Curricular Practical Training For F-1 Students Only

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is work authorization or permission for F-1 students pursuing a degree, or credential program, to work before graduation in a short-term paid or unpaid internship position, which is directly related to an academic course or program.

Eligibility

An F-1 student is eligible to apply for Curricular Practical Training if he or she meets all of the following requirements:

• Must have been in F-1 status for at least 1 full academic year
• Must have competed one semester at CSUF if transfer student with an F-1 visa
• Must have an unexpired passport (valid at least 6 months into the future)
• Must be maintaining F-1 status
• Must be in good academic standing
  • Not on academic probation
  • Not on administrative probation
  • Not on graduate probation

Application Procedure

1. Find an internship position
2. Complete and print Center for Internships & Community Engagement's (CICE) online application form and obtain approval and signature from CICE.
3. Obtain Major Department's Faculty Internship Coordinator's approval and signature.
4. Enroll in appropriate internship course as determined by CICE or your department.
   Important Reminder: Please be aware of enrollment deadlines.
5. Submit signed CICE forms to IEE office. During this step, IEE Advisors will prepare a new I-20 with work authorization within 3 to 5 week days. You cannot begin internship until after you have received this new I-20.

Deadline to apply for CPT: Last add/drop date (with late fee) of current semester. Please check online Registration Guide for actual date.

Length of CPT

• CPT is authorized for a semester. Example: Start first day of semester, end last day of semester.
• Student may request CPT to be extended for the current semester, if the student will enroll in the following semester.
• Students requesting CPT for another semester must go through application process again (including enrollment in an internship course for next semester).

Hours of CPT

Part-time CPT	Less than or equal to 20 hours per week for Fall and Spring semesters.
Full-time CPT	More than 20 hours per week (21-40 hours per week).
	During intersession & summer or in student's final semester, full-time CPT is allowed (more than 20 hours per week).

Caution: If you work a cumulative total of 12 months of full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT), you will not be eligible to apply for Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Important Reminders

• Once you submit the required application form to the International Education and Exchange office, you will be given a new I-20. CPT Work Authorization is noted on page 3 of your new I-20, including the name of the internship organization and address of your internship site.
• This is the only form of work authorization you will receive from the IEE office.
• You must obtain CPT Work Authorization for paid or unpaid internship if you are receiving academic credit for the internship.

Revised — August 2011

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