Update August 2026: The Department of Homeland Security has announced a change to CPT that limits F-1 international students’ ability to engage in paid and unpaid internships/work/professional development programs off campus. Under the new guidance, international students may only be eligible for CPT if the “practical training experience” is required for graduation. For our purposes, this means students may receive CPT authorization only for courses related to practicums in 5 majors: Education, Social Studies Education, Music Education, Social Work, and Nursing. In the past, St. Olaf international students were eligible to apply for CPT if their internship or practicum was related to their field of study and they were enrolled in a credit-bearing course that required the experience. Now, CPT must be limited to experiences where an off-campus practicum or practical training is required for graduation.
Curricular Practical Training
International Students who have completed one academic year (fall, interim, and spring) of study in the U.S. may be eligible to receive off-campus work authorization through Curricular Practical Training (CPT). CPT authorization permits international students to participate in a specific off-campus work/internship experience that is directly related to their major and is required for graduation.
St. Olaf currently has 5 majors with a practicum component that requires off-campus work authorization through CPT: Education, Social Studies Education, Music Education, Social Work, and Nursing. Curricular Practical Training can only be authorized for participation in a required practicum. Students must have CPT authorization in SEVIS before they begin their practicum work. If a student needs to change jobs during the authorized period of employment, the student must notify Caitlin Lamont Kreienkamp and re-apply for new CPT authorization.
To obtain CPT authorization, the student must be registered for their practicum course and provide a detailed offer letter. The offer letter should be signed and written on letterhead. It must include all of the following details:
- Your legal name
- Dates of employment
- Paid or unpaid
- Number of hours per week
- Address of the employer and where the work will happen
- A brief description of your duties/responsibilities
Email the offer/employment letter mentioned above to Caitlin with a request for CPT authorization to participate in a practicum. You will then receive a new Form I-20 showing CPT authorization for the specific employer, location, and dates.
It is your responsibility to cease working after your CPT authorization expires. Please do not rely on your faculty or employer to remind you of this.
What About Unpaid Work?
Simply not getting paid does not exempt you from the need for CPT. However, CPT may not be required for “legitimate” volunteering activities that are altruistic in nature and for which you are donating time with a non-profit organization whose primary purpose is civic, charitable, or humanitarian in nature. Check with Caitlin whether your volunteer activity requires CPT or not. If you are paid or reimbursed in any way for your time, you will need CPT.
*Keep all Form I-20s issued to you with CPT authorization! Never throw away an old Form I-20.
Every effort has been made to update the information above, however things are subject to change without notice. Please be in contact with Caitlin Lamont Kreienkamp for accurate, timely information about your specific situation. Document Last Updated: August 26, 2026