CURRICULAR PRACTICAL
TRAINING
EMU Office for International Students & Scholars
Updated 02/25/2016
CPT GENERAL INFORMATION
Purpose: Practical experience in major field of study, whether paid or
unpaid.
Should I get CPT approval for an unpaid internship:
 Unpaid internship with a for-profit, private sector company
 Must meet six criteria to be considered as volunteering. If you meet the criteria,
you are not required to apply for CPT. (DOL Fact Sheet #71 Internship Programs)
However, it is still recommended by the OISS to obtain CPT authorization for
an unpaid internship experience.
 Unpaid work for a charitable organization
 A volunteer is: an “individual who performs hours of service… for civic,
charitable, or humanitarian reasons, without promise, expectation or receipt of
compensation for services rendered.” (from the U.S. Department of Labor)
Examples in a non-profit setting are working at a soup kitchen or homeless
shelter.
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CPT ELIGIBILITY
 In F-1 status and enrolled full-time for at least 1 academic year
(2 terms)
• Unless you have a degree-required practicum prior to fulfilling 2
terms
• Transfer students must have 8 months of full time enrollment at EMU
to establish academic standing to apply for CPT.
• Students completing a change of level or Optional Practical Training
(OPT) meet this requirement.
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REQUIREMENTS

Enroll full-time during fall and winter terms
 Exception– approved Reduced Hours for last term
 Possible Exemption for part-time CPT only—approved
Reduced Hours for Academic Difficulties or Medical Reasons

Enroll part-time during summer as annual vacation term

Must be in good academic standing (3.0 GPA for grads; 2.0 GPA
for undergrads)

