Curricular Practical Curricular Practical Training (CPT)Training (CPT)

Internship/Practicum Internship/Practicum Opportunities DURING Opportunities DURING your Degree Programyour Degree Program

Revised 05/21/2010Revised 05/21/2010

CPT WorkshopCPT Workshop

What is CPT? What is CPT? Eligibility for CPTEligibility for CPT Rules for CPTRules for CPT CPT No-NosCPT No-Nos Applying for CPTApplying for CPT CPT Registration CPT Registration

RequirementsRequirements QuestionsQuestions

What is CPT?What is CPT?

Curricular practical training is an Curricular practical training is an integral part of an F-1 student’s integral part of an F-1 student’s established curriculum which established curriculum which allows them to engage in allows them to engage in experiential training in any type of experiential training in any type of required or optional internship or required or optional internship or practicum experience. practicum experience.

CPT is done DURING your degree CPT is done DURING your degree program (before you graduate)program (before you graduate)

You are still an F1 visa holder You are still an F1 visa holder while on CPTwhile on CPT

CPT is…CPT is…

Eligibility for Eligibility for CPTCPT

Been enrolled as a full time (12 credits Been enrolled as a full time (12 credits undergrad, 9 credits grad) student for at undergrad, 9 credits grad) student for at least one full academic year of study (fall least one full academic year of study (fall and spring semesters only*)and spring semesters only*)

Maintained legal immigration student statusMaintained legal immigration student status

Be enrolled accordingly for CPT internship Be enrolled accordingly for CPT internship creditscredits

Been formally offered and accepted an Been formally offered and accepted an internshipinternship

*summer semesters are considered vacation time for *summer semesters are considered vacation time for international students and do NOT count toward full academic international students and do NOT count toward full academic year of study.year of study.

To be eligible, you must have…To be eligible, you must have…

CPT RulesCPT Rules

An “integral part of established curriculum”An “integral part of established curriculum”– Required of all students, or;Required of all students, or;– Optional for specific course or curriculum Optional for specific course or curriculum

tracktrack An official internship or practicum experience – An official internship or practicum experience –

meaning your department must be willing to meaning your department must be willing to assign credits in order for your ISA to authorize assign credits in order for your ISA to authorize the CPTthe CPT

DURING your degree program (BEFORE DURING your degree program (BEFORE graduation; you cannot extend your academic graduation; you cannot extend your academic stay for CPT, stay for CPT, unlessunless your department REQUIRES your department REQUIRES the CPT at the end of your coursework)the CPT at the end of your coursework)

Authorized for a specific employer, location and Authorized for a specific employer, location and period approved in SEVISperiod approved in SEVIS

CPT Must be…CPT Must be…

Rules for CPT, cont.Rules for CPT, cont.

Can be approved for part-time (20 hours Can be approved for part-time (20 hours or less) or full-time (over 20 hours)or less) or full-time (over 20 hours)

Is available *up to* 12 months (full-Is available *up to* 12 months (full-time) for each higher degree level time) for each higher degree level earned.earned.

WILL cause you to LOSE your OPT if WILL cause you to LOSE your OPT if you exceed 12 months or more of full-you exceed 12 months or more of full-time CPTtime CPT

Part-time CPT, does not count toward Part-time CPT, does not count toward 12-month CPT maximum12-month CPT maximum

CPT …CPT …

CPT No-Nos…CPT No-Nos… You are allowed to do CPT for *up to* one year, but You are allowed to do CPT for *up to* one year, but

– It will only be authorized per semesterIt will only be authorized per semester– You MUST be registered accordingly before it can be You MUST be registered accordingly before it can be

authorizedauthorized You cannot be enrolled full-time You cannot be enrolled full-time and and be on full-time be on full-time

CPTCPT

This means that if you are on full-time CPT, you can This means that if you are on full-time CPT, you can only enroll in a maximum of :only enroll in a maximum of :UNDERGRADS UNDERGRADS 4 credits or less, including CPT 4 credits or less, including CPT

credits credits [ 1 CPT (required), 3 Online/EDGE (optional)][ 1 CPT (required), 3 Online/EDGE (optional)]GRADS GRADS 6 credits or less, including CPT credits 6 credits or less, including CPT credits

[3 CPT (required), 3 Online/EDGE (optional)][3 CPT (required), 3 Online/EDGE (optional)]

CPT No-Nos…CPT No-Nos… GRADUATE Students on Assist/Fellowships:GRADUATE Students on Assist/Fellowships:

You cannot be on an assistantship and have a You cannot be on an assistantship and have a FULL time CPT.FULL time CPT.

