Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a temporary employment authorization for eligible F-1 students to gain off-campus experience directly related to their major. The employment must be part of an internship assignment that is required for completion of the degree. In other words, CPT is academic-based employment and is intended to support learning rather than general employment or employment driven by job opportunities.

CPT requests are reviewed and approved by an F-1 international student advisor at DoIE. The average processing time is 5 business days (not including time required by the student's major department). 

Once approved, CPT applicant will receive an I-20 with CPT authorization on the 2nd page, which serves as the student's official work authorization in the U.S.

Types of CPT

You may be eligible to participate in CPT in two different ways:

• Part-time: Less than 20 hours per week 
• Full-time: More than 20 hours per week

Eligibility for full-time or part-time CPT is dependent on graduation requirement and academic department restrictions.

Phase 1: Prepare for CPT

1. Confirm internship requirement with your academic department
2. Review CPT requirements and resources
3. Obtain an internship and an offer letter. See template (Microsoft Word,16KB)

Phase 2: Apply for CPT

1. Download and complete the CPT Authorization Request Form
2. Obtain your academic advisor's signature
3. Email the signed form and offer letter to f1@sfsu.edu
4. Receive your CPT I-20 (typically within 5 business days)
5. If needed, apply for a Social Security Number (SSN)

Phase 3: Begin Employment

1. Start working only on or after the CPT start date listed on your I-20
2. Work only for the employer, location, and dates authorized on your CPT

Phase 4: End Employment

1. Stop working no later than the CPT end date listed on your I-20

Important: Do not begin employment until you have received your CPT-authorized I-20 and the CPT start date has been reached

Relation to Major

• CPT employment must be a graduation requirement for your current major(s), not your minor
• You are responsible for demonstrating how your internship relates to your field of study. If the relationship is questioned by SEVP or USCIS in the future, the burden of proof rests with you
• F-1 advisors cannot determine whether a specific job qualifies as being related to your major because they are not subject-matter experts in your academic field 
• You are strongly encouraged to keep documentation for every CPT position, including the employer name, job title, employment dates, supervisor's contact information, and a description of job duties

Types of Employment NOT Allowed

• Employment not directly related to a student's major
• Full-time/long-term employment: Offer letters must provide an end date
• Self-employed positions/entrepreneurs

Types of Employment Allowed

• Short-term internships, paid or unpaid
• Multiple employers: 
  • Students may work for more than one employer, but all employment must be related to their major 
  • Each employer must provide an offer letter and a separate CPT application must be submitted

• Be in valid F-1 status
• Have a valid passport
• Fulfilled one-year full-time requirement
  • Must have been enrolled full-time for at least one full academic year (two consecutive academic semesters) in the U.S. before their proposed CPT start date (excluding Summer and Winter sessions)
  • One-year enrollment may be fulfilled at SFSU, a previous university, or between multiple universities (not language schools)
• Enrolled full-time at the time of applying for CPT
  • Spring and Fall: 
    • Students must enroll full-time or have approved RCL completion of study or FTE (No CPT in grace semester).
  • Summer:
    • Undergraduate students: ​​​​​no minimum unit requirements other than internship course required by major
    • Graduate students
      • Graduate students are not eligible for CPT if they have enrolled in their culminating experiences in a prior semester and are on summer break, their grace semester (Second FTE), or on RCL Completion of Study.
      • Graduate students interested in work authorization after their culminating experience enrollment must apply for Thesis OPT if they wish to do an internship while completing their culminating experiences requirement.
• Received a internship offer letter with all the required information
• Enroll in an internship course required by major
  • Students should speak to major academic advisor and find out if their major has either internship hours or class requirements.

When to Apply for CPT

At least 5 business days before employment start date (to account for CPT I-20 process time)

Please note that academic departments may have additional requirements, such as ICCE Learning Plans and other requirements and restrictions before students will be allowed to enroll in the internship course. Students must talk to their department to check for their timeline. 

You may utilize Career and Leadership Development (CLD) resources to help you find a job off-campus, as well as tips for job interviews, resumes, etc. 

