F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

CPT eligiblity requires that F-1 students:

1. Be in valid F-1 immigration status for at least two full-time semesters (1 academic year) before becoming eligible for CPT.
   Exceptions to 1 Academic Year Requirement (Rare): 1) Graduate students who have internship as a degree requirement for all students which must occur prior to completion of 1 academic year. 2) Students who have changed from some other US visa status to F-1 student status and have been continually enrolled full-time for an academic year during the change of status period.
2. Be completing a Degree Requirement OR  Master’s Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation Requirement (See below for Degree Requirement and Master’s Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation Requirement eligibility.)
3. Secure an academically appropriate internship/work experience that meets the Degree requirement or Thesis/Dissertation Requirement. NOTE: Positions must be appropriate to the student's level of study and major field of study. Retail sales, food service, and other unskilled positions will be denied.
4. Apply for and Receive CPT authorization BEFORE beginning employment. Authorization cannot be back-dated. Beginning employment without authorization is a serious violation of F-1 status.
5. Be registered for classes at UC Berkeley. CPT cannot be used when a graduate student is on Filing Fee status. Enrollment in specific internship coursework may be required depending on your program’s degree requirements.
6. Be Enrolled in a Full Course Load or have Final Term RCL- Students are not eligible for CPT in the same semester as they have been authorized for a First Semester Academic Reduced Course Load or Medical Reduced Course Load. Students authorized for a Final Term RCL must also be completing additional required in-person degree requirement coursework, unless the final term CPT is the only remaining Degree Requirement.
7. Appropriate supervision and oversight.The student's supervisor for the internship cannot be an F-1 or J-1 student. BIO does not authorize CPT for self-employment.

Degree Requirement CPT may be authorized when an internship, practicum, or capstone work experience is a requirement of a degree program (i.e., all students in the program must complete an internship/practical training experience to obtain the degree). Authorization can be for full-time or part-time employment, depending on the academic department's requirement. If your department's practical training requirement includes enrollment in specific coursework, you are expected to be enrolled in the required coursework as necessary for the degree compleiton.

***Degree Requirement CPT can only be used once (to fulfill the specific requirement) and should occur during the program’s normal designated internship or practical training period. ***

Currently, the following programs at UC Berkeley have been identified as requiring employment or practical training to graduate. BIO maintains documentation of the specific degree requirements for each program:

• Bachelor of Science in Educational Sciences (EDUC 130 & EDUC 140; EDUC 144 or EDUC 187)
• Law - J.D.
• Masters of Analytics
• Masters of Bioengineering/Masters of Translational Medicine (only if needed to complete Capstone Project: Bioengineering 296)
• Masters of Biotechology
• Masters of City Planning
• Masters of Design (MDes)
• Masters Development Engineering (MDE)
• Masters of Development Practice
• PHD in Endocrinology 
• Masters of Financial Engineering- only during the dates of 1 designated internship period. See MFE calendar
• Masters of Journalism 
• Masters of Landscape Architecture
• Masters & PhD in Metabolic Biology
• PhD in Molecular Toxicology 
• Master of Nutrition Science and Dietetics (MNSD)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Masters of Public Affairs 
• Masters of Public Policy
• Masters of Public Health (MPH)
• Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)
• MRED+D
• Masters of Social Welfare
• Masters of Teacher Education (BTEP)
• Optometry Residency Program
• PhD in School Psychology

Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation Requirment CPT can be authorized in specific cases in which practical training/internship required to complete the Master’s thesis/ or Doctoral dissertation, is an integral part of the student’s degree requirements, and is not reasonably replaceable by an alternative method or data collection process. This is only possible for Master’s (Thesis Track) or Doctoral students who have Advanced to Candidacy. Students should have Advanced to Candidacy in the degree and level listed on the I-20. (Example: If your I-20 has been issued for a PhD (Doctoral) level you are expected to be Advanced to Candidacy in your PhD/Doctoral program.)

Understanding When Doctoral Dissertation CPT is Appropriate
The dissertation demonstrates a capability to contribute new, original knowledge or groundbreaking insights to an academic discipline. It requires conducting novel research, developing original theories, or discovering fresh data that advances the current body of knowledge in a field.

