CPT Jobs in Washington DC
Washington DC's concentration of federal agencies, international organizations, policy think tanks, and NGOs makes it one of the most F-1 CPT-friendly markets in the country. Government affairs, public policy, international development, and tech roles generate strong CPT demand across the District and surrounding metro corridors.
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Thinking about a career in public policy? Committed to improving the world we live in? Think Brookings - one of the most influential, most quoted and most trusted think tanks!
Interns spend approximately 12 weeks working alongside leading experts in government and academia from all over the world. Brookings also offers students the opportunity to intern in departments such as communications, human resources and central operations management. The mission of the Internship Program is to provide students with a pre-professional learning experience that offers meaningful, practical work experience related to their field of study or career interest. Students engage in career exploration and development as well as learn new skills.
Interns will have the opportunity to attend meetings, think tank events, professional development workshops, and public Brookings events. In addition, interns will have the opportunity to network with other interns throughout the Institution.
This internship is an opportunity for undergraduate students in their junior or senior year with an interest in health policy and economics to apply principles and theory learned in the classroom in a professional environment. PhD students are not eligible for internships; please visit our Careers page for current open positions. This internship pays an hourly rate of $18.40, and applicants must be willing to commit to a minimum number of hours per week (no less than 25 hours per week, during regular business hours), with some flexibility around an academic course schedule.
Position Location: This internship requires you to be located in the U.S. for the duration of the internship. This is a hybrid opportunity. Hybrid positions combine regular in-person presence at our Washington, DC, office with the option of remote work. Work location cannot be in any of the following states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. Please only apply if you can live and work in states other than those listed above for the duration of the internship.
Responsibilities:
The Center on Health Policy (CHP) produces rigorous research and analysis that informs the national health care policy debate. Recent and ongoing research examines impediments to prescription drug competition, strategies to enhance insurance coverage, provider consolidation, insurance market design, and policies to improve mental and behavioral health care in the U.S.
Interns will gain exposure to a broad set of economic policy topics while developing their analytical thinking and writing skills. Applicants should expect a range of responsibilities, broadly defined under the following categories:
General research and writing: Interns will assist with short-term research and other projects. Examples include research for policy memos, blog posts, or other work products. In addition, interns might be expected to analyze data and create graphs for papers, policy memos, presentations, and other items. Interns would help research potential topics and authors for future center/project work.
Quality Assurance: Interns will assist with the fact checking and quality assurance process, which may include reviewing statistical code and verifying sources.
Please be advised that Brookings is currently implementing a multi-year strategic plan that includes changes to our organizational structure. As this work continues, the program associated with this internship may change between the time of application and the internship start date. While the program may change, the work/research area described in this posting and the team associated with that work are expected to remain the same. Candidates will be informed of any relevant updates during the recruitment process and prior to the start of the internship.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education/Knowledge/Skills:
Successful applicants will be in their junior or senior year pursuing an undergraduate degree in economics or a related field like mathematics or statistics, or graduate students pursuing a master’s degree. Applicants should have strong writing and analytical skills and have taken introductory microeconomics and macroeconomics. Coursework in statistics or econometrics is highly recommended. Applicants should be enthusiastic and knowledgeable about U.S. healthcare policy. Achieved proficiency in using Microsoft Excel and experience working with STATA, R, Python, or another statistical software are preferred. A successful applicant will have a strong teamwork ethic and a belief that no task is too big or too small.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
This internship requires you to be located in the U.S. for the duration of the internship.
Successful completion of a background investigation is required for interning at Brookings. Brookings requires that all applicants submit a cover letter and resume. Please submit your resume as instructed and add your cover letter as an attachment when you apply. You are required to submit/attach a separate cover letter for each internship application. Your cover letter should highlight your educational experience and skills, along with an explanation of how this internship will contribute to your professional goals. Please address your cover letter to Hiring Manager. If selected as a finalist for the internship, you will be required to submit two letters of recommendation or provide two professional references.
Applications will be accepted until November 7, 2026. Applications not completed and submitted by the application deadline date will not be considered. Your application is considered complete when you receive an email confirming that your application was successfully submitted.