Several off-campus positions are listed on Handshake, SFSU's online job listing service. Handshake provides part-time, full-time, temporary, and internship opportunities targeted to SFSU students and alumni. Only SFSU students and alumni are eligible to view job listings.

Internship Offer Letter

You must request an internship offer letter with all required information to apply for CPT. See template (Microsoft Word, 16KB). The letter must be on the official company letterhead and include the supervisor or hiring manager’s signature. The letter should provide ALL of the following information:

• Your full name
• Title of internship position
• Internship start date
• Internship end date
• Physical worksite location. If you are working remote, enter your home address as your worksite address.
• The number of internship hours per week
• A brief explanation of internship tasks

The internship course must be a degree requirement. 

"Independent Studies" or "Graduate Studies" courses are not acceptable.

Students should speak to major academic advisor and find out if their major has either internship hours or class requirements.

1. Review the CPT resources above carefully.
   • Understand the CPT responsibilities.
2. Complete the mandatory CPT quiz.
   • The purpose of the quiz is to test students' knowledge of CPT and remind students of their responsibilities.
   • There is no minimum score requirement.     
3. Keep a note of the date of completion to fill CPT Authorization Request Form.

1. Download the CPT Authorization Request Form (PDF, 138KB).
2. Fill out:
   • Page 1: "Student Information" & "CPT Request Information"
   • Page 2: "Applicant Requirements and Responsibilities" & "Acknowledgement and Student Signature"
3. Obtain a signature from the major academic advisor.
4. Enroll in the required internship course
   • See "Eligibility Requirements" above for course information.

Email the following documents to f1@sfsu.edu:

• A signed CPT Authorization Request form. Ensure that the requested CPT and internship start date is at least 5 days in the future, not in the past.
• An internship offer letter.  See template (Microsoft Word, 16KB). 
• Part-time students must justify part-time enrollment before CPT can be approved.
  • Undergraduate students must submit a Reduced Course Load (RCL) due to Completion of Study request with their CPT request.
  • Graduate students must submit a Full Time Equivalency (FTE) request with their CPT request.

Once received, an F-1 international student advisor will review you request. If eligible, you will receive an I-20 with CPT authorization on the 2nd page within 5 business days.

• The typical processing time for a CPT request is 5 business days.
• CPT authorization will be printed on page 2 of your newly issued I-20. This I-20 serves as your official employment authorization. 
• It is illegal to begin an internship before receiving CPT authorization and before the authorized CPT start date listed on your I-20. Students may begin working only after they have received their CPT-authorized I-20 and the authorized start date has arrived. No exceptions.
• CPT is authorized for a specific employer, position, location, and period of employment. Any changes to your employment, including changes to dates, employer, work location, or job duties, may require a new CPT application and a new CPT-authorized I-20 before the change takes effect.

You will need to make an appointment with any Social Security Administration (SSA) office. Check with SSA website for up to date documents required to receive a SSN. See the SSN resources. 

SSA will not process an application if it is more than 30 days before the CPT start date.

You are encouraged to take advantage of Optional Practical Training (OPT). OPT is a 12-month employment authorization that allows F-1 students to gain practical work experience directly related to their major field of study.

You may be eligible to use a portion of your OPT before completing your degree (pre-completion OPT) or after graduation (post-completion OPT, or PCPT), provided you meet all eligibility requirements.

CPT is based on the nature of the activity, not whether you receive compensation. 

If the internship, practicum, fieldwork, or other off-campus training experience is directly related to your major and is required for a degree completion, you must obtain CPT authorization before participating. If your major has no internship requirement, apply for OPT.

CPT is semester-specific and employer-specific. This means that if you are required to continue your internship next semester, you must apply for CPT again. If you change employers, you must also apply for a new CPT authorization.

It is possible.  Students who have received more than 365 days of full-time CPT will not be eligible for OPT.

Yes. U.S. immigration regulations allow students to hold multiple internship positions at the same time. Because CPT authorization is employer-specific, students must obtain CPT authorization for each internship that is required as part of their degree program.