F-1 CPT

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a type of off-campus work permission for F-1 international students who want to gain experience in their fields of study.

To obtain CPT, a student must:

be in valid F-1 immigration status for at least two semesters (except students who must work as a requirement for their degree)
secure a job offer related to the student's field of study
obtain CPT authorization BEFORE beginning employment; authorization cannot be post-dated. Remember, it takes three business days to authorize your CPT.
be registered for classes at UC Berkeley; CPT cannot be used when a graduate student is in "filing fee status."

Advisers at Berkeley International Office grant permission for CPT after establishing the student's eligibility and reviewing the application materials (see reverse for application procedures). The authorization is granted by issuing a new I-20 for the student with the employer's information notated on page three of the document. After the application for CPT is submitted to Berkeley International Office, the new I-20 is issued within three business days. The
I-20 is shown to the employer as evidence of work authorization.

There is no limit to the amount of CPT a student is eligible for. However, if 12 months or more of full-time CPT is used, a student forfeits Optional Practical Training eligibility. Accrual of part-time CPT does not affect eligibility for OPT.

CPT is not available after a student completes a degree program.

Types of CPT
Students are eligible for CPT under one of the following two categories:

1) Degree Requirement
CPT may be authorized when an internship is a requirement of a degree program (i.e. all students in the program must complete an internship to obtain the degree). Currently, only the following programs at UC Berkeley have been identified as requiring employment to graduate:

Hass MBA Entrepreneur Program
Masters of Financial Engineering
Masters of Public Policy
Masters of Public Health
Masters of City Planning
Masters of Social Welfare
Optometry
Peace and Conflict Studies (PAC 186)

Authorization can be for full-time or part-time employment, depending on the academic department's requirement. Follow the application procedures on the reverse of this page to request CPT based on Degree Requirement.

2) Course Credit
CPT may be authorized for students who enroll in a course that requires employment to earn a grade, or a course where students design their own research project based on the employment. Enrollment in the course must be concurrent with the employment. Current eligible courses include:

Undergraduates 197 Internship/Field Studies or 199 Independent Study
Graduate 297 Internship/Field Studies or 299 Independent Study
Haas MBA 293 Individual Supervised Study or Haas Undergraduates 193C Internship
Public Policy 299 or 205
Law Students (J.D. & J.S.D.) 297 Internship/Field Studies or 299 Independent Study through Boalt. For summer CPT, enroll in Law 297 through Boalt. *See Dean Hirshen for enrollment and recommendation instructions.

Authorization will be granted on a semester-only basis. However, if a student wishes to work for a period longer than the last day of the semester, s/he must enroll in the next available semester before authorization can be extended beyond the current term (see Application Process, below)

Fall and Spring CPT
Employment is limited to part-time (20 hrs/week or less) during the Fall and Spring semesters. However, Graduate students who have advanced to candidacy are eligible for full-time employment during the semester as long as the employment is integral to their degree program and is stated as such in the letter of support from the academic department (see sample letter on reverse).

Summer CPT
Full-time (20 hours or more per week) employment is allowed for all continuing students in the summer. If summer is the first or final semester of a student’s degree program, CPT is limited to 20 hours per week. To be eligible, students must enroll in one of the current or next available Summer Sessions (A-E) in one of the courses listed above. Check with the sponsoring faculty member to determine the number of units required. Authorization can be granted from the day after spring semester officially ends up to the last day of the summer (day before classes begin). Some students may need to obtain a course code from their academic adviser to be able to add Independent Study units into their Summer enrollment.

CPT Application Process

Complete the CPT Application Form.
Enroll in the appropriate course as listed above, if you will receive course credit for CPT.
Submit the Academic Department Recommendation form (attached to CPT Application Form) to your academic adviser for completion.
(Undergraduates= Department Adviser / Graduates = Faculty Adviser). Make sure the form is signed and dated.
Submit the above items along with proof of course enrollment (only if you will receive course credit) to Berkeley International Office.
Pick up your new I-20 at Berkeley International Office three business days after submitting your application.

CPT Extensions
To extend CPT beyond the current semester, complete above steps 1-5 again. An extension of CPT authorization cannot be granted until proof of enrollment is available. Students who are working in the fall term and wish to extend through winter break into the spring term should consult with an Adviser in Berkeley International Office.


