F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

What is CPT? 

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a type of employment authorization for F-1 students. It is an opportunity to participate in a paid position off-campus in your field of study during the time you are pursuing your degree.

As an F-1 student, the priority and purpose of your stay in the U.S. is to engage in full-time studies. Engaging in CPT is a benefit for F-1 students who are making normal progress towards completion of their academic programs and are maintaining a valid visa status. Your CPT approval is at the discretion of ISEO and your academic department. In addition, eligibility and the application process will differ per institution and may be subject to change. 

To apply for CPT employment authorization, eligible F-1 students must first secure a job offer in a position related to their major. They must also enroll in a course (or cooperative program) and receive credit for the work they will do. Students must submit a separate application to engage in CPT each quarter and wait for an updated Form I-20 from ISEO reflecting CPT approval on the second page before starting work. 

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What types of employment require CPT Authorization?

During the time an F-1 student is pursuing their degree, all paid off-campus employment will require CPT Authorization. To apply for CPT, the employment must meet the following requirements: 

• The position is directly related to the student's major field of study (minors do not count). 
• The student's work will be supervised (students may not be self-employed and must have a direct supervisor managing their work). 
• The student is working for a U.S. employer or for a foreign employer who has an established office/branch within the U.S. and can supervise employees remotely. 

CPT is NOT required for: 

• Unpaid internships
• Volunteer positions
• On-campus positions
• Working in the U.S. after graduation (post-completion employment)
• Employment for companies outside of the U.S.: 
  • CPT cannot be authorized for foreign based employers unless they have an established office/branch within the U.S. and can supervise employees remotely.

Note, if you will be completing the entire duration of your employment from outside the U.S., CPT is not required unless your employer requires it. In these situations, make sure you communicate with your employer that you will not be in F-1 status and where you will be located, as there may be tax implications. ISEO may not be able to advise in these areas and recommend you consult an immigration attorney. 

If you have question about your particular employment and if CPT is required, contact an ISEO Advisor. 

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Eligibility for CPT:

In order to be eligible for CPT, you must fulfill all of the following criteria:

1. Hold a valid passport:
   • Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond the requested date of the CPT.
2. Have entered the U.S. and hold a valid Form I-94
   
3. Maintain F-1 status:
   • You must have an active SEVIS record to be authorized for CPT. You also must be enrolled full time during the academic year (Fall, Winter, and Spring terms), or have an authorized Reduced Course Load. Note that graduate students are not authorized to participate in CPT while on filing fee status.
     
4. Continuing Student:
   • You must be currently pursuing your degree. CPT cannot be authorized after completing your program. Your I-20 should have a completion date beyond your requested CPT end date.
     
5. Meet the One Academic Year Requirement for Practical Training:
   • You must have been enrolled on a full-time basis for at least one academic year (3 quarters) on the same SEVIS number. Exceptions to the one academic year requirement are provided for students enrolled in graduate studies that require immediate participation in CPT.
   • The following describe other potential ways students accrue time towards the one academic year requirement:
     • SEVIS Transfer: You may use time spent in another SEVIS approved university or college if you were enrolled full-time and did a timely SEVIS transfer using the same SEVIS record. If you request CPT during your first year at UC San Diego, we will need a transcript and a copy of your I-20 from your previous institution. Time spent enrolled in language training does not count towards the One Academic Year Requirement.
     • Change of Status: You may use time spent in another non-immigrant status (e.g., E-2, H-4, L-2) if you were enrolled full time at a SEVIS approved university or college for one academic year. You can use your Form I-94 and academic history to show full-time enrollment spent in a different non-immigrant status.
     • Change of Academic Level: You may use time spent at a lower degree level towards the one academic year requirement if you were approved for a change of level with the same SEVIS record.
   • Note: Students enrolled in less than 12 units with an authorized Reduced Course Load (RCL) are still considered full-time and may count the RCL term towards eligibility for the One Academic Year Requirement.

CPT can only be authorized if the employment is an integral part of the curriculum, that is, you will receive course credit or are enrolled in a cooperative program requiring off-campus employment. A student needs to be enrolled in a CPT-eligible course/program before their CPT request can be approved.

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CPT Enrollment Requirements for Undergraduate Students:

Option 1: CPT course enrollment through your major department: Check with your major department (minors are not included) to find out which course you can enroll into that will give you academic credit for your employment.