As you are applying, please be sure to click here to learn more about the Brookings Internship Program, deadlines, and directions on how to successfully submit your internship application(s).
Brookings welcomes and celebrates diversity in all its forms. We welcome applications that reflect a variety of backgrounds based on ideology, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, first generation college goers, and other factors protected by law. Brookings is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace.
Overview:
Thinking about a career in public policy? Committed to improving the world we live in? Think Brookings - one of the most influential, most quoted and most trusted think tanks!
Interns spend approximately 12 weeks working alongside leading experts in government and academia from all over the world. Brookings also offers students the opportunity to intern in departments such as communications, human resources and central operations management. The mission of the Internship Program is to provide students with a pre-professional learning experience that offers meaningful, practical work experience related to their field of study or career interest. Students engage in career exploration and development as well as learn new skills.
Interns will have the opportunity to attend meetings, think tank events, professional development workshops, and public Brookings events. In addition, interns will have the opportunity to network with other interns throughout the Institution.
This internship is an opportunity for undergraduate students in their junior or senior year with an interest in health policy and economics to apply principles and theory learned in the classroom in a professional environment. PhD students are not eligible for internships; please visit our Careers page for current open positions. This internship pays an hourly rate of $18.40, and applicants must be willing to commit to a minimum number of hours per week (no less than 25 hours per week, during regular business hours), with some flexibility around an academic course schedule.
Position Location: This internship requires you to be located in the U.S. for the duration of the internship. This is a hybrid opportunity. Hybrid positions combine regular in-person presence at our Washington, DC, office with the option of remote work. Work location cannot be in any of the following states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. Please only apply if you can live and work in states other than those listed above for the duration of the internship.
Responsibilities:
The Center on Health Policy (CHP) produces rigorous research and analysis that informs the national health care policy debate. Recent and ongoing research examines impediments to prescription drug competition, strategies to enhance insurance coverage, provider consolidation, insurance market design, and policies to improve mental and behavioral health care in the U.S.
Interns will gain exposure to a broad set of economic policy topics while developing their analytical thinking and writing skills. Applicants should expect a range of responsibilities, broadly defined under the following categories:
General research and writing: Interns will assist with short-term research and other projects. Examples include research for policy memos, blog posts, or other work products. In addition, interns might be expected to analyze data and create graphs for papers, policy memos, presentations, and other items. Interns would help research potential topics and authors for future center/project work.
Quality Assurance: Interns will assist with the fact checking and quality assurance process, which may include reviewing statistical code and verifying sources.
Please be advised that Brookings is currently implementing a multi-year strategic plan that includes changes to our organizational structure. As this work continues, the program associated with this internship may change between the time of application and the internship start date. While the program may change, the work/research area described in this posting and the team associated with that work are expected to remain the same. Candidates will be informed of any relevant updates during the recruitment process and prior to the start of the internship.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education/Knowledge/Skills:
Successful applicants will be in their junior or senior year pursuing an undergraduate degree in economics or a related field like mathematics or statistics, or graduate students pursuing a master’s degree. Applicants should have strong writing and analytical skills and have taken introductory microeconomics and macroeconomics. Coursework in statistics or econometrics is highly recommended. Applicants should be enthusiastic and knowledgeable about U.S. healthcare policy. Achieved proficiency in using Microsoft Excel and experience working with STATA, R, Python, or another statistical software are preferred. A successful applicant will have a strong teamwork ethic and a belief that no task is too big or too small.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
This internship requires you to be located in the U.S. for the duration of the internship.
Successful completion of a background investigation is required for interning at Brookings. Brookings requires that all applicants submit a cover letter and resume. Please submit your resume as instructed and add your cover letter as an attachment when you apply. You are required to submit/attach a separate cover letter for each internship application. Your cover letter should highlight your educational experience and skills, along with an explanation of how this internship will contribute to your professional goals. Please address your cover letter to Hiring Manager. If selected as a finalist for the internship, you will be required to submit two letters of recommendation or provide two professional references.
