F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

To obtain CPT, a student must:

• Be in valid F-1 immigration status for at least two full-time semesters (1 academic year). Exceptions to 1 Academic Year Requirement (Rare): 1) Graduate students who have internship as a degree requirement for allstudents which must occur prior to completion of 1 academic year. 2) Students who have changed from some other US visa statusto F-1 student status and have been continually enrolled full-time for an academic year during the change of status period.
• Secure an academically appropriate internship offer directly related to the student's field of study. 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.
• Obtain CPT authorization BEFORE beginning employment; authorization cannot be back-dated.
• Be registered for classes at UC Berkeley; CPT cannot be used when a graduate student is on Filing Fee status.
• The student's supervisor for the internship cannot be an F-1 or J-1 student.

NOTE: Transfer students beginning their program at UC Berkeley in Summer are not generally approved for CPT during the initial Summer term. BIO recommends transfer students obtain OPT from their prior institution for internships occurring before the start of their Berkeley degree program. Students wishing to transfer in for Summer and begin immediate Summer CPT should consult a BIO advisor before taking any steps to apply.

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). Authorization can be for full-time or part-time employment, depending on the academic department's requirement. Proof of course enrollment for this type of CPT is not required but degree requirement. Degree requirement CPT can only be used once (to fulfill the requirement) and should occur during the program’s normal internship period. 

Currently, the following programs at UC Berkeley have been identified as requiring employment or practical training to graduate:

• Bachelor of Science in Educational Sciences (3 units EDUC W144, part-time only during Fall/Spring)
• Masters of Analytics
• Masters of Bioengineering/Masters of Translational Medicine (Capstone Project: Bioengineering 296)
• Masters of Biotechology
• Masters of City Planning
• Masters of Design (MDes)
• Masters Development Engineering (MDE)
• Masters of Development Practice
• Masters of Financial Engineering
• Masters of Journalism 
• Masters of Landscape Architecture
• PhD in Metabolic Biology
• Master of Nutrition Science and Dietetics (MNSD)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Masters of Public Affairs 
• Masters of Public Policy
• Masters of Public Health
• MRED+D
• Masters of Social Welfare
• Masters of Teacher Education (BTEP)
• Optometry Residency Program
• PhD in School Psychology

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. Course enrollment should be in the student's major department (or intended major for undeclared students). The only exception is for undergraduate students enrolled in Berkeley Global Internships OR Berkeley Career Engagement Center Independent U.S. Summer Internship (This program is paused for Summer 2024. Please check back in Spring 2025, at which time the campus should have a new course to offer) . If course enrollment is not available in the student's major department, the student’s major or undeclared intended major adviser must complete the CPT form, and provide additional explanations in the Academic Adviser’s Recommendation section. Applications with no explanation of alternate enrollment will be denied.

Enrollment in the course must be concurrent with the employment CPT employment must overlap with the internship enrollment semester dates. Employment may take place in the fall, spring, or summer terms. Authorization will be granted on a semester-only basis. You may request a CPT start date that either begins or ends during the semester break immediately before or after the internship semester. 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. (see Application Process, below). The student's academic department determines the appropriate number of internship units according to the academic program.

Be aware that summer CPT enrollment will also incur Summer enrollment fees. See the Summer Sessions fee website to calculate the cost of your Summer enrollment. BIO does not determine the cost of Summer fees. 

Current eligible courses include:

• Undergraduates, 97/197 Internship/Field Studies or 99/199 Independent Study with the exception of the following major-specific enrollments:
  • Haas Undergraduates 193C Internship
  • Environmental Design 193 or ARCH 108 or LD ARCH 160
    Before enrolling in ARCH 108 during summer, students must meet with a BIO advisor.
  • UCDC Program Participants only: UGIS C196B
  • UGIS W157 or UGIS W158 for Berkeley Global Internships and UGIS C151 for Independent U.S. Summer Internship Credit Option (See links for instructions on how to apply for this course credit.)
  • UGIS 192A-E if participating in URAP Program
  • UCDC Program internship enrollment ( employment may be full-time Fall/Spring if needed)
• Graduates, 297 Internship/Field Studies or 299 Independent Study with the exception of the following major-specific enrollments:
  • Haas MBA 293C Individual Supervised Study
  • Masters in Landscape Architecture LD ARCH 260 or LA 297
  • Architecure ED193 (Summer 2017 only)
  • Public Policy 299 or 205
  • School of Information INFO293 
  • PhD in Business Administration PHDBA 602C
  • 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.
  • Law UCDC Program internship enrollment ( employment may be full-time Fall/Spring if needed)
  • Earth & Planetary Science 280