You can have a PART time CPT if and only if the You can have a PART time CPT if and only if the hours on CPT hours on CPT andand the hours of your the hours of your assist/fellowship TOTAL 20 hours or less per assist/fellowship TOTAL 20 hours or less per weekweek

For Example:For Example:– .50 FTE = 20 hours, therefore NO part time CPT allowed.50 FTE = 20 hours, therefore NO part time CPT allowed– .33 FTE = 13.2 hours, therefore additional 6.8 hours of .33 FTE = 13.2 hours, therefore additional 6.8 hours of

CPT allowedCPT allowed– .25 FTE = 10 hours, therefore additional 10 hours of CPT .25 FTE = 10 hours, therefore additional 10 hours of CPT

allowedallowed

So you have a job/internship offer!

Do you need to contact your International Student Advisor BEFORE you can work?

Location Semester

Work Hours Per Week*

20 Hours or Less

Over 20 Hours

ON Campus

Fall NO YES

Spring NO YES

Summer NO NO

OFF Campus

Fall YES YES

Spring YES YES

Summer YES YES

* Hours per Week ON Campus is Friday to Thursday* Hours per Week OFF Campus is usually Monday to Friday (check with employer)

Applying for CPTApplying for CPT

You can download the CPT application packet from the IPS website

Call (209) 946-2246 to schedule an appointment to meet with your International Student Advisor

Make an appointment! Make an appointment!

Applying for CPT, cont.Applying for CPT, cont.

Fill in the CPT Application Form Fill in the CPT Application Form (in CPT packet)(in CPT packet)

Have your advisor or department Have your advisor or department fill in the Departmental fill in the Departmental Recommendation Form (in CPT Recommendation Form (in CPT packet)packet)

Bring formal offer letter from Bring formal offer letter from your internship on the employer's your internship on the employer's letterhead, stating the location of letterhead, stating the location of the internship, the length of the internship, the length of internship including start date internship including start date and description of duties.  and description of duties.  

*Before* your appointment…… *Before* your appointment……

Be registered for appropriate CPT course creditsBe registered for appropriate CPT course credits– Full-time CPT for GRADUATE students: Full-time CPT for GRADUATE students:

33 credits fall and spring, credits fall and spring, 22 credits summer credits summer

– Full-time CPT for UNDERGRADUATE students: Full-time CPT for UNDERGRADUATE students:

1 1 credit each fall, spring, and summer credit each fall, spring, and summer semesterssemesters

– Part-time CPT for GRADUATE students: Part-time CPT for GRADUATE students:

11 credit each fall, spring, 2 credits summer credit each fall, spring, 2 credits summer(included in the total full-time enrollment (included in the total full-time enrollment

requirement)requirement)– Part-time CPT for UNDERGRADUATE students: Part-time CPT for UNDERGRADUATE students:

11 credit fall, spring, and summer semesters credit fall, spring, and summer semesters(included in the total full-time enrollment (included in the total full-time enrollment

requirement)requirement)

Applying for CPT, cont.Applying for CPT, cont.CPT Registration CPT Registration Requirements Requirements

C P T Registration Requirements

Full Time C P T

Part Time C P T

Undergraduate

Student

Fall

Must register for at least 1

internship credit hour

Must register for a full course load of which 1 credit must be CPT

Spring

Must register for at least 1

internship credit hour

Must register for a full course load of which 1 credit must be CPT

Summer

Must register for at least 1

internship credit hour

Must register for at least 1 internship credit hour

Graduate Student

FallMust register for 3

internship credit hours

Must register for a full course load of which 1 credit must be CPT

SpringMust register for 3

internship credit hours

Must register for a full course load of which 1 credit must be CPT

SummerMust register for 2

internship credit hours

Must register for 2 internship credit hours

CPT Registration RequirementsCPT Registration Requirements