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What is CPT?
CPT allows F-1 students to work off-campus in a job or internship that is directly related to their current degree program.
✅ Must occur before your program ends
❌ Not for jobs related to a minor or previous major
❌ Not for general work permission
Work Hours
Part-Time CPT: Fewer than 20 hours/week
Full-Time CPT: 20+ hours/week
During Fall & Spring:
CPT + On-campus jobs (including assistantships) cannot exceed 20 hours/week
Exceptions:
Graduate students doing thesis/dissertation research
Co-Op Program participants
Students in required field placements (as listed in the catalog)
Unpaid Internships & Volunteering
Unpaid internships still require CPT authorization if they are related to your major.
Volunteering at places like soup kitchens or shelters does not require CPT.
IMPORTANT
CPT must be authorized before you start any job or internship—even unpaid ones.
✅ CPT Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), F-1 students must meet the following:
1. Enrollment Requirement
Must be in valid F-1 status
Must have completed one full academic year (Fall + Spring) of full-time study
⚠️ Exception:
Graduate students whose programs require an internship in the first year may be eligible.
➤ This must be clearly documented in the advisor recommendation letter.
➤ If the program allows (but does not require) an internship after the first year, the exception does not apply.
2. Student Type
Not eligible for CPT:
English for Academic Purposes (EAP) students
Non-Degree students
2 Types of CPT
Required for the Degree – Required internships are those that are a required part of a structured degree program as noted in the college catalogue. To be considered a requirement, everyone in the program must do an internship or they will not be able to complete their program. Required internships do necessitate CPT authorization if the internship takes place off-campus, and the student needs to register for course credit (as determined by the academic program) in order for International Student Services Department to authorize the CPT experience.
Degree programs with required internship/practicum at SFBC:
B.A. in Business Administration and Management (1 semester)
B.A. in Clinical Counseling (1 semester)
B.A. in Psychology (1 semester)
M.A. in Mental Health Counseling (3 semesters)
M.A. in Pastoral Counseling (1 semester)
Master of Divinity (2 semesters)
Master of Theology (1 semester)
Doctor of Ministry (2 semesters)
Dissertation Research – For doctoral students in their dissertation phase, CPT may be authorized for them to be able to conduct off-campus research/work associated with their dissertation. In this case, the student must register for department-specific dissertation credit (such as DIS9020 or DIS9025). The academic department’s recommendation letter must specifically indicate that this CPT experience is for dissertation research.
Duration of CPT
CPT is authorized by semester (Fall, Spring, Summer). Therefore, students must submit a new CPT request, including all the necessary documents, for each semester, including summer session(s).
For CPT that will take place during the summer, students will be limited by the session in which they register their experience (e.g. registration for full summer will allow for CPT authorization for full summer; registration for summer B will only cover dates from the day after spring semester through the last day of the summer B session; registration for summer C session will cover CPT authorization from the first day of summer C session through the day prior to the start of fall semester classes).
Participation in CPT may begin as early as the day after the prior semester, but CPT must end before the first day of the following semester. For example, CPT authorized for the spring semester can begin as early as the start of the winter break, but must be complete before the first day of the summer session.
A student may participate in CPT as much as their program will allow and their academic department will authorize. However, a student will be ineligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT) if he/she participates in more than 364 days of full-time CPT.
Limitations on Part-time/Full-time CPT and On-Campus Work
CPT in the fall or spring semesters is limited to Part-time CPT (20 hours per week or less) while a student is still engaged in coursework.
On-campus employment and off-campus CPT work combined cannot exceed the total standard F-1 work limit of 20 hours per week in the fall or spring semesters (except in the limited exceptions outlined below).
CPT authorized during official college breaks of one week or longer (e.g. summer break, spring break, or winter break) may be done either full-time or part-time and maybe done in combination with on-campus work.
Full-time off-campus CPT (more than 20 hours per week) during the fall or spring semester is allowed in the following scenarios:
when a student is in a full-time Co-Op Placement; or
when a graduate student has completed all coursework (i.e. reached candidacy) and is in their dissertation or thesis phase as a graduate student and is conducting training related to the thesis/dissertation (NOTE: students who have reached candidacy must have a Research Phase Memo on file with ISSD); or
when a student is in a program of study which requires field placement as part of the academic program requirement and stated in the catalog (e.g. Clinical Counseling).
