Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

 

Federal regulations at 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i), allow FSU’s Department of Homeland Security Designated School Officials (international student advisors at the CGE) to authorize in a student’s federal immigration (SEVIS) record curricular practical training (CPT) that is an integral part of the FSU curriculum. Immigration and Customs Enforcement further guides that CPT must be a part of the student’s program of study. CPT may be an option for a paid or unpaid internship, practicum, work experience, or other type of practical training for an off-campus employer or, in some circumstances, for an on-campus employer. 

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What is considered an integral part of FSU’s Curriculum:

Undergraduate Integral Training

Formative Experience – Every FSU undergraduate student is required to complete one formative experience which is defined as “independent experiential learning outside the classroom”. An internship is one option that can fulfill the formative experience requirement if the student has not already fulfilled the formative experience requirement in an alternate way. Students will enroll in the Career Center’s ERP course - Experience Recognition Program (ERP) | The Career Center (fsu.edu). This option is limited to one semester of training. If the student has already completed their formative experience, they will need to explore the options below with their academic advisor.

Required Internship, Practicum, or Field Lab Training – Some academic programs require completion of training as a degree requirement or professional certification requirement. If a student has previously enrolled in the  Career Center’s ERP course but their major requires training, they may be eligible for an additional semester or more of CPT. Students whose major requires training must consult with their academic advisor to ascertain whether there is an enrollment requirement for the training or another method used to verify completion. Degree requirements are outlined for each degree program in the university’s undergraduate bulletin - Undergraduate Departments | University Registrar (fsu.edu).

Internship, Practicum, or Field Lab Training as an Elective – Most majors require some elective courses. A training course or directed individual study course may fulfill one or more of these elective courses. If a student has previously enrolled in the Career Center’s ERP course but still has elective requirements that may be fulfilled with a training course, they may be eligible for an additional semester or more of CPT. Students must consult with their academic advisor to identify the correct training course enrollment to satisfy the elective requirement.

Honors in the Major - Students who are enrolled in the Honors in the Major program may need access to data, to specialized tools, or specialized training with an off-campus training site to complete their honors thesis. In this case, a student may be eligible for one semester or more of CPT for these purposes. Students must consult with their academic advisor to identify the correct course enrollment (likely a directed individual study course) for this activity.

 

See additional notes below regarding when CPT authorization is and is not necessary.

 

graduate Integral Training

Required Internship, Practicum, or Field Lab Training – Some graduate academic programs include completion of training as a degree requirement or professional certification requirement. Students whose graduate program requires training must consult with their academic advisor to ascertain whether there is an enrollment requirement for the training or another method used to verify completion. Degree requirements for each academic program are detailed in the university’s Graduate Bulletin | University Registrar (fsu.edu).

Internship, Practicum, or Field Lab Training as an Elective – If a graduate academic program does not have a training requirement, there may be an elective requirement. A training course or directed individual study course may fulfill one or more of these elective courses. Students must consult with their academic advisor to identify the correct training course enrollment to satisfy their elective requirements.

Thesis or Dissertation Requires Training - Students may need access to data, specialized tools, or specialized training off-campus to prepare for or to complete their thesis or dissertation. In this case, a student may be eligible for one semester or more of CPT for these purposes. Students must consult with their academic advisor to identify the correct training course enrollment for this activity if they are not already at the thesis or dissertation stage Otherwise, thesis or dissertation enrollment is required in the semester in which the student is engaged in CPT.

Academic Program Recommends Training for All Students in that Degree Program –  If the training does not fulfill a specific degree requirement or an elective requirement but the academic program recommends training for all students in that degree program, students may be eligible for CPT. The academic program must provide a the link to this recommendation on the academic department’s website or the graduate bulletin and a letter detailing how the training is integral to the degree program as a whole (not for the particular student. This letter may be necessary for the student’s future U.S. immigration applications or petitions. Training course offered by the academic program or DIS enrollment is required. An academic program may withhold a recommendation for CPT if the training will delay degree completion.

 

See additional notes below regarding when CPT authorization is and is not necessary.

 

When is CPT Necessary?

• The training is occurring with an off-campus employer or training site while the student is physically located in the U.S.
• Training is occurring with an on-campus employer or training site but the student’s combined on-campus paid employment will exceed 20 hours per week in Fall, Spring, or the semester in which the student is graduating.

