Nursing Employment Experience Guidelines

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an authorized, credit-bearing training experience directly related to nursing. Undergraduate F-1 students accepted into the formal upper division nursing program are allowed to apply. Authorization is for one specific employer and for a specific period of time.

Nursing CPT is designed to introduce students to the concepts of basic human and health care needs, the health/illness continuum, effective written and verbal communication, mental health, social needs, the healthcare delivery system and the development of nursing and personal care skills.

Nursing CPTs must be approved by the Nursing Faculty Organization designated Nurse Faculty member before the Center for International Studies (CIS) Immigration Advisor will grant final authorization. Students must secure a training opportunity before a CPT can be requested. For Nursing CPT, enrolled nursing students must consult with the Nursing Faculty CPT designee to review the program prior to seeking or renewing employment.

Nursing CPT Guidelines

The Nursing Faculty Organization’s Guidelines are based on United States Government Guidelines including:

  • Training directly relates to the student’s major area of study (Nursing)
  • Training is an integral part of the school’s established curriculum (Note this is linked each semester in guidelines)
  • Designated school official (DSO) authorized CPT in The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and the authorization prints on the student’s Form I-20.
  • Occurs before the student’s program end date on the Form I-20.
  • Authorization is for one specific employer and for a specific period of time.
  • Student must secure the training opportunity before CPT can be authorized.
  • CPT must be authorized before the student can begin work.
  • Student can have more than one CPT authorization at the same time.
  • One year of full-time CPT eliminates a student’s eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Nursing CPT Curriculum

Nursing 195 Curricular Practical Training (CPT) allows formally enrolled nursing students within their regular five semester program length to hold off-campus employment that is directly related to their field of nursing study. This is similar to opportunities all nursing students have for internships, nursing assistant roles, and patient care roles that enhance their program learning.

The Nursing CPT process requires enrollment in NURS 195 for each semester experience.

Students already accepted into CPT as of 3/20/25 that are pre nursing will be grandfathered into CPT NURS 195 if employment is continued by the site. Curriculum integration will be focused on pre work for Semester One. No new pre-nursing students will be accepted. Students who are not accepted into the nursing program or who do not meet ongoing requirements will not be re-accepted.

The Nursing Faculty Organization reviewed the curriculum in each of the five semesters of nursing to integrate the experiential learning to curriculum. Each semester has specific experiences that enhance the learning within the curriculum related to defined goals.

  1. Semester 1: Foundation support for activities of daily living, taking vital signs and other basic monitoring, effectively communicating with patients and team members through documentation and oral communication.
  2. Semester 2: Learn medical/surgical nursing care; focus on care of geriatric patients; progress in learning medical terminology including types of medication and disease.
  3. Semester 3: Learn effective family and individual communication for mental health; life transitions across the life span; informatics, ethical and holistic approaches to cross cultural care.
  4. Semester 4: Experience interactions with advanced medical/surgical skills and understand the use of research and evidence in nursing practice. Understand public health role in nursing.
  5. Semester 5: Experience interactions with advanced medical/surgical skills and understand the use of research and evidence in nursing practice. Understand public health role in nursing.

View Nursing BSN Degree Map

For the RN to BS: Use of evidence/research in nursing; application to cross cultural care, leadership, pharmacology and public health.

View Nursing RN to BS Degree Map

CPT includes:

  • Goals related to curriculum integration at the beginning and end of the appropriate semester.
  • Confirmation of continued employment within time frame and hours for the semester.
  • Updates of any employment changes.
  • Identification of work site and supervisor contact information.

Eligibility

  • Must document CPT orientation annually completed through CIS
  • Is an accepted student in the upper division nursing program
  • Is an undergraduate F-1 student
  • Has been enrolled full-time for one academic year at St. Cloud State University with a 3.0 cumulative GPA in nursing prerequisites.
  • Is enrolled in a full course load during CPT (12 credits)
    • Reduced course load may be approved in nursing only for specific times a student is retaking one class and nursing faculty determine the experience would contribute to their ongoing learning during that time.
  • If student is a first level (semester) in the formal upper division nursing program, they may not enroll in CPT unless has documented previous nursing assistant experience
  • Is currently in good academic standing (no probation, discipline, or failed courses) in the nursing program over past year
  • Does not have a financial hold
  • Has documented ongoing medical insurance as required for F1 students
  • Has a minimum total cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the Nursing program and/or prior two semesters.
  • International Students are not accepted into fully online RN to BS program; current RN to BS students already in CPT may continue in CPT if their employment continues

Application Process

Students must complete the following steps when seeking Nursing CPT approval and authorization:

  1. Complete and document CIS CPT training within one year of application to NURS 195. Process is through the Center for International Studies (CIS).
  2. Meet with designated Nursing faculty CPT RN advisor to review criteria and determine eligibility from nursing department.
  3. Review NURS 195 course expectations with designated Nursing faculty CPT RN advisor.
  4. Apply and secure a Certified Nursing Assistant position, Nursing Assistant in Training position, or a nursing-related position providing direct patient care (Resident Assistant, Personal Care Assistant), or Summer Internship.
  5. Obtain an employment offer letter from the employer each semester; the letter must include:
    • Company Name (including site)
    • Address
    • Job description and overview of role
    • Number of work hours per week
    • CPT employment dates
    • Employment dates should align with the academic semester (Examples: August 26–January 1 or January 13–May 7 or May 19–July 31)
    • CPT is authorized for one semester at a time. You must renew each semester if eligible and integrated into that semester nursing curriculum. Any change in hours must be submitted to CIS.
  6. Student then initiates the online CIS CPT form. You may access the form by visiting forms.stcloudstate.edu and sign in with your student Office365 account. Select the "Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Form" in "Forms I can Submit."
    • Select academic advisor: Roxanne Wilson
    • Approver Email: rwwilson@stcloudstate.edu
    • Approver Title: Professor of Nursing
    • Upload employment offer letter and degree audit
  7. CPT request is routed to Nursing Faculty RN Advisor for approval and course permission; it is then routed to the DSO/CIS.
    • Nursing Faculty will email the student instructing them to register for NURS 195.
  8. Student registers for NURS 195.
    • This course will be evaluated as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory — there is no letter grade awarded.
  9. CIS requests require 14–21 days for processing.
    • Immigration advisors add the authorization to SEVIS and update the student’s I-20.
    • Immigration advisors email the student to alert them of the new I-20.
  10. Once authorized, students are authorized with an I-20 allowing access to NURS 195 course in D2L to complete assignments by posted dates.
    • Students are responsible for the tuition & fees associated with this course; drops for financial holds will not be reinstated.
  11. If the student and employer wish to continue the experience beyond the authorized end date, an updated CPT request must be initiated through the CPT form. An updated employer confirmation with next semester’s start and end dates is uploaded. Approval must be obtained by designated Nurse Faculty Academic CPT Advisor prior to registering.
  12. Students must maintain CPT eligibility to continue experience in future semesters. Reasons for NURS 195 approval being denied include:
    • More than one assignment not turned in on time in NURS 195 (prior semester)
    • Did not follow CPT guidelines including employment status and hours
    • Did not successfully pass previous CPT course
    • Failed nursing courses
    • Lack of required international health insurance
    • Financial holds
    • GPA below 3.0
  13. OPT process is completed through CIS. Successful nursing BSN graduates can request.

Note: Termination by employer will result in immediate course failure and no further CPT enrollment.