Curricular Practical Training (CPT) FSU Panama City

CPT Requirements

CPT must be directly related to your field of study

• CPT must be directly related to your field of study

• You must have completed at least two semesters of full-time enrollment.(Exception: graduate students in programs that require immediate internship/practicum/coop/work experience)

• You must have authorization for CPT from the DSO BEFORE STARTING an internship/practicum/coop or other work experience that qualifies as CPT. Employment without authorization may result in termination of your SEVIS record and ineligibility for employment
• Employment must not exceed 20 hours/week during the fall or spring semesters unless it is required for graduation or part of an established cooperative education program. If you have on-campus employment, on-campus employment and CPT combined cannot be more than 20 hours/week, in most cases
• Employment cannot result in a delay in completion of your degree

Restrictions

For more information on ERP, please contact the DSO.

• If your department offers internship credit, you must enroll in your department’s internship course to qualify for CPT (not the Career Center’s Experiential Recognition Program course).The DSO will not authorize CPT for more than the number of internship credits accepted by your department
• If you engage in full-time CPT for more than 20 hours/week for one year or more, you are no longer eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT). Part-time CPT authorization does not affect OPT eligibility
• Your enrollment for internship credit must be in the semester/term in which you work
• If your department offers 0 credit internships, you may enroll in the 0 credit course for a maximum of two times, for no longer than one semester each time
• If your department does not offer an internship course, you may enroll in the Career Center’s ERP course. The DSO will authorize CPT employment through the ERP for a maximum of two times and for no longer than one semester at a time. The ERP course is available for graduate and undergraduate students during fall, spring or summer. You must receive approval from the DSO before enrolling in the ERP.
• If you have advanced to candidacy (or completed all your coursework) and your dissertation/thesis is the only requirement remaining in your curriculum, you may only obtain authorization for CPT if the work is essential for completion of your dissertation/thesis. If IRB approval is necessary for your dissertation/thesis research, you must also have IRB approval for the CPT work authorized as essential for your dissertation/thesis

Application Process

Review all the information on this page

• Complete the following:

1. Curricular Practicle Training Student Application Form
2. CPT Advisor Application Form: Use the correct form for your application:

OR

• Academic Advisor Application Form for Students in Courses - This form is for all students except students in the thesis/project/dissertation stage
• Major Professor Application Form Thesis/Dissertation/Project - This form is for students who have completed all degree requirements except thesis/project/dissertation hours.

    3. CPT Employer Verification Form

• Submit ALL the required forms/documents to the DSO and allow two weeks for processing. PROCESSING DOES NOT BEGIN UNTIL ALL THE APPLICATION FORMS ARE COMPLETE
• Your international student advisor will issue a new Form I-20 that shows the dates of the CPT authorization and the name of the employer
• If you have never worked before and you don't already have a U.S. Social Security Number(SSN), once your CPT has been approved you can use your CPT I-20 to apply for one. Please consult the SSN brochure to learn how to obtain your SSN number