Employment / Curricular Practical Training

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Curricular Practical Training

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a type of off-campus work authorization which permits eligible F-1 international students to engage in paid or unpaid work experience which "is an integral part of the established curriculum" and "directly related to the student's major area of study." Employment includes alternate work/study internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum.

Integral part of an established curriculum means the opportunity must be required by the curriculum or, if not required, the student must receive academic credit for the training. Enrollment in a specified course must be concurrent with the employment (see CPT Start and End Date section). CPT is not possible for graduate students enrolled in GRAD 700. If the work experience is solely sought because it is beneficial, relevant, or excellent professional/personal experience, it does NOT qualify for CPT. Student should seek advisement from ISS advisor regarding eligibility for other off-campus work permits.

Employer Specific Authorization

CPT is an employer specific work authorization. You are only authorized to engage in employment for a specific internship employer as listed on your I-20. If you change the position or host organization prior to the internship start date, then you must immediately notify International Students & Scholars (ISS), your internship coordinator or instructor, and re-submit all required internship and CPT request paper work with a new internship offer letter.

An F-1 student is eligible to apply for Curricular Practical Training if they meet all of the following requirements:

  1. Must be in valid F-1 status for one academic year (at least two semesters). A transfer student must have completed at least one semester at CSUF prior to the CPT authorization.
  2. Must maintain a full course of study in the program indicated on I-20
  3. Must be in good academic standing (not on academic, administrative, disciplinary, or graduate probation). 
  4. Must obtain approval from designated academic or faculty advisor(s) in College and/or Department. Please consult with your department or College for any additional internship requirements and restrictions.
  5. Must enroll in internship course or equivalent to receive academic credit for training.

Part-Time CPT: Internship is limited to 20 hours or less per week. While a student is continuing a degree program, only part-time CPT will be allowed during the Fall or Spring semesters. It does not affect eligibility for post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Full-time CPT: Internship hours are more than 20 hours per week. Full-time CPT is available only during the summer. Please check with your Internship Coordinator if other rules apply. If you accumulate 12 months of full-time CPT you will not be eligible to apply for post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).

CPT combined with On-Campus Work: During Spring or Fall semester, if you plan to work on-campus while on approved part-time CPT, you are limited to no more than 20 hours per week for on-campus employment and no more than 20 hours per week for part-time CPT. The combined employment time cannot exceed 40 hours total per week. 

CPT Start Date and End Date
Academic internship may begin as early as the first day of the semester and must end no later than the last day of final exams week. It is your responsibility to inform the internship host organization that your internship dates must fall within the dates of the CSUF academic semester or term. Please see chart below:

Internship Term Semester/Term Start Date
(Earliest Internship Start Date)		 Semester/Term End Date
(Latest Internship End Date)		 Deadline to Submit CPT Request to ISS Office

Fall/Spring/
Summer Intersession

 First day of Instruction for Semester or Term Last day of Final Examinations for Semester or Term Add/Drop Deadline of Semester or Term

Examples:

Summer 2021

Fall 2021

Spring 2022

 

06/1/2021

08/21/2021

01/22/2022

 

08/06/2021

12/17/2021

05/20/2022

 

05/31/2021

09/03/2021

TBD

CPT vs. Pre-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT)

CPT Pre-Completion OPT

You must register for the internship or equivalent course.

 No internship course registration is required.
You pay the tuition and fees for the course. CPT authorized by ISS office. Allow time for ISS processing. No same day or next day processing. File Form I-765 Application for Employment with USCIS application fee; allow 2-3 months average processing time.
CPT is authorized for a specific period to coincide with the semester or academic term. You request an intended start date. You may begin to work after the approved date upon the receipt of your EAD (Employment Authorization Document) card.
Deadline to apply for CPT is the Add & Drop deadline for Fall, Spring, or Summer term Apply no earlier than 90 days prior to your desired start date of employment.

You cannot change employers during the CPT authorization.

 You may change employers during the approved pre-completion OPT period.
If you obtain a second internship with your current host organization, you need to re-enroll for the internship course, repeat CICE registration, and CPT application process. Pre-completion OPT time will be deducted from total 12 months of Optional Practical Training allocation.
You are not eligible for CPT while on GRAD 700.

You are eligible for Pre-Completion OPT while on GRAD 700.

Application Procedure for Academic Internships
The Center for Internships & Community Engagement (CICE) administers the process of approving academic internships for credit. In order to be eligible for CPT you must be enrolled in the academic internship class for your discipline during the semester you will be conducting the internship. This is the mechanism through which you will receive course credit. CICE’s Academic Internship Information Cards provide specific information for each major’s class, along with instructions on how to find an existing internship or register a new one, and how to complete the CICE registration process.

Steps to Obtain CPT:

  1. Review ISS website to determine eligibility and application requirements. If you have questions about your eligibility, schedule an appointment with an ISS Advisor. Please also check with your department or College for additional rules on internships.
  2. Refer to the CICE Info Cards for more information instructions before finding an internship
  3. Find an internship position. Visit Titan Connection to search for an internship. Internship companies must be registered with CICE.
  4. Obtain an offer letter from your internship site.
  5. Obtain your academic department's permit to enroll, if required.
  6. Once enrolled in the internship course, obtain the CICE Academic Internship Placement form.
  7. Submit the Curricular Practical Training Request form. If the internship is a paid position and you do not have a social security number (SSN), please indicate that you need to apply for SSN on the CPT request form. Once processed, your CPT I-20 (and SSN Letter if applicable) will be issued electronically and emailed to your CSUF email address.

Other Notes

  • Once ISS processes your application, you will be given a new I-20. You will receive an updated I-20 with CPT Work Authorization noted on page 2, including the name of the internship employer, location & authorization dates.
  • Internships cannot be authorized on the same day or day before you start your internship. It is unlawful to begin the internship before CPT is granted. Please plan accordingly.
  • Consult with an ISS advisor and Academic Advisor in your Major Department if you wish to participate in a second internship. The entire internship registration and CPT request process must be repeated in order to obtain work authorization for a second internship.