Curricular Practical Training

Students on F1 visas are not allowed to work off-campus unless this work is integral to their course of study and career goals. In this case, they can apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) which will be anchored in their SUA transcript and noted in a new I-20 document. This process is constrained by many rules (some of the rules have changed!):

  • CPT can be paid or unpaid.
  • It can be done part-time (up to 20 hours per week) during either fall or spring semester or full-time (up to 40 hours per week) during the summer, but must always be started and finished within the semester dates. In the case where a student combines CPT with an on-campus job, the total work hours are combined, not to exceed the allowed hours.
  • CPT cannot be done during the first year but may be done the summer following the first year.
  • CPT cannot be done during the study abroad semester but may be done the summer following (spring) study abroad as long as study abroad has been completed.
  • Students can only do one CPT per semester.
  • Summer CPT is credited the following fall semester as transfer credit, which means students cannot do both summer and fall CPT, as it can only appear once per semester on their transcript.
  • Each CPT is worth 0.25 units which are Pass/Fail and do not count towards the 120 units required for graduation.
  • CPT has to be in person and cannot be online.
  • The student must be in good academic standing, maintain a 2.0 GPA, and be enrolled for at least 12 units (full-time) during the semester CPT is done.

Steps

  1. Anyone interested in pursuing CPT must first find employment. The Career Development & Internship office can help and must also approve the employer.
  2. Once the student has a job offer, they must complete the CPT application available from the Career Development & Internship office (Jonathan Wray jwray@soka.edu) or the Faculty CPT Coordinator, Dr. Monika Calef mcalef@soka.edu. This will require multiple signatures and the composing of learning objectives that convincingly argue why this position is critical for their education. Please contact Prof. Calef for help with this step before collecting all the signatures as this can hold up an application. Students should allow for 2-3 weeks to complete this application process.
  3. Application Deadlines: during spring or fall semesters, CPT applications are due on the Add/Drop date for the semester. Summer CPT applications are due THE LAST DAY OF INSTRUCTION.
  4. The student cannot begin CPT until authorization has been granted by the DSO in the Office of International Student Services and a new CPT-endorsed I-20 has been issued. Any changes in CPT hours, start or end dates, job description or employer require immediate notification of the DSO, updates to the SEVIS record and the issuance of new, revised I-20.
  5. Because students are receiving academic credit for CPT, they are required to submit regular progress reports and write a final report.