Applications will be accepted until November 7, 2026. Applications not completed and submitted by the application deadline date will not be considered. Your application is considered complete when you receive an email confirming that your application was successfully submitted.
As you are applying, please be sure to click here to learn more about the Brookings Internship Program, deadlines, and directions on how to successfully submit your internship application(s).
Brookings welcomes and celebrates diversity in all its forms. We welcome applications that reflect a variety of backgrounds based on ideology, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, first generation college goers, and other factors protected by law. Brookings is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace.
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Tips for Finding CPT Jobs in Washington DC
Target federal contractors and policy organizations first
Washington DC's employer base is dominated by government contractors, think tanks, and international organizations like the World Bank and IMF. These institutions regularly bring on F-1 CPT interns for policy research, data analysis, and communications roles with established international hiring processes.
Align your CPT start date with your university's academic calendar
DC employers, especially government-adjacent organizations, plan internship cycles well in advance. Confirming your CPT authorization dates before outreach signals professionalism and gives employers the lead time they need to process onboarding paperwork without delays.
Leverage your university's DC connections
Universities with Washington DC campuses or satellite offices, including American University and Georgetown, maintain employer pipelines specifically built around CPT. Check your international student office for employer lists and direct referral programs before sourcing independently.
Use Migrate Mate to filter for CPT-verified employers
Finding employers open to F-1 CPT in DC can be time-consuming when searching general boards. Migrate Mate filters jobs by visa type, letting you focus on organizations that have a documented track record of sponsoring CPT students in the DC market.
Network within DC's international student community
Washington DC hosts one of the largest international student populations in the country. University career fairs, professional associations like SAIS alumni networks, and student-run policy groups regularly connect CPT-eligible students with employers who understand work authorization requirements.
Confirm that your role qualifies as directly related to your major
CPT eligibility requires the position to be integral to your degree program. In DC, roles at advocacy organizations or nonprofits can be compelling but may need a formal curriculum linkage letter. Confirm this requirement with your DSO before accepting any offer.
See all 74+ F-1 CPT jobs in Washington DC
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Get Access To All JobsF-1 CPT Jobs in Washington DC: Frequently Asked Questions
Which industries in Washington DC sponsor the most F-1 CPT visas?
Government contracting, international development, public policy research, and nonprofit advocacy are the strongest CPT sectors in Washington DC. Organizations like federal contractors, multilateral institutions, and policy think tanks regularly structure internship programs around CPT timelines. Technology and cybersecurity firms supporting government agencies also represent a growing share of CPT placements in the District.
Which areas in Washington DC have the most F-1 CPT sponsorship jobs?
The District itself, particularly areas around Capitol Hill, Dupont Circle, and downtown DC, holds the highest concentration of CPT-friendly employers. The broader metro area extends that density into northern Virginia (Rosslyn, Arlington, Tysons Corner) and suburban Maryland (Bethesda, Silver Spring), where government contractors and research institutions cluster heavily.
What types of roles typically qualify for F-1 CPT sponsorship in Washington DC?
Policy research, communications, data analysis, international affairs, cybersecurity, public health, and economic consulting roles are commonly structured as CPT-eligible positions in DC. The qualifying factor is always the direct connection to your academic program, not the employer's sector. Roles framed as research assistantships or applied policy projects tend to satisfy that requirement most cleanly.
How do I find F-1 CPT jobs in Washington DC?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students and filters job listings by visa type, including F-1 CPT, so you're not wading through postings from employers unfamiliar with work authorization. Beyond that, your university's international student office and career center will have DC-specific employer relationships worth tapping before you search independently.
Are there any Washington DC-specific considerations for F-1 CPT sponsorship?
Washington DC's employer base includes a significant number of organizations that require background checks or security clearances, which F-1 students on CPT are generally ineligible to obtain. It's important to confirm security requirements before investing time in an application. Additionally, unpaid CPT internships at nonprofits are common in DC, but CPT rules require the experience to meet the academic integration standard regardless of compensation.