When is CPT Unnecessary?

• The training is only brief observation off-campus with a class that is visiting various locations with no payment or other compensation for services (meals, gift cards, lodging, etc.)
• The training is on-campus and unpaid.
• The training is on-campus, paid, but ALL combined paid on-campus employment and training is under 20 hours per week in Fall or Spring. 
• The training is on-campus, paid, and occurs in a summer semester that is not the student’s first or last semester of enrollment in the degree program. Combined on-campus employment can exceed 20 hours per week in this case.
• Conference, seminar, or other events where the student is not being compensated for services.
• Volunteering with an organization whose primary purpose is humanitarian or charitable in nature, without remuneration or other type of compensation in a position that would not normally be paid, when the student is not receiving academic credit at FSU.

Students should carefully document their permanent records with details of the above. USCIS may request documentation for training activities that do not have corresponding CPT authorization in a student’s federal immigration (SEVIS) record.

Limits on CPT Authorization

• Unless the degree program strictly requires training as outlined in the university bulletin, students are not eligible for CPT in their first academic year (Fall and Spring) in F-1 status.
• No more than 364 days of accumulated full-time CPT will be approved throughout the student’s entire degree program. More than 20 hours per week is considered full-time for immigration purposes.
• Part-time CPT (20 hours per week or less) is limited by the maximum semesters permitted by the academic department for completion of the particular degree requirement or the training period recommended for all students.
• CPT requests may cover one full semester or any smaller period of time within that semester.
• CPT will not be approved if a student is not making normal academic progress toward degree completion or if the demands of previously approved CPT have caused delays in degree completion.
• CPT training/work must occur during the semester of the CPT authorization
• Paid training cannot begin before CPT is authorized on the student’s I-20
• Unpaid training occurring off-campus with associated FSU course enrollment should be authorized prior to the start date of the training. CGE will not terminate a student’s record for engaging in unpaid training prior to authorization, but this could impact future USCIS application processing decisions.
• Training activities and duties must be directly related to the student’s degree program.
• CPT requires enrollment in an internship, externship, practicum, DIS, thesis credit hours, dissertation credit hours, or the work hours must be required as part of the curriculum
• Students must enroll in courses required for completion of their degree in Fall, Spring, and their final/graduating semester while engaged in CPT.
   

CPT  Process:

1. Review the CPT information above.
2. Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to discuss whether training is an option in your academic program and which enrollment is appropriate.
3. If training is an option in your academic program, identify potential training sites and apply. 
4. If offered employment, ask the employer to complete the CPT Employer Form below. 
5. Provide a copy of the CPT Employer Form to your academic advisor so that they can determine whether a recommendation for CPT is appropriate given the position and duties. Ask your academic advisor to complete the appropriate CPT Advisor Form. 
6. Enroll in the appropriate coursework as determined by your academic advisor. If you are an undergraduate student fulfilling your formative experience, schedule an appointment with the ERP coordinator in the Career Center who will assist with enrollment.
7. Complete your Student CPT Application.
8.  Submit all three completed CPT forms by uploading them in Nole Start, https://istart.fsu.edu 
   • Student CPT Application
   • CPT Employer Form
   • CPT Advisor Form (Undergraduate)
     OR
   • CPT Advisor Form (Graduate)
9. If you are eligible for CPT, your CGE advisor will send you a new I-20 that shows the CPT authorization (with name and address of employer, dates of employment, and full-time/part-time authorization). Allow two weeks for processing.
10. Show your I-20 with CPT authorization to your training site to show that you are authorized for work. If you will be paid by the training site, you will also need to show your I-94 and your passport.
11. If your training site will pay you, you will need to apply for a Social Security number with your I-20 showing CPT authorization, your printed I-94, and your passport. - CGE SSN Brochure – 2020.pdf (fsu.edu)
     

 

DO NOT BEGIN EMPLOYMENT WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION! THE AUTHORIZATION IS COMPLETE WHEN YOU HAVE A NEW I-20 IN YOUR HAND. THE NEW I-20 WILL SHOW THE AUTHORIZATION FOR CPT ON PAGE 2.

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CPT FAQ