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To obtain CPT, a student must: be in valid F-1 immigration status for at least two semesters (except students who must work as a requirement for their degree) secure a job offer related to the student's field of study obtain CPT authorization BEFORE beginning employment; authorization cannot be post-dated. Remember, it takes three business days to authorize your CPT. be registered for classes at UC Berkeley; CPT cannot be used when a graduate student is in "filing fee status." Advisers at Berkeley International Office grant permission for CPT after establishing the student's eligibility and reviewing the application materials (see reverse for application procedures). The authorization is granted by issuing a new I-20 for the student with the employer's information notated on page three of the document. After the application for CPT is submitted to Berkeley International Office, the new I-20 is issued within three business days. The I-20 is shown to the employer as evidence of work authorization. There is no limit to the amount of CPT a student is eligible for. However, if 12 months or more of full-time CPT is used, a student forfeits Optional Practical Training eligibility. Accrual of part-time CPT does not affect eligibility for OPT. CPT is not available after a student completes a degree program. Types of CPT Students are eligible for CPT under one of the following two categories: 1) Degree Requirement CPT may be authorized when an internship is a requirement of a degree program (i.e. all students in the program must complete an internship to obtain the degree). Currently, only the following programs at UC Berkeley have been identified as requiring employment to graduate: Hass MBA Entrepreneur Program Masters of Financial Engineering Masters of Public Policy Masters of Public Health Masters of City Planning Masters of Social Welfare Optometry Peace and Conflict Studies (PAC 186) Authorization can be for full-time or part-time employment, depending on the academic department's requirement. Follow the application procedures on the reverse of this page to request CPT based on Degree Requirement. 2) Course Credit CPT may be authorized for students who enroll in a course that requires employment to earn a grade, or a course where students design their own research project based on the employment. Enrollment in the course must be concurrent with the employment. Current eligible courses include: Undergraduates 197 Internship/Field Studies or 199 Independent Study Graduate 297 Internship/Field Studies or 299 Independent Study Haas MBA 293 Individual Supervised Study or Haas Undergraduates 193C Internship Public Policy 299 or 205 Law Students (J.D. & J.S.D.) 297 Internship/Field Studies or 299 Independent Study through Boalt. For summer CPT, enroll in Law 297 through Boalt. See Dean Hirshen for enrollment and recommendation instructions. Authorization will be granted on a semester-only basis. However, if a student wishes to work for a period longer than the last day of the semester, s/he must enroll in the next available semester before authorization can be extended beyond the current term (see Application Process, below) Fall and Spring CPT* Employment is limited to part-time (20 hrs/week or less) during the Fall and Spring semesters. However, Graduate students who have advanced to candidacy are eligible for full-time employment during the semester as long as the employment is integral to their degree program and is stated as such in the letter of support from the academic department (see sample letter on reverse). Summer CPT Full-time (20 hours or more per week) employment is allowed for all continuing students in the summer. If summer is the first or final semester of a student’s degree program, CPT is limited to 20 hours per week. To be eligible, students must enroll in one of the current or next available Summer Sessions (A-E) in one of the courses listed above. Check with the sponsoring faculty member to determine the number of units required. Authorization can be granted from the day after spring semester officially ends up to the last day of the summer (day before classes begin). Some students may need to obtain a course code from their academic adviser to be able to add Independent Study units into their Summer enrollment. CPT Application Process Complete the CPT Application Form. Enroll in the appropriate course as listed above, if you will receive course credit for CPT. Submit the Academic Department Recommendation form (attached to CPT Application Form) to your academic adviser for completion. (Undergraduates= Department Adviser / Graduates = Faculty Adviser). Make sure the form is signed and dated. Submit the above items along with proof of course enrollment (only if you will receive course credit) to Berkeley International Office. Pick up your new I-20 at Berkeley International Office three business days after submitting your application. CPT Extensions To extend CPT beyond the current semester, complete above steps 1-5 again. An extension of CPT authorization cannot be granted until proof of enrollment is available. Students who are working in the fall term and wish to extend through winter break into the spring term should consult with an Adviser in Berkeley International Office.