Hospitality students of the Chaplin School are uniquely prepared upon graduation for the industry through our work experience requirements. International students are eligible for work experience through the Curricular and Optional Practical Training Programs.
What is Curricular Practical Training?
CPT is a type of practical training authorization that allows qualified F-1 students to gain practical experience in their field of study while making progress towards the completion of their academic program.
In Hospitality, all students are required to have two types of work experience that are eligible for CPT: Basic Training CPT (CPT1) and Internship Course CPT (CPT2).
Basic training CPT (CPT 1) will authorize 500-2000* hours of work experience while enrolled alongside courses.
- Undergraduate students are eligible for Basic Training CPT after they have completed two full-time in-status terms in the US.
- Graduate Students are eligible for Basic Training CPT in their first onsite semester.
Students can work full-time or part-time but are limited to the maximum amount of hours. Students who work 12 months full time CPT may be ineligible for OPT upon graduation.
Once Basic training has been completed and verified, students are eligible for Internship Course CPT (CPT 2) which can be full time for the full semester if enrolled for 3 credits of internship. This opportunity can be with the same company from Basic Training CPT if wishing to continue employment with them.
*Requirement as of the 2024-2025 catalog. Students admitted in prior terms are limited to 1000 hours maximum basic training CPT.
Eligibility and Process
Basic Training CPT (CPT 1)
To be eligible for Basic training CPT students must:
- Be in status F1 student.
- Undergraduates must be in status for 2 full time semesters in the US before requesting Basic Training CPT.
- Graduate students must be in status during their first full time semester.
- Have a current offer letter for hospitality work.
- This is for hospitality work, related to the student’s career goals.
- Letter must Include a start date.
- Letter must Include the position is full time or part time.
To be authorized for Basic Training CPT students must:
- Complete ISSS CPT Training workshop
- Obtain Basic Training Authorization from your Hospitality Advisor with current offer letter
- Submit the required paperwork to ISSS to complete authorization and obtain an updated I20.
- Certification of CPT workshop completion.
- Signed Basic Training CPT Authorization
- Copy of I94
- Copy of Passport
- Apply for Social Security Number if you do not already have one from prior authorizations.
Internship course CPT (CPT2)
To be eligible for Internship Course CPT students must:
- Be a current in-status F1 student who has completed two in-status semesters.
- Have approved Employment verification for Basic Training CPT completion.
- Have a updated offer letter for hospitality work.
- This is for hospitality work, related to the student’s career goals.
- Letter must Include a start date AND end date in line with the semester.
- Letter must Include the position is full time or part time.
- Complete ISSS CPT Training workshop
To be authorized for Internship CPT students must:
- Obtain Internship CPT Authorization from your Hospitality Advisor
- Be enrolled in the internship course by a hospitality advisor.
- Submit the required paperwork to ISSS to complete authorization and obtain an updated I20.
- Certification of CPT workshop completion.
- Signed Internship CPT Authorization
- Copy of I94
- Copy of Passport
- Copy of class schedule with Internship CPT course
What is Optional Practical Training?
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a period during which undergraduate and graduate students with F-1 status are permitted by the USCIS to work towards getting practical training to complement their field of studies once they have completed their program of studies.
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student’s major area of study. Eligible students can apply to receive up to 12 months of OPT employment authorization after completing their academic studies (post-completion). In certain cases some students who have completed all Basic Training CPT but before completing their academic studies may be eligible for Pre-completion OPT. However, all periods of pre-completion OPT will be deducted from the available period of post-completion OPT.
To learn more about OPT, you can visit the OPT information section on the USCIS Website.
Eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT)
To be eligible for Post-complication OPT students must:
- have completed two semesters of full-time enrollment to be able to apply for Post-Completion OPT
- have applied for Graduation
- Be physically present in the United States at the time of application.
- Complete OPT workshop through ISSS.
To be authorized for OPT students must:
- Have applied for graduation.
- Obtain Internship OPT Authorization from your Hospitality Advisor. This is available about 90 days prior to the end of the term.
- Submit the required paperwork to ISSS for updated I20.
- Certification of OPT workshop completion.
- Signed Post Completion OPT Authorization
- Copy of I94
- Copy of Passport
- Copy of F1
Once you have applied it is not advised to leave the country until you have received your work authorization card.