CPT
F1 International Students
UFIC International Student Services
January 28, 2013
Curricular Practical Training
(CPT)
 What
is CPT?
 Eligibility for CPT
 CPT Regulations
 CPT Limitations
 Applying for CPT
 CPT Registration Requirements
 Questions
What is CPT?
Curricular practical training is an
integral part of an F-1 student’s
established curriculum which allows
them to engage in experiential training
in any type of required or optional
internship or practicum experience.
 CPT is done DURING your degree
program (before you graduate)
 You are still an F1 visa holder while on
CPT

Eligibility for CPT

To be eligible, you must have:
 Been
enrolled as a full time (12 credits
undergrad, 9 credits grad) student for at least
one full academic year of study (fall and spring
semesters only*)
 Maintained
legal immigration student status
 Be
enrolled accordingly for CPT internship
credits
 Been
formally offered and accepted an
internship
*summer semesters are considered vacation time for
international students and do NOT count toward full
academic year of study.
CPT Regulations

CPT must be:

An “integral part of established curriculum”
 Required
of all students, or
 Optional
for specific course or curriculum
track

An official internship or practicum experience –
meaning your department must be willing to
assign credits in order for your ISA to authorize
the CPT

DURING your degree program (BEFORE
graduation; you cannot extend your academic
stay for CPT, unless your department REQUIRES
the CPT at the end of your coursework)
CPT Regulations, continued

Authorized for a specific employer, location and
period approved in SEVIS

Can be approved for part-time (20 hours or less) or
full-time (over 20 hours)

Is available *up to* 12 months (full-time) for each
higher degree level earned.

WILL cause you to LOSE your OPT if you exceed 12
months or more of full-time CPT

Part-time CPT, does not count toward 12-month
CPT maximum
CPT Limitations


You are allowed to do CPT for *up to* one year, but

It will only be authorized per semester

You MUST be registered accordingly before it can be
authorized
You cannot be enrolled full-time and be on full-time
CPT

This means that if you are on full-time CPT, you can
only enroll in a maximum of :
 UNDERGRADS
 4 credits or less, including CPT
credits [ 1 CPT (required), 3 Online/EDGE (optional)]
 GRADS
 6 credits or less, including CPT credits [3
CPT (required), 3 Online/EDGE (optional)]
CPT Limitations, continued

GRADUATE Students on Assist/Fellowships:

You cannot be on an assistantship and have a FULL
time CPT.

You can have a PART time CPT if and only if the hours
on CPT and the hours of your assist/fellowship TOTAL
20 hours or less per week
 For
Example:
 .50
FTE = 20 hours, therefore NO part time CPT
allowed
 .33
FTE = 13.2 hours, therefore additional 6.8
hours of CPT allowed
 .25
FTE = 10 hours, therefore additional 10 hours
of CPT allowed
QUESTION: Do I need to contact my International
Student Advisor BEFORE I can work?
Location
ON
Campus
OFF
Campus
Semester
Work Hours
Per Week*
20 Hours or
Less
Over 20
Hours
Fall
No
YES
Spring
No
YES
Summer
No
No
Fall
YES
YES
Spring
YES
YES
Summer
YES
YES
* Hours per Week ON Campus is Friday to Thursday
* Hours per Week OFF Campus is usually Monday to Friday (check with employer)
Applying for CPT


Make an appointment!
 Call 352-273-1540 or -1541 to schedule an
appointment to meet with your International
Student Advisor
Complete the required steps BEFORE your
appointment
 Register appropriately for CPT credits
 Complete the CPT Application Form
 Get the Departmental Recommendation Form
completed by your Academic Advisor/Department
 Obtain formal offer letter from your internship on
the employer's letterhead, stating the location of the
internship, the length of internship including start
date and description of duties
Instructions & Forms: http://ufic.ufl.edu/ISS/forms.html
CPT Registration Requirements

Register for appropriate CPT credits
Full-time CPT for GRADUATE students:
 3 credits fall and spring, 2 credits summer
 Full-time CPT for UNDERGRADUATE students:
 1 credit each fall, spring, and summer semesters
 Part-time CPT for GRADUATE students:
 1 credit each fall, spring, 2 credits summer
 (included in the total full-time enrollment
requirement)
 Part-time CPT for UNDERGRADUATE students:
 1 credit fall, spring, and summer semesters
 (included in the total full-time enrollment
requirement)

CPT Registration Requirements, continued
C P T Registration Requirements
Undergraduate
Student
Fall
Must register for at
least 1 internship
credit hour
Spring
Must register for at
least 1 internship
credit hour
Summer
Graduate
Student
Full Time
CPT
Must register for at
least 1 internship
credit hour
Fall
Must register for 3
internship credit
hours
Spring
Must register for 3
internship credit
hours
Summer
Must register for 2
internship credit
hours
Part Time
CPT
Must register for a
full course load of
which 1
credit
must be CPT
Must register for a
full course load of
which 1 credit must
be CPT
Must register for at
least 1 internship
credit hour
Must register for a
full course load of
which 1 credit must
be CPT
Must register for a
full course load of
which 1 credit must
be CPT
Must register for 2
internship credit
hours
CPT Questions?
Contact Your
International Student Advisor!
A-C
D-J
K&L
Patricia Alba
Ethel Porras
Steve Ghulamani
palba@ufic.ufl.edu
eporras@ufic.ufl.edu
sghulamani@ufic.ufl.edu
352 273 1516
352 273 1509
352 273 1532
M-Q
R-V
W-Z
Candice DeBose-Tyson
Jessica Kelly
Martine Angrand
cdebose@ufic.ufl.edu
jkelly@ufic.ufl.edu
mangrand@ufic.ufl.edu
352 273 1503
352 273 1509
352 273 1502