OISS approval before beginning work

Approval given on a semester-by-semester basis
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CPT TERMS
May be full-time or part-time
Less than 20 hours = part-time
20 hours or more= full-time
Restrictions
• You are ineligible for full-time CPT if you already have a full-time
on-campus job (20 hours)
• 12 months or more of FULL-TIME CPT = NO OPT!!!! Part-time CPT
does not count.
• NO out-of-state CPT in the last term of study unless you have a
degree-required practicum
FULL-TIME VS. PART-TIME
SCENARIOS
I work full-time on campus already (20 hours/week).
= You are only allowed to have part-time CPT (20 hours or less).
I work part-time on campus already (less than 20
hours/week).
= You are allowed to have part-time OR full-time for CPT.
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CPT REQUIRED DOCUMENTS- ALL TYPES
• Find a job and obtain offer letter (see sample and tips)
• Complete student section of CPT Authorization Form
• Write Statement of Purpose, including:
1.
2.
3.
What are your day-to-day responsibilities?
What do you intend to learn in this job that will help you better
understand your field of study?
How does your work relate to the course’s curriculum?
• Ask Academic Advisor to complete Advisor Section
• **Additional documents may be needed depending on
the type of CPT you are requesting.**
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CPT TYPES
A. Required for your degree program
B. Cooperative Education (co-op)
C. Integral part of your curriculum
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CPT TYPE A
REQUIRED FOR DEGREE PROGRAM
• ALL students in your degree program are required to take this
course
• Consult university catalog and program of study to see if you
have a degree-required internship
In addition to CPT Required Documents, students must also
submit:
• You must submit a copy of the catalog or your program of study
confirming it is required
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CPT TYPE B
CO-OP CREDIT
 Work considered as cooperative education (co-op) through
University Advising and Career Development Center (UACDC, 200
McKenny)
 Earn credits toward degree (and pay for them too!)
 1 Credit = 200 hours
 2 Credits = 400 hours
 3 Credits = 600 hours
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Applying for CPT/ Co-Op
Instructions
Co-Op Approval with UACDC:
1.Go to UACDC for instructions and forms
2.Complete Student Information Form (SIF)
2.Obtain signatures on Student Agreement (SAF)
3.Obtain Letter of Commitment (offer letter)
4.Register for the co-op class
5.Bring all documents above to UACDC for approval
Only CPT Required Documents must be
submitted. No additional documents
needed.
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CPT TYPE C
INTEGRAL PART OF CURRICULUM
• Employment must be directly related to current class registration
(even summer!)
• Cannot use incompletes
• Cannot use previous or future classes
In addition to CPT Required Documents, students must
also submit:
• Approval from professor of registered class
• If work is related to non-face-to-face course (Independent Study,
Research, Thesis, etc.), you also need to submit a written course
description (or comparable document detailing course objectives,
goals, and grading). Online classes do not require this because there
is a syllabus.
• Must submit Program of Study or Course Catalog printout
confirming class will be used toward graduation requirements
EXPLAINING TO YOUR PROFESSOR
State that:
 CPT allows you to work off-campus in a job that is directly related
to your field of study and current class
 CPT is hands-on training based on a class that has similar
educational objectives
 You are eligible to work during the semester dates in which
you are taking the class
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AFTER FORMS ARE COMPLETED…
• Bring offer letter (on letterhead) and completed CPT
Authorization Form to OISS for processing. You must
be registered for the class that relates to your CPT
work.
• Reference the application checklist in CPT packet
for all possible documents needed
• You will receive an email when CPT I-20 is ready (5 -
7 business days)
• Submit CPT evaluation after employment end date
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CPT
EVALUATION
FORM
• Need to submit after
each CPT employment
concludes
• OISS will not approve
another CPT without
evaluation from
previous CPT
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TALKING WITH A POTENTIAL EMPLOYER
• Use terms such as “eligible,” not “legal”
• Refer to the employment as internship, not CPT
State facts:
• You are eligible to work after 2 full-time semesters of study at
a U.S. college or university.
• Work permission will be indicated on the I-20 form from the
school’s authorized immigration advisor.
• Your employer may contact OISS for questions or
clarification. Reference offer letter sample AND employer tips
to avoid confusion on what OISS needs.
YOU MUST INFORM OISS IF…
• You drop the course tied to CPT. You cannot continue
working based on approval from that course.
• You stop working before end date on I-20. OISS will update
your CPT approval dates according.
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OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (OPT)
•
After completion of all classes
•
Directly related to your field of study
•
Enrolled full-time for at least 8 months
•
No job offers required in order to apply
•
Apply to U.S. Government up to 90 days prior to or 60 days
after program completion
Attend the mandatory seminar!
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OBTAINING A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (SSN)
Submit Application -Social Security Administration
Take the following original documents with you to the Social Security
Administration
•
•
•
Passport with I-94 (original and copy)
I-20 with CPT work authorization (original and copy)
Completed Social Security Card Application
Social Security Administration, 3971 Research Park Dr., Ann Arbor 48108
Office hours: check SSA website for details
AATA bus 6: Research Park Drive is between the Briarwood Mall & Ellsworth/Braeburn
Rd. stops
Request a RECEIPT from the Social Security Officer
ONCE YOU RECEIVE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
NUMBER (SSN)
Upon receipt of original Social Security Card:
• Sign it (preferably in blue ink)
• Submit copy to the payroll department
• Keep your number safe! Do NOT carry in wallet!!
TAXES
• In general, if you work in the USA you are responsible for paying taxes
– April 15th
• City, State, Federal
• F-1 students who have been in the USA for less than 5 years are
exempt from paying Social Security & Medicare Taxes (FICA)
• F-1 students who have been in the USA for less than 5 years, but have
an expired VISA, are considered as resident for tax purposes,
therefore need to pay taxes
• Be sure to ask your payroll department to NOT withhold FICA from
your paychecks
• Many countries have tax treaties with the USA that will affect the
amount of tax you will owe
FORMS TO COMPLETE WITH EMPLOYER
Employee needs to complete:



W-4 Form
MI-W4 Form
I-9
W-4/MI-W4 is completed so the employer can withhold the
correct federal income tax from your pay.
o
Complete a new form each year- January.
o
Complete a new form when your financial situation changes.
I-9 Employee must prove legally eligible to work in USA
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COMPLETE THE CPT QUIZ
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CPT QUIZ ANSWERS
1.
True
2.
True
3.
True
4.
False
5.
B- less than 20 hours
6.
C- 20 or more
7.
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8.
A, B,C
9.
A, B, C, D, E, F, G
10. Evaluation
11. Letterhead
12. A, B
13. Yes!
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