F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

CPT approval is at the discretion of your academic department and ISEO. Your CPT I-20 request needs to be approved by your academic department before it is approved by ISEO. Discuss eligibility and potential impacts to CPT authorization on your academic progress, graduate funding, and on-campus appointments with your academic department. The processing time for a CPT I-20 is 10 business days.

• Part-Time CPT:
  • F-1 students who are eligible for CPT may work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) during the academic year (Fall, Winter, and Spring terms).
  • Participation in Part-Time CPT does not affect eligibility for post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) work authorization.
    
    
• Full-Time CPT:
  • F-1 students eligible for CPT may participate in Full-Time CPT (over 20 hours per week) during the summer term or quarter breaks, such as Fall or Winter break.
  • Participation in Full-Time CPT for one year or more will cause you to not be eligible for Optional Practical Training 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. Part-Time CPT does not count towards this limit.
    
    
• Graduate Students and Full-Time CPT:
  • Full-time CPT during the academic year may be 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. Discuss eligibility and potential impacts to graduate funding and on-campus appointments with your academic department before requesting Full-Time 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.

Job Offer Letter:

An offer letter for a job in your major field of study is required to apply for CPT. ISEO requires certain compontents on your job offer letter in order to apply for CPT. Students who need to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) may need additional components on their job offer letter.

View the following Job Offer Letter Checklists to ensure that you have all required information: 

• Job Offer Letter Checklist - Requirements for CPT I-20
• Job Offer Letter Checklist - Requirements for CPT I-20 and SSN Application

CPT Hours:

• Part-Time CPT:
  • CPT employment is limited to part-time (20 hours or less per week) during the academic term (Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters).
    
    
• Full-Time CPT:
  • CPT employment can be full-time (21 or more hours per week) during academic breaks and in the Summer term. Graduate students may be authorized for full-time CPT during the quarter if they have advanced to candidacy.

CPT Employment Dates:

The CPT employment dates must be within the dates of an academic quarter or summer session (see the table below). CPT is approved one term at a time. Multiple CPT requests must be submitted for employment dates that span across multiple terms. Graduate student should be sure to verify that TA and GSR responsibilities do not conflict with summer employment dates.

CPT can only be authorized if the employment is an integral part of the curriculum, that is, you must get academic credit for your employment. A student needs to be enrolled in a CPT-eligible course before their CPT request can be approved.

CPT Enrollment Requirements for Undergraduate Students:

• Option 1: CPT course enrollment through your major department:
  • You will need to enroll in (and pay tuition for) a course that will give you academic credit.
  • The course must be in the term in which you plan to work (Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer terms).
  • Summer CPT: Students who are enrolled in Special Summer Session (Summer Session III) and enrolled in the Fall term can work until the day before the Fall term begins.
  • 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.
      
      
• 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.

CPT Enrollment Requirements for Graduate Students:

• Option 1: CPT course enrollment through your department:
  • You will need to enroll in (and pay tuition for) a course that will give you academic credit.
  • The course must be in the term in which you plan to work (Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer terms).
  • Summer CPT
    • If you are graduating during the summer, you must enroll in a research unit to be eligible for CPT. We recommend that you enroll in Special Summer Session (Session III).
    • Students who are enrolled in Special Summer Session (Summer Session III) and enrolled in the Fall term can work until the day before the Fall term begins.
  • 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.
      
      
• Option 2: Summer Cooperative Education Program (Summer term only):
  • 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 earn academic credit for the employment, and thus, will not be required to pay tuition during the Summer term. 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. A graduate student's department will verify their intent to register for Fall if their CPT request is submitted before showing fall enrollment.
  • How to participate:
    • 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.Submit the Summer Coop Reporting Form in iPortal.
    • You are also 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. 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.

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

• Upload a PDF copy of your job offer letter.
• If you are a graduate student participating in the Summer Coop, upload a PDF copy of your Summer Cooperative Education Agreement.
• 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.

Important reminders:

• Before you submit: 
  • 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). Do not submit your request until the registration shows up on your TritonLink academic history.
  • 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.
• You cannot begin working until your CPT is authorized.
• CPT cannot be backdated.

The reporting form is a requirement for graduate students who participate in CPT through the Summer Cooperative Education Agreement rather than CPT course enrollment.

Submit the "F-1 Post CPT Cooperative Education Internship for Graduate Students Reporting Form" in iPortal.

• This report is due by the first day of Fall quarter.
• Failure to submit your report in a timely manner will result in a hold being placed on your account preventing registration for the Winter quarter.