{"id":17266,"date":"2026-02-27T11:54:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T19:54:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/international\/?page_id=17266"},"modified":"2026-04-10T15:02:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T22:02:27","slug":"cpt","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/international\/current-students\/cpt\/","title":{"rendered":"Curricular Practical Training (CPT)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The F-1 student visa is for students who are enrolled in a full program of study. It does&nbsp;<strong>not<\/strong>&nbsp;allow off-campus work, except in limited situations that are usually related to your studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>*** Please be advised that working off-campus without authorization is illegal. ***<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The information below are general guidelines. There are specific reasons that International Education may not be able to approve Practical Training and eligibility is at the discretion of International Education and your <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/international\/current-students\/advising\/\">International Advisor<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Students in the Intensive English Language Program are not eligible for practical training.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a temporary work\u00a0option\u00a0to gain practical experience\u00a0directly related\u00a0to your major area of study while you are studying at Bellevue College. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>An International Advisor must\u00a0approve\u00a0your CPT before you\u00a0can\u00a0start working. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You must coordinate with your internship\/practicum instructor and your internship employer to make sure all requirements are met.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your major listed on your I-20 must match the program you are pursuing.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The amount of time your International Advisor can authorize varies and depends on the work\u00a0required\u00a0to complete your program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>All required internship hours must be completed before the end\u00a0of your academic program.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>CPT is usually part-time and does not reduce your one year of full-time Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduation. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you\u00a0participate\u00a0in a total of 12 months or\u00a0more of\u00a0full-time CPT, you will become <strong>ineligible <\/strong>for OPT (8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i)).\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Full-time CPT is granted only in\u00a0very limited\u00a0circumstances, typically during an approved\u00a0vacation\u00a0quarter. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Unless you are on an approved\u00a0vacation\u00a0quarter, you must\u00a0maintain\u00a0full-time enrollment, which\u00a0generally prevents\u00a0you from\u00a0participating\u00a0in a full-time internship.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-white-color has-bc-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background\">CPT Eligibility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Students must meet&nbsp;<strong>all<\/strong>&nbsp;of the following requirements in order to be eligible to apply for Curricular Practical Training:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You have been\u00a0<strong>lawfully enrolled on a full-time<\/strong>\u00a0basis\u00a0in the college-level program\u00a0for\u00a0at least\u00a0<strong>one full academic year<\/strong>\u00a0(i.e.\u00a0three consecutive quarters).\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An internship or practicum course is an\u00a0integral part\u00a0of your program\u2019s graduation requirements\u00a0and is\u00a0<strong>directly related\u00a0to your major area of study<\/strong>.\u00a0\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Note:\u00a0Associate in Arts and Sciences\u00a0Transfer Degree and Certificates may not be eligible for CPT.\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You have or will be enrolled in the internship or practicum course to earn credits.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You\u00a0will or\u00a0have\u00a0received a detailed\u00a0internship\u00a0offer letter from\u00a0your employer on a company\u2019s letterhead that\u00a0<strong>clearly\u00a0states\u00a0the internship is for practical training purposes<\/strong>. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The letter needs to include the date, the employer\u2019s physical U.S. address, your name, your position, start and end date, part or full-time and the hiring official\u2019s name and signature.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-white-color has-bc-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background\">How to Apply for Curricular Practical Training<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you meet all the above criteria, then you may begin searching for your internship site. If you have any questions about eligibility, make an appointment with your International Advisor.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you have received an internship offer, contact your International Advisor for a Curricular Practical Training Request form and begin the process outlined on the form:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Complete the Student Section and attach a copy of your internship offer&nbsp;letter.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Meet with the Academic Advisor\/Program Manager for your major to confirm the&nbsp;internship&nbsp;relates directly&nbsp;to your&nbsp;major area of studies.&nbsp;If&nbsp;not,&nbsp;you&nbsp;may be&nbsp;ineligible.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Meet with an Experiential Learning Coordinator in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Center for Career Connections to confirm&nbsp;the&nbsp;Exprl&nbsp;class enrollment&nbsp;process and timing.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Submit your completed Internship Request Form to your International\u00a0Advisor at least two weeks before\u00a0your internship\u2019s starting date.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pick up your new I-20 from&nbsp;International Education&nbsp;and review&nbsp;page two to confirm&nbsp;your internship details.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-white-color has-bc-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background\">Important Information about CPT:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your internship offer letter must clearly\u00a0state\u00a0that it is a temporary internship\u00a0and must provide starting and ending dates that correspond to the\u00a0quarter in which you are registered for the internship\/practicum course.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>CPT approval does not transfer to another employer or any other employment authorization. Your approval is for the specific employer for the specified time periods\u00a0stated\u00a0on your I-20.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You cannot work beyond your CPT approval dates. If your program requires more than one internship\/practicum course for graduation, you must apply for another CPT.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You must register for&nbsp;your program\u2019s internship\/practicum course&nbsp;or an EXPRL&nbsp;to earn credits&nbsp;towards your graduation requirements.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you are approved for part-time CPT, you&nbsp;must keep&nbsp;your weekly&nbsp;hours under 20 throughout&nbsp;the&nbsp;approved CPT period.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>CPT can be paid or unpaid.\u00a0\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A paid internship will require you to apply for a social security number.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>You must not start your internship\/CPT (paid or unpaid) until your International Advisor properly approves your CPT request.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mayflower-blocks-button\"><a class=\"btn btn-warning btn-block  \" href=\"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/180\/2025\/09\/032226-CPT-Form-V4-T2-Print-Out.docx\" aria-disabled=\"false\"><strong>Print the Bellevue College Curricular Practical Training Request Form<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The F-1 student visa is for students who are enrolled in a full program of study. It does&nbsp;not&nbsp;allow off-campus work, except in limited situations that are usually related to your studies. *** Please be advised that working off-campus without authorization is illegal. *** The information below are general guidelines. There are specific reasons that International <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/international\/current-students\/cpt\/\">...more about Curricular Practical Training (CPT)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3586,"featured_media":0,"parent":34,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_mc_calendar":[],"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-17266","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17266","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3586"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17266"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17266\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17745,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17266\/revisions\/17745"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/34"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellevuecollege.edu\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17266"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}