CPT allowing a combination of on-campus and off-campus work exceeding 20 hours per week while the student is engaged in coursework or thesis/dissertation research can be granted only in the following scenarios:
when a student is in a program of study which requires field placement as part of the academic program requirement and stated in the catalog (e.g. Clinical Counseling); or
when the CPT is directly related to the thesis or dissertation research, for which supervising faculty and the academic department will need to recommend CPT participation as required work, related to the dissertation or thesis research and it must be attached to the appropriate 669 research hours.
How to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT)?
CPT Online Workshop and Quiz
Step 1: Please review the online CPT workshop and complete the quiz before you submit the paperwork to International Student Services department. (When you receive a score of 100% Total Points 100/100. Please be sure to print your results to include your score, Email, Name, Student ID# and attach to your CPT application. Note: CPT applications without confirmation of 100/100 quiz score will not be processed)
Step 2: Please submit electronically your CPT Application Form to the ISSD office.
Step 3: It will take 5-10 business days to process your CPT request.
Step 4: ISSD office will send out an e-mail to inform you the new CPT I-20 is ready.
If you have any questions, please contact the DSO at 954-637-2294 or send an email to ISSD@sfbc.edu.
If you do not already have an SSN then please read below:
You do need the SSN in order to engage in a paid internship. You will be eligible to apply for the SSN after you receive the CPT authorization. You will not be able to apply for an SSN for an unpaid position.
To request SSN letter from ISS office please complete the Letter Request Form.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a job and an internship?
An internship includes a learning objective; it is an opportunity to gain knowledge and skills through experiential learning as a complement to the theoretical knowledge gained in an academic setting. International students can only be authorized for internships that are an integral part of their academic curriculum. A job is a position of regular employment.
When can I begin my internship?
You may begin your internship as soon as you meet the minimum eligibility criteria ISSD and you receive the proper authorization. You should only work during the approved CPT dates reflected on page 2 of your I-20.
Additional requirements for international students:
F-1 students must fulfill at least one academic year at SFBC (two consecutive full-time semesters equal to at least 30 weeks minimum of credit seeking courses compliant with F-1 enrollment requirements) prior to being eligible for CPT, which in turn will allow participation in an internship
Exceptions:
Students who pursue a graduate level degree with a required practical component (immediate internship participation required) within the program of study may engage in CPT from their first semester at SFBC.
Students who are transferring from another program in the U.S. or starting a new program following a period of OPT may request CPT in their second semester of study at SFBC.
Do I need to get authorization from ISSD in order to engage in the internship?
Yes.
Paid and unpaid on-campus internship positions may be authorized as on-campus employment if not exceeding 20 hours per week or as CPT if exceeding 20 hours per week. Please note that regular on-campus jobs cannot exceed 20 hours per week during fall and spring (but may exceed 20 hours per week during the summer session for students continuing enrollment from spring).
Paid and unpaid off-campus internships must always have CPT authorization and may be authorized full-time or part-time depending on the internship criteria. ISSD advisors will advise you accordingly.
ISSD limits CPT authorizations to no more than two semesters per degree level. While there is no regulatory limit on part-time internships, students who wish to engage for a third internship must meet with an ISSD advisor prior to requesting the authorization. We must ensure that this opportunity continues to be integral to students' program of study (for degree credit or degree completion requirements) and establish new learning objectives with each CPT authorization.
Students who completed all coursework except for thesis or dissertation credits may apply for CPT under the condition that the internship is required to collect research directly for thesis/dissertation.
Students cannot be approved for only CPT in their final semester; student must take a course required for degree completion in addition to CPT authorization in the final term to be considered for approval.
12 months of full-time CPT will cancel eligibility for OPT.
Do I need to register for a course? What if I don’t need it for academic credit?
Yes. Only one internship course may apply per CPT authorization and the course must be taken concurrently with the CPT experience.
Do I need a Social Security Number (SSN) in order to apply for or accept an internship offer?
An SSN is not required to apply for positions, however, you do need the SSN in order to engage in a paid internship. The SSN is only issued for paid internship (not for unpaid positions). You will be eligible to apply for the SSN after you receive the CPT authorization.
Please read the Social Security application guide for more details. To request SSN letter from ISSD office please complete the Letter Request Form.
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