Data collection methodologies for a dissertation generally fall into three overarching categories: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods. The selected methodology must be appropriate to the student's research questions, discipline, and dissertation objectives. In addition, a dissertation may require substantial research including interviews, surveys, laboratory work, field research, observations, access to specialized equipment, or other research activities.

While data collection is required of all students working on a dissertation topic, students seeking to engage in CPT experiences must demonstrate that the data collection activity is required to complete the dissertation; is an integral part of the student’s degree requirements; and not reasonably replaceable by an alternative method or data collection processes.

Understanding When Master's Thesis CPT is Appropriate
The master’s thesis demonstrates a mastery of a specific field of study and the ability of a student to conduct independent research, synthesize existing literature, and critically analyzing information. It typically builds upon existing research, theories, or frameworks rather than creating entirely new original theory.

Data collection methodologies for a master’s thesis are very similar in structure to those used in a doctoral dissertation, though they are often slightly more focused in scope and tailored to be completed within a shorter timeframe. They also generally fall into three primary categories: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods. The selected methodology must be appropriate to the student's research questions, discipline, and dissertation objectives. In addition, a thesis may require research including interviews, surveys, laboratory work, field research, observations, access to specialized equipment, or other research activities.

While data collection is required of all students working on a master’s thesis topic, students seeking to engage in CPT experiences must demonstrate that the data collection activity is required for the collection of data necessary to complete the thesis, is an integral part of the student’s degree requirements; and not reasonably replaceable by an alternative method or data collection processes.

For students who have Advanced to Candidacy and are requesting CPT to participate in an internship/practicum that is required to complete their Masters Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation: you are required to provide a letter on official UC Berkeley or department letterhead from your Thesis/Dissertation Faculty Advisor that confirms the proposed CPT is an integral and required component of your Thesis/Dissertation.  Students should have Advanced to Candidacy in the degree and level listed on the I-20. (Example: If your I-20 has been issued for a PhD (Doctoral) level you are expected to be Advanced to Candidacy in your PhD/Doctoral program.)

The letter should include the following information: 

• A description of the thesis/dissertation topic or area of research.
• A description of the methodology to be utilized and how it informs the thesis/dissertation topic.  
• Confirmation that this data collection is required for the completion of the thesis/dissertation.
• Confirmation that there are no alternative methods to this data collection process.
• The beginning and end date for the data collection activity along with the anticipated thesis completion date or an anticipated defense date for dissertation. 
• Signature of the supervising Faculty Advisor or the Faculty Principal Investigator(PI), including name, title, and date.

Students completing Degree-Requirement or Thesis/Dissertation CPT may be authorized for full-time CPT during Fall/Spring only if needed to complete the requirement. CPT dates should be alignment with the degree program's designated internship period.

Degree Requirement: Dates of employment should align with your program’s specific Degree Requirement internship period. If your Degree requirement includes necessary concurrent internship coursework, the internship may begin at the earliest CPT may begin during the break before the semester of enrollment, but must end by the end date of the semester of required internship enrollment.

Thesis/Dissertation Requirements: CPT may begin during the break before the semester, and the end date must be based on the research need documented in the faculty advisor’s letter. Thesis/Dissertation CPT can be authorized generally for no more than 1 academic year total.

Employment Dates & Hours

• Employment is generally limited to Part-Time (20 hours per week or less) during the Fall and Spring semesters. Full-time work (more than 20 hours per week) may be authorized  if that level of work is required for the Degree Requirement or Thesis/Dissertation Requirement.
  • Earliest CPT start date is generally the start date of instruction. However, you may choose a start date that begins during the semester break immediately before the internship semester, if you have an academically legitimate reason for extended dates. 
  • Latest CPT end date is the last day of final exams.
• CPT dates should overlap with Degree Requirement semester dates.  Students whose internship dates extend into the semester breaks will need to have a legitimate academic reason for requiring an CPT start/end outside of normal semester dates.
• CPT in the final semester of enrollment is limited to part-time 20 hours per week AND must end as of the last date of finals. CPT will not be authorized full-time for Thesis/Dissertation requirements in the final semester of enrollment. The only exception in this case is specific degree programs whose Degree Requirement work experience occurs in the final semester for all students in the program. 