• Employment is limited to part-time (20 hours per week or less) during the Fall and Spring semesters. 
  • 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 ana academically legitimate reason for extended dates. 
  • Latest CPT end date is the last day of final exams. However, you may choose an end date that ends during the semester break immediately after the internship semester, if you have an academically legitimate reason for extended dates. 
• CPT dates must overlap with the internship enrollment or 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.
• Students completing Degree-Requirement CPT (see above for Degree Requirement programs) may be authorized for full-time CPT during Fall/Spring only if needed to complete the degree requirement.
• Graduate or undergraduate students participating in the UC DC Washington Program may be authorized for full-time CPT, if required by the UC DC internship.
• Graduate students who have advanced to candidacy are eligible for full-time employment during the Fall/Spring semester as long as the employment is integral to their degree program.
• For both graduates and undergraduates, 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.

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. 

• 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.
• 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.
• 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. 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. 
• 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).  Students completing degrees in Summer may only be authorized until the end date of the I-20 or Summer term- whicher is first.
• Transfer students beginning their program at UC Berkeley in Summer are not generally approved for CPT during the initial Summer term. BIO recommends transfer students obtain OPT from their prior institution for internships occurring before the start of their Berkeley degree program. Students wishing to transfer in for Summer and begin immediate Summer CPT should consult a BIO advisor before taking any steps to apply.

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. Work with your academic adviser and complete the Advisors's Recommendation sections of the CPT Application Form. The Academic Adviser’s Recommendation section of the form MUST be completed by:
   • Declared Undergrads- Major Adviser ONLY
   • Undeclared Undergrads- Intended Major Adviser ONLY
   • Undergrads enrolled in Berkeley Global Internships OR Berkeley Career Engagement Center Independent U.S. Internship - Study Abroad or Berkeley Career Engagement Center Adviser
   • Graduate Students - Faculty Adviser/Graduate Student Affairs Officer
2. Enroll in the appropriate course in your Major or Intended Major. (All applicants are required to enroll in a course unless they have a Degree Requirement). The only exception is for Undergrads enrolled in Berkeley Global Internships OR Berkeley Career Engagement Center Independent U.S. Summer Internship(This program is paused for Summer 2024. Please check back in Spring 2025, at which time the campus should have a new course to offer) . If course enrollment is not available in the student's Major department, the student’s Major or Undeclared Intended Major Adviser must complete the CPT form, and provide additional explanations in the Academic Adviser’s Recommendation section. Applications with no explanation of alternate enrollment will be denied.
3. Print your CalCentral "My Academics" page (see screenshot below) to show confirmation of enrollment and your name and attach it to the CPT Application Form. Please note: There are no printing facilities available for use at Berkeley International Office. Please print your CalCentral confirmation before coming to our office if submitting your CPT request in person (you can also submit it by email). 
4. Provide a Verification Letter from your employer. Your employer must print and complete the CPT Template Letter (page 4 of the CPT request form) 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 on the CPT request form.
5. Submit the CPT Application Form, employment verification letter, and Cal Central "My Academics Page" to Berkeley International Office, either in person or via email to internationaloffice@berkeley.edu . Advisers at Berkeley International Office will review your application and your eligibility. If approved, the authorization is granted by issuing a new I-20 with the employer's information notated on page 2 of the document.
6. Berkeley International Office will complete your new CPT I-20 5 business days after submitting your application, and the new I-20 will be emailed to you. The I-20 is shown to the employer as evidence of work authorization.

CPT is granted on a 1 semester basis. To extend CPT beyond the current semester, complete the Application Process steps 1-6 again. For course credit CPT, an extension of CPT authorization cannot be granted until proof of CPT enrollment for the next term is available. 

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.

• Undergraduate/Graduate Course CPT (Course credit, EXCEPTION: extended dates)
• Undergraduate CPT ( EXCEPTION: Not enrolled in Major)
• Graduate Special degree requirement (EXCEPTION: Off-cycle internship requirement)
• Graduate Student Advanced to Candidacy