Curricular Practical Training

Under the immigration regulations, to be eligible for CPT students must meet the following criteria:

• Completed one academic year of full-time study in valid F-1 student status. Graduate students may be eligible for CPT before completing one academic year if the degree program requires immediate participation in an internship
   
• Have an offer of employment for work that is directly related to the major field of study
   
• Demonstrate through formal documentation that the employment is required for the degree program or a specific course. If the employment is required for a course, academic credit must be received

Undergraduate students with a declared major may be eligible to enroll in a Divisional Internship course directly related to their major.

Enrollment in these courses requires an internship related to the student's major. Students apply academic principles and skills outside the classroom and submit required written work reflecting on their experience and how it enhances and advances the student's academic program. Students receive a pass/fail (CT/NC) grade for the course which carries 0.10 credits on their Dartmouth undergraduate transcript.

Once enrolled in the Divisional Internship course, OVIS will reach out to international students with instructions for requesting Curricular Practical Training (CPT). Students will need to provide OVIS with a dated and signed employment letter on employer letterhead, with location and dates of employment, supervisor and title, and a brief description of how the training is relevant to your program of study.

Once approved, OVIS will issue a new Form I-20 to the student with CPT authorization.

Please refer to the Registrar's FAQ's and website for information about enrollment and request deadlines.

PART-TIME DSP INTERNSHIPS FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

For undergraduate students enrolled in other CPT-eligible courses, including FILM 80 and GOVT 93, you should use the CPT Request form in iDartmouth.

For undergraduate CPT requests students will need to submit:

• Copy of employment offer letter (see below for details)
• Copy of the front and back of most recent I-94 card (if entry to the U.S. by land), or I-94 record printout (if entry to the U.S. by air or sea).

Please allow sufficient time for review and processing of your CPT request. We recommend submitting your request at least one month before the beginning date of your internship.

Certain graduate degree programs offer internship course(s) or require internships for the degree.  Go to the Guarini School website for a list of internship courses at Dartmouth.  OVIS will be able to authorize Curricular Practical Training ("CPT") for graduate students who are enrolled in an internship course and who submit a complete CPT Request form in iDartmouth.

Tuck students will need to use the Tuck CPT Request form in iDartmouth.

For graduate CPT requests students will need to submit:

• Copy of employment offer letter (see below for details)
• Copy of the front and back of most recent I-94 card (if entry to the U.S. by land), or I-94 record printout (if entry to the U.S. by air or sea).

Please allow sufficient time for review and processing of your CPT request. We recommend submitting your request at least one month before the beginning date of your internship.

Criteria for CPT authorization in the final term of the academic program

The Guarini School maintains a list of courses approved by Dartmouth for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) work authorization.  Individual academic programs have specific guidelines on eligibility for course enrollment, including when the course can be taken, if it can be taken more than once, and required deliverables.

Depending on the academic program, some graduate students who pursue a thesis or dissertation may be permitted to enroll in a CPT-eligible course in order to engage in an internship with a third-party employer in order to successfully complete their thesis or dissertation research. 

OVIS will consider authorizing CPT for a student in the final term under the following circumstances:

• The student has an approved Master's thesis or Ph.D. dissertation proposal;
• The student meets the eligibility requirements for the CPT-eligible course in their academic program;
• The internship at the third-party employer is necessary for the student to successfully complete his or her thesis or dissertation research.
• Enrollment in the course and participation in the internship will not delay the student's degree completion.

As a part of your CPT request to OVIS, you will be required to upload a job/internship offer letter. This letter must be on company letterhead and be signed and dated by an employer signatory or supervisor. The letter must include:

• number of hours worked per week
• street address of employer
• dates of employment
• a brief description of the training (job duties)
• if you are working remotely, this should be indicated, along with the physical office location to which you report

CPT must take place during the term with the associated enrollment. CPT authorization dates cannot bleed into surrounding terms. The earliest CPT start date a student can request is the day after finals end for the preceding term. The latest CPT end date a student can request is the day before classes start in the next term. (See academic calendar).
*Exception: PhD students in the research phase of their program may request a CPT start date after the last day of classes for the preceding term.

No work may begin until CPT has been authorized in SEVIS and the Form I-20 has been issued. Students with CPT can only work for the employer within the dates of the authorized employment, which are endorsed on the Form I-20.

Certain programs/courses at Dartmouth require part-time CPT. However, in general, CPT at Dartmouth must be full-time. Full-time CPT may be used during a vacation or earned leave term. Students who work for 12 months or more in full-time CPT will not be eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduation.

The immigration rules permit receiving compensation for CPT employment. Students should check with their specific program as to whether compensation is permitted.