- The student must be in good academic standing, must have been enrolled full-time in the current academic field (not Intensive English) at UTA for at least 2 consecutive semesters immediately prior to employment, and must currently be in F-1 status. This includes transfer students, former students returning for a new degree or continuing UTA students who are changing majors or degree level in the same field of study.
- A student who has been authorized for a total of 12 months of full time Curricular Practical Training is not eligible for Optional Practical Training for the current degree program.
- The internship must be an integral part of the student's program of study and must appear in the UTA catalogue as either a requirement for The degree program, or the course to which the internship is connected must be listed in the UTA catalogue. Project, thesis, dissertation or research hours can not be used for CPT credit unless the job is actually incorporated into the project, thesis or dissertation.
- Part-time Curricular Practical Training requires full-time enrollment at school. A student may not work part-time on campus while engaged in part-time Curricular Practical Training. Full-time CPT requires at least part-time enrollment at UTA, since the student must receive course credit for the internship.
- A student may have only 2 semesters of internship (either full or part-time) per degree program at UTA. A student enrolled in a one-year certificate course may have only one semester of internship.
- A student must complete CPT prior to the expected completion date on the I-20. An I-20 can not be extended for the sole purpose of CPT.
- A student will be authorized for CPT in the final graduating semester only if the student is also completing his final required courses that semester.
- Graduate students who are employed as GRAs or GTAs may have a part-time internship only if the GRA/GTA requires the employment and only with special permission of the Graduate School Dean.
- Graduate students who are employed as GRAs or GTAs may have a part-time internship only if the GRA/GTA requires the employment and only with special permission of the Graduate School Dean.
- Graduate students who are employed as GRAs or GTAs may have a part-time internship only if the GRA/GTA requires the employment and only with special permission of the Graduate School Dean.
- The International Office will authorize curricular practical training for a specific employer and for a specific period of time, corresponding to a specific semester. Employment may not begin before the first day of classes and may not end any later than the last day of the semester. Employment must begin no later than the published mid-semester date. Please note that Curricular Practical Training can not be extended over the period between semesters
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In order for the Office of International Education to authorize
Curricular Practical Training, the student must obtain two documents:
- an offer letter from the employer that includes a description of the position as an internship, lists the duties, and the beginning and ending dates of the employment
- a letter recommending the employment from the professor who will grade the student's performance in the internship.
- Enroll in a course that will provide credit for the internship.
- Take the attached document describing Curricular Practical Training to your employer, preferably when you go for your initial interview.
- Request a letter of offer from the employer, on letterhead stationery, that describes the job duties, indicates the start date of employment and verifies that the position is an internship and not a continuing full-time job.
- Request a letter of recommendation from the supervising professor, on letterhead stationery, which includes all of the information indicated in the attached sample letter.
- Bring the professor's recommendation letter, the employer's offer letter, and your I-20 to the Office of International Education.
- If the Office of International Education determines that you are eligible for Curricular Practical Training, the authorization will be written on your I-20.
Please print on department's letterhead and please sign name in full. Please inform the Office of International Education if your department has special procedures/restrictions for students applying for Curricular Practical Training)
Date: (today's)TO: Office of International Education, UTA Box 19028
FROM: (supervising professor)
RE: (student's name and ID #)
Mr/Ms (name) is enrolled as a full-time (graduate/undergraduate) student in (dept.) and expects to complete (his/her (BA, MA, MS, PhD) degree on (date).
Mr/Ms ( ) is applying for Curricular Practical Training authorization for an internship which is in conjunction with the following course. This internship is highly recommended and is directly related to the student's degree program. The student's performance on the internship will count significantly towards the grade for the course, and the student will receive (number) credit hours for successfully completing the course.
Description of Internship:Course Name and Number:
Course Supervisor:
Employer (name and address):
Duration of Internship: (no earlier than start of semester and ending no later than last day of semester). The Internship must begin no later than mid semester.
Aims of Internship:Requirements of Supervisor for successfully completing the course such as written report, weekly conferences, oral presentation, employer's reports, etc.:
RE: Curricular Practical Training for International Students in F-1 Status
Full time students in F-1 status are eligible to obtain internships with US employers under certain specific conditions. Please read the following before extending an offer of employment to an international student enrolled at The University of Texas at Arlington.
The position offered to the student must be classified as an internship of limited duration whose primary function is to supplement the student's academic program by providing hands-on supervised work experience. An offer of full-time, continuous, benefits-eligible employment is not appropriate for curricular practical training authorization. According to USCIS regulations, the internship must be either a requirement of the student's degree program, or the student must receive academic credit for the internship. Very few academic programs at UTA require an internship.
Since most of the students will be receiving course-credit and a grade for the internship, the employment may not begin any earlier than the first day of the semester and must end no later than the last day of the semester (the Friday before graduation). Furthermore, since the internship is considered an integral part of a credit-bearing course, employment must begin no later than the mid-semester date.The student may not continue employment in the period between semesters. A student may have only 2 semesters of internship per degree program.
The student must obtain a job offer letter on company letterhead, describing the position, the job duties, and the beginning and ending dates of employment. The employment should be referred to as an internship in the letter. The student must enroll in the internship course at the beginning of the semester during which he will be working. The student will bring the job offer letter to the professor or internship advisor in his department, who will recommend the employment and will indicate the requirements the student will need to fulfill in order to obtain academic credit. The student will bring the job offer letter, the department's recommendation letter, and the I-20 to the Office of International Education. The international student advisor will check the student's eligibility for curricular practical training and, if appropriate, will authorize employment by stating the terms on the student's I-20.
I-9: The curricular practical training authorization of the designated school officer (international student advisor) satisfies the employment eligibility requirements of the I-9 form (column C, number 7).
Social Security and Medicare withholding: F-1 students who have been in the U.S. for 5 calendar years or less are not required to pay social security and medicare taxes, nor is the employer required to pay taxes on their behalf.
Federal Income Tax Withholding: F-1 students are required to pay federal income tax on their employment income.