible for your course.  They will advise you on the appropriate internship course enrollment. 

Step 2: Obtain an Employment Offer Letter from your employer, which includes the following information:

  • Official Company Name (no acronyms or abbreviations)
  • Address of Employer- should be the address where you will be reporting to work; the address must include city, state, and zip code
  • For remote/hybrid work: please list your employer’s office address. In your CPT Request, you will also need to list the address from where you will be working if the internship is remote/hybrid
  • Exact start and end dates of Employment (These dates must be within the academic calendar semester start and end dates during which the internship will take place.  These dates must also be the same as the dates noted in your CPT Request
  • Position, title, and description of responsibilities
  • Number of hours per week:  20 hours or less = part-time, 21 hours or more = full-time

Find a sample offer/employer letter here.  

Your letter of employment can come from a contracting/talent acquisition agency, but must include the above information in addition to the official name of the agency.  The place of employment listed on your Form I-20 will be the contracting agency/company of employment.

Step 3: Confirm that you have registered for the appropriate internship course in Workday. See the Academic Calendar for internship course registration deadlines.

Step 4: Log in to the CISS Portal and navigate to the "Control Center."  Complete and submit the "CPT Request."  

  • You will need to identify your Internship Coordinator/Faculty member as the "Approver" in the request. An automatic email will be sent to your "Approver" for confirmation that you are enrolled in an internship course and that you will be engaged in employment that is related to your major for credit.
  • You will need to upload a copy of your employer's letter

This video will guide you through how to submit a CPT Request in the CISS Portal. 

It takes the CISS approximately 5-7 business days to process your CPT Request if it is complete.  You may not begin working until you receive your new Form I-20 with your CPT work authorization and you reach your CPT start date.

After Your CPT is Approved

When your CPT is approved, you will receive an email from CISS telling you that your CPT authorization Form I-20 is ready for you to download from the CISS Portal.  

  • Go to the CISS Portal
  • Navigate to the"Documents" tab
  • Print out your new Form I-20
  • Review the information on the Form I-20 carefully to ensure that the dates and company name are correct
  • Sign and date the form at the bottom of page 1
  • Keep copies of all previous Form I-20s, but use your most recent one for travel
  • If there is any change in your CPT employment, you must contact your CISS Advisor immediately by emailing GA_CISS@Bentley.edu

Stopping employment after CPT has begun has implications for both the academic course and your immigration status. If you must stop CPT-related work before the end of your internship, you must email CISS at GA_CISS@Bentley.edu.  
 

Extending Your CPT

If you need to extend your CPT within the same academic term, you must contact your CISS Advisor at least 10 days BEFORE your currently authorized CPT expires and then complete a "CPT Extension Request" in the CISS Portal.

If you need to extend your CPT into a new academic term, you will need to enroll in a new internship course and submit a new "CPT Request" in the CISS Portal.  

Remember that your CPT start date must be in the future, and you must submit your CPT request at least 5-7 business days BEFORE your new CPT start date.