Updated Guidance on Curricular Practical Training

On August 24, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) issued guidance to Designated School Officials clarifying that Curricular Practical Training must be an “integral part” of an established curriculum.

Effective August 27, 2026, the Office of International Affairs (OIA) will no longer approve new CPT requests for work experiences that are not required of every student in the academic degree program.

• CPT is a type of off-campus employment authorization available to eligible F-1 students.
• For CPT to be authorized, the practical training or experiential learning opportunity must be explicitly required of every student in the student’s degree program.
• If a student can complete the degree and graduate without participating in the proposed practical training experience, federal guidance indicates that OIA may not authorize CPT for that opportunity.  

Please reach out to to OIA should you have any questions.