• Typical course numbers for undergraduates are: 191, 196, 197, 198 or 199.
• The course must be in the term(s) in which you plan to work (Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer terms). Students applying through the JSOE Cooperative Education Program should discuss with their major departments which course to enroll in to meet CPT enrollment requirements. 
• Students who wish to maximize the amount of CPT they can work during the summer are encouraged to enroll in Special Summer Session (Summer Session III). See section below for more information (Step 3: Consider Dates, Location, and Hours of CPT Employment).

Option 2: Academic Internship Program (AIP) course enrollment: If your major department does not have a CPT-eligible course available, check with the Academic Internship Program (AIP) to see if you may enroll in the AIP 97 or 197 course to receive academic credit for your employment. Be sure to start the process early.

• Here is an overview of AIP requirements:
  • Find an internship/job.
  • Create an AIP Learning Agreement.
  • Find a professor to oversee your AIP course: Please note that some adjunct professors may have union contracts that do not allow them to oversee additional courses, so it may be necessary to request an exception.
  • Enroll in AIP 97 or 197 course through the EASy enrollment system.

In order for your CPT request to be approved, you must show enrollment in a CPT course. Do not submit your request (Step 4: Request CPT I-20 from ISEO) until the registration shows up on your TritonLink academic history.

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CPT Enrollment Requirements for Graduate Students:

Option 1: CPT course enrollment through your department: Check with your graduate coordinator to find out which course you can enroll into that will give you academic credit for your employment.

• Typical course numbers for graduate students are 291, 297, 298, and 299.
• The course must be in the term in which you plan to work (Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer terms). If you are graduating during the summer, you must enroll in a research unit to be eligible for CPT.
• Students who wish to maximize the amount of CPT they can work during the summer are encouraged to enroll in Special Summer Session (Summer Session III). See section below for more information (Step 3: Consider Dates, Location, and Hours of CPT Employment).
• In order for your request to be approved, you must show enrollment in a CPT course (unless you are doing the Summer Cooperative Education Agreement, Option 2 below). Do not submit your request until the registration shows up on your TritonLink academic history.
  
  

Option 2: [SUMMER TERM ONLY ] Summer Cooperative Education Program: Graduate students who are continuing enrollment through the following fall term will have the opportunity to participate in the Summer Cooperative Education Program in the summer term. This is an agreement between the student, the faculty advisor, and the employer outlining specific goals that the student will work towards that would otherwise meet the requirements of a course for credit.

• If you participate in the Summer Cooperative Education Program, you will not be required to enroll in a course/earn academic credit for the employment. However, you will need to confirm that you intend to enroll for the following fall term when you submit your CPT application for the Summer term. 
• If you are participating in the Summer Coop, you must wait until Summer Session enrollment begins. CPT requests will be denied if submitted earlier than allowed.
  
  REQUIRED STEPS FOR PARTICIPATION: 
  1. Complete Summer Cooperative Agreement: Submit the Summer Cooperative Education Agreement with your CPT request in iPortal. Please note that this form requires the signature of you and your employer (digital signatures are accepted). If your employer refuses to sign the form, you will then need to use Option 1 and enroll in a course to give you credit for your employment. 
  2. Submit F-1 Post CPT Summer Cooperative Report: Upon completion of your employment, you will be required to submit the "F-1 Post CPT Cooperative Education Internship for Graduate Students Reporting Form" in iPortal before the first day of Fall quarter.
     
     Note: If you do not submit this form, a hold will be placed on your Tritonlink record and you will be unable to register for courses or request transcripts.

Student Considerations

Remember, it is THE STUDENT's responsibility to ensure they are able to maintain their F-1 full-time enrollment requirements, balance their CPT employment with on-campus employment obligations, complete course requirements, and monitor the number of days they are authorized to participate in CPT. This section encourages you to consider the following factors when engaging in CPT. 

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What Dates Can I Work? 

The dates you are permitted to engage in CPT will depend on the quarter you are enrolled in a CPT Course and if you are in you are a continuing or graduating student. See dates below for each group of students to determine the dates you may request to engage in CPT employment:

• Continuing students, or students who plan to continue enrolling after their term of CPT employment, may work through the following academic breaks. 
• Graduating students, or students who are in their last term of enrollment when engaging in CPT may only work through the end of their final quarter of enrollment.

