Curricular Practical Training Seminar

1st & 3rd Wednesday and 2nd Friday of each Month at 3:00 pm

Slutzker Center for International Services

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

– Only available prior to degree completion– Must be directly related to your major field of study indicated on

your I-20 Cannot be in a minor field of study Cannot be in a previous field of study if different than your

current major field of study−Permission to be off campus for the training: for a specific

placement- at a specific location, for specific dates, & part-time (for less than 20 hours/week) or full-time (more than 20 hours per week)

– Must be authorized by the Slutzker Center on a new I-20 – May be paid or unpaid

Training that is either:required of all candidates for a degree ORa course (e.g., Internship, Practicum, Experience Credit, etc.) in a degree program.

• Must currently be in F-1 status

• Must have been a full-time student for 1 academic year* (Fall and Spring semesters or Spring and Fall semesters ) *An Exception may be made for programs that require an internship from graduate students in their first year of study

• Must be training in your major field of study

• Must receive departmental approval (recommendation letter)

• May not begin CPT until new I-20 authorizing CPT is issued

• Must maintain full-time student status if participating in CPT during Fall or Spring semester (summer CPT does not require full-time enrollment)–Undergrads registered for 12 credits or have a Last Semester Memo –Grads registered for 9 credits or have a Certificate of Full-time Status on file with the Graduate School or Last Semester Memo

• Must continue to make normal progress toward your degree

Requirements

I-20 Program Extensions

• Participation in CPT should not delay one’s program completion.

• You must plan your program of study to include time for your internship without requiring an extension of your program

• A student’s desire to continue working on CPT cannot be the basis of an I-20 extension.

The duration of an I-20 should provide sufficient a time to complete the academic degree for which it was issued.

Types of CPT

Required for the Degree•Participation in training (Internship, Practicum, Field Experience, etc.) is required for everyone in the degree program •Student does not need to register for any class or credits

Course in the Curriculum •Participation in training is a course offered in the curriculum (Internship, Practicum, Field Experience, etc.) of a degree program•Must be registered for at least 1 course for at least 1 credit

Dissertation ResearchIf a doctoral student must engage in off-campus work to complete research necessary for a dissertation 

•Must register for GRD 998 and/or a department-specific dissertation credit and file a Certificate of Full Time Status

CPT: Full-Time vs. Part-Time

• Part-Time: 20 hours or less per week• No limitation on part-time CPT experience

you can engage in as long as your degree program requires or allows it

• Full-Time: More than 20 hours per week• 365 days or more of full-time CPT makes

you ineligible for OPT at this degree level

• On-campus employment and CPT together cannot exceed 20 hours of work a week while school is in session. This includes assistantship and CASE center placements.

Duration of CPT

• CPT is authorized by semester• Participation in CPT may begin after the last day of the previous

semester of registration. CPT must end before the first day of the following semester of registration.

• For example: Summer CPT cannot begin until after the Spring semester ends and must end before the Fall semester starts.

• CPT may be extended if recommended by academic department and authorized by SCIS• Submit a new CPT request, including Training Data Sheet,

Recommendation Letter, and Letter from Internship Placement for each semester including summer session(s).

• You may participate in CPT as much as program will allow and department will authorize

•

• A student will be ineligible for OPT if he/she participates in 365 days of full time CPT.

CPT Application Process

The Slutzker Center processes CPT applications on a walk-in basis (PT Step 2) on:

Mondays from 3pm-5pm and Thursdays from 10am-12 noon.

Prepare the following for PT STEP 2: • Recommendation Letter on department letterhead

CPT Application Process (cont.)• Proof of registration for at least 1 credit (unless the

training is required for program)• Photocopy of placement letter that includes location,

beginning date and ending date, and number of hours• Training Data Sheet - Please type responses directly

into the fillable form.

• Student Responsibility Checklist

CPT Application Process (cont.)

CPT Application Process (cont.) • All of your original I-20’s since entering the U.S.

• Your passport, visa, and a printout of your electronic I-94 or paper I-94 card in passport

• If you do not have the University Aetna health insurance plan, a photocopy of your health insurance card/plan indicating the validity period.

• Health insurance should include Medical Evacuation and Repatriation coverage; if your plan does notinclude this (e.g., POMCO), you may purchase asupplemental FrontierMEDEX plan.

• Health insurance must be valid at least until the end date of the semester in which you will be engaged in CPT.

Full-time enrollment or equivalent is required for CPT application processing in Fall or Spring semester.

Enrollment

Undergraduate Students:

• 12 credits; or

• If it is your last semester and fewer than 12 credits are required to graduate, file a Last Semester Memo with the SCIS

Graduate Students:

• 9 credits or file a Certificate of Full-Time Status with the Registrar’s Office (copy to SCIS); or

• If it is your last semester and fewer than 9 credits are required tograduate, file a Last Semester Memo with the SCIS

• I-9: Your employer is required to have you complete a paper I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form within 3 days of starting employment.

• E-Verify: Some employers participate in the E-verify Program, an electronic employment verification process that is being tested to replace the paper I-9. Your employer may also require you to complete the E-verify process.

• Social Security: Employment in the U.S. requires a Social Security Number (SSN). If you do not have an SSN, you must apply for an SSN using the I-20 issued to authorize CPT.

• Taxes: Social Security and Medicare Taxes

Typically, non-resident F-1 students with authorized CPT are exempt from paying Social Security (F.I.C.A) and Medicare taxes as long as you continue to file your tax return as a non-resident for tax purposes.Federal, State, and Local Income TaxesHowever, employers are required to withhold Federal, state, and local income taxes from your paycheck unless you qualify for a tax treaty exemption. (More information also available at the IRS website)

If you will be employed

Questions?

Questions/Concerns/Queries