Note: Because CPT is part of the academic program of study, CPT is counted seperately from on-campus employment, and CPT work hours do not impact on-campus employment work hours. 

Students completing Degree-Requirement CPT (see above for Degree Requirement programs) may be authorized for full-time or part-time CPT during Summer if needed to complete the degree requirement. CPT dates should align with your program’s specific Degree Requirement Summer internship period. If your Degree requirement includes necessary concurrent internship coursework, the CPT may begin during the break before the Summer semester of enrollment, but must end by the end date of the semester of required internship enrollment.

Thesis/Dissertation Requirements: CPT must complete by the end of the Summer semester of requested work experience.  CPT may begin during the break before the  Summer semester, but must end by the end date of the semester requested. Thesis/Dissertation CPT can be authorized generally for no more than 1 academic year total.

• Full-time (20 hours or more per week) employment may be authorized for all continuing students in the summer.
• If summer is final semester of a student’s degree program- CPT is limited to 20 hours per week unless a student is completing a Degree Requirement during the normal degree requirement internship period. (See above for Degree requirement programs.)
• Students completing Degree-Requirement CPT (see above for Degree Requirement programs) may be authorized for full-time CPT during the final Summer semester only if needed to complete the degree requirement.
• Students completing Thesis/Dissertation Requirement CPT will NOT be authorized for full-time CPT when Summer is the final term. 
• For students continuing enrollment in Fall, CPT authorization can be granted from the day after the spring semester officially ends up to the last day of the summer (the day before fall classes begin), based on the research need documented in the faculty advisor's letter. 
• Students completing degrees in Summer may only be authorized until the end date of the I-20 or Summer term- whicher is first.

Note: Because CPT is part of the academic program of study, CPT is counted separately from on-campus employment, and CPT work hours do not impact on-campus employment work hours. 

1. Submit the CPT Request e-form.
2. The CPT Request e-form will prompt you to upload a Verification Letter from your employer. Your employer must print and complete the CPT Employment Verification Letter Template on their company letterhead. We will only accept a properly completed template letter. CPT applications without the Template Letter will be DENIED. The employment start and end dates on the letter must match the start and end dates in your CPT request e-form.
3. When you submit the student section of the CPT Request e-form, the Academic Advisor that you have specified will receive an email link prompting them to complete the Advisor Recommendation section. 

   1. Degree Requirement Graduate- this form should be completed by your Graduate Student Affairs Officer or appropriate Academic Staff*

   2. Thesis/Dissertation Requirements- This form should be completed by your Thesis/Dissertation Faculty Advisor. The form will also require a letter from your Thesis/Dissertation Faculty Advisor. See above for "Thesis/Dissertation Requirement Documentation"

      *This form should only be completed by Academic staff who can directly confirm the degree requirements, NOT Career Advising staff.

4. After your Academic Advisor completes the Advisor Recommendation section, the CPT request is submitted to Berkeley International Office. BIO will review your application and your eligibility for CPT.  BIO 5 business day processing time only begins after the CPT e-form has been approved by your Academic Advisor and submitted to BIO. If your request is incomplete or missing documents, this will delay processing.
5. If approved, the CPT authorization is granted by issuing you a new I-20 with the CPT employment information notated on page 2 of the document, which you will show to your employer as evidence of work authorization. We will email you the updated I-20 5 business days after receiving a complete CPT request, including the Advisor Recommendation section.

Degree Requirement CPT
CPT is only granted for the period of the specific Degree Requirement. Once the specific Degree Requirement has been fulfilled, CPT can no longer be granted. In most cases, CPT generally granted on a 1 semester basis, unless the program's Degree Requirement specifies a specific practicum period that is longer.

Thesis/Disseration Requirement
Thesis/Dissertation CPT can be authorized generally for no more than 1 academic year total.

For paid CPT, students will need to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN). You will apply after you get the CPT I-20. For more information about this process, please refer to our Social Security Number page.