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How Many Hours Can I Work? 

Students should ensure they are balancing their CPT employment with their on-campus obligations. Students are able to apply for part-time CPT (20 hours or less per week) or full-time CPT (21 hours per week or more). ISEO highly recommends that students stay within the following limits:

• Undergraduate Students: Part-time during the academic year (Fall/Winter/Spring Quarters). Students may work more than 20 hours during Summer term or quarter breaks, such as Spring, Fall, or Winter break.  
  • Full-time CPT during the academic year may be available to undergraduate students who are enrolled in the Jacobs School of Engineering Cooperative Education (Co-op) Program. 
  • Students requesting full-time CPT during the academic year should ensure they are balancing their CPT employment with their on-campus obligations such as UGIA/PLA work and course requirements. 
• Graduate Students: Academic Year: Part-time during the academic year (Fall/Winter/Spring Quarters). Students may work more than 20 hours during Summer term or quarter breaks, such as Spring, Fall, or Winter break.  
  • Full-time CPT during the academic year is available to Graduate students who have advanced to candidacy or are enrolled in a program which requires full-time CPT during the academic year.
  • Approval of full-time CPT is at the discretion of academic departments and GEPA. Consider potential impacts to graduate funding and on-campus appointments with your academic department eligibility and potential impacts to funding and on-campus appointments with your academic department.

Note, students who participate in full-time CPT for more than 365 days will not be eligible for OPT. If you want to apply for OPT after graduating from UC San Diego, then you will need to keep track of your time to assure you do not go over 365 days of full-time CPT. 

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Location of CPT Employment Site

Full-time Enrollment Requirements: F-1 students are required to enroll full-time in at least 12 units in each academic term - Fall, Winter and Spring quarters. In addition, no more than one (1) remote class per quarter can be counted toward the 12-unit, full-time enrollment requirement. Students may take additional online classes in excess of the 12-unit, full-time enrollment requirement. Note: Remote courses are denoted as “RCLASS” in WebReg. Hybrid classes do not count against the maximum of one online course towards full-time enrollment requirements.The following information may be helpful to mitigate any risk: 

• Students are encouraged to pursue CPT opportunities that require their presence outside of San Diego during the summer term to ensure they are able to meet full-time enrollment requirements.
• While federal regulations do not limit the physical location of research, employment, or other curricular activities, students who may be engaged in CPT outside of San Diego are encouraged to retain records to demonstrate how they have met in-person components of their full course load during each academic term (i.e., plane tickets, attendance records, maintenance of residence in San Diego). 

Note, If you will be outside the U.S. for the entire duration of your internship, you do not need CPT authorization unless your employer requires it. If you are unsure if CPT is required, contact an ISEO Advisor. 

Request CPT Employment Authorization from ISEO

Students must submit a separate application to engage in CPT each quarter and have already secured a job offer for a role that is directly related to their major field of study.

Submit the "F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT) I-20 Request" on iPortal. 

• Upload a PDF copy of your job offer letter.
  • Your job offer letter should contain all required components listed on the sample job offer letter. 
  • ISEO does not require that all components are in the same letter. Students may submit various documents, in addition to a job offer letter, to clearly demonstrate all the required components on the sample job offer letter. 
• Confirm Curricular Component (Course Enrollment or Cooperative Agreement)  
  • Course Number: Do not submit your request until the registration shows up on your TritonLink academic history.
  • Summer Coop: If you are a graduate student participating in the Summer Coop, upload a PDF copy of your Summer Cooperative Education Agreement.
• Report Dates of Employment and Hours. 
  • If requesting different hours for different date ranges, clearly indicate this in the request.
• Social Security Application Support Letter. 
  • If you need to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN), you can indicate this in your CPT Application and ISEO will issue you a support letter when reviewing your CPT Application to support your SSN Application. Note, SSNs are not issued by UC San Diego. Lean more on the SSN page. 
• Your new I-20 showing CPT authorization will be issued within 10 business days.
  • Note that incomplete applications will be delayed.
  • If your CPT application is pending for more than 3 days with your academic department, follow up with your department advisor.
• You will be notified via email when the request is complete.
• Print and sign the I-20, and keep a copy for your own records.

Do not start working until you have your CPT I-20 to show to your employer. CPT cannot be backdated and any delays to your CPT processing may delay your authorized CPT start date.