2a : a definite course or method of action selected from among alternatives and in light of given conditions to guide and determine present and future decisionsb : a high-level overall plan embracing the general goals and acceptable procedures especially of a governmental body.
1 The work may be paid or unpaid, full-time or part-time, which take place off-campus. 2  CPT is granted for a specific position, employer, and period.  You are not required to obtain work authorization to engage in bona fide (legitimate) volunteer activities or unpaid internships. However, if possible, we recommend that you apply for CPT if you are engaging in an unpaid internship. Please see our page on âVolunteering and Unpaid Internshipsâ for more information.
The basic premise of federal labor laws is that workers should be paid for their labor. As a result, the rules around unpaid internships are very restrictive. Private employers can offer unpaid internships only when the experience is truly educational and requires some time and effort on the part of the employer. Otherwise, employers must treat their interns like employees and comply with all of the same wage and hour laws.