Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

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Curricular Practical Training (CPT) provides students with the authorization to complete their internship or practicum while studying at Liberty University. All internships/practicums must receive authorization regardless if the experience is paid or unpaid, on-campus or off-campus.

Please note, failure to receive CPT authorization before starting your internship/practicum is a violation of your F-1 status and could result in your termination. You must receive your I-20 with the CPT authorization prior to commencing your internship/practicum.

To be eligible for CPT employment, you must have been enrolled in school full-time for one year on a valid F1 status (except for graduate students where the program requires immediate CPT).

Submit your CPT Request by clicking on the link below. Your Faculty Internship Advisor/POC must approve this request. You will receive an email if clarification is required and once the request is approved or denied.

Submit CPT request

General Information

Additional CPT Information

Your passport must be valid to receive any kind of work authorization.
You may not begin before the start date or continue working after the end date. If you work beyond the end date, you will be working without authorization resulting in the termination of your status and possible loss of future immigration benefits.
CPT is authorized on a semester-by-semester basis. CPT authorization ends the date the student’s degree is conferred.
Part-time CPT is 20 hours or less per week. You must be registered for an internship course.
Full-time CPT is 21 hours or more per week. You must be registered for an internship course that requires full time hours. Exception: CPT authorized in the summer can be full time regardless of the class.
For part-time or full-time CPT you must maintain full-time enrollment and complete Financial Check In (FCI). Consult with your International Student Advisor (ISA).
There is no limit to the amount of part-time CPT in which you can participate before graduation. However if you exceed one full year (12 months) of full-time CPT, you will be ineligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT).
CPT is not meant to be a convenient employment opportunity nor is meant to be a device to save Optional Practical Training (OPT) months. CPT must have a valid purpose in the student’s program of study.
Withdrawing from the course supporting CPT results in automatic cancellation of CPT. If the student continues working, the student may fall out of status and lose any future benefits associated with F-1 status.
If internship is not required for the student to complete degree requirements, and if the student is in his/her final semester, he/she must have at least one remaining required course.
All internships must receive CPT authorization regardless if it is paid or unpaid.
It is the student’s responsibility to keep up to date on the internship course material every week even if it is a 299 course (zero credit). This is to avoid getting an FN (Failure for Non-attendance) on the CPT course which will result in immediate termination of the employment authorization.

Types of CPT