Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

The information here is for enrolled International Students on F-1 visas.

CPT OVERVIEW

CPT is one type of employment authorization available to F-1 students interested in gaining practical experience in their field of study while currently enrolled in a degree program. Click on the bookings button below to schedule an advising appointment.

Bookings

Even unpaid curricular training such as nursing clinicals or practicums, student teaching, unpaid internships, and volunteer positions require CPT authorization before students can take part. If you have any questions about whether an off-campus opportunity requires CPT, please schedule an appointment with an immigration advisor.

Elective CPT at UTA is based on enrollment in a credit-bearing course. The CPT authorization may begin as early as the day after the end of the previous semester and can last until the day before the following semester begins unless the student is completing their program.

OIE can process summer and fall semester CPT requests at the same time, provided that the request is complete, and the student has enrolled for both Summer and Fall CPT courses and offer letter covers employment dates for both. We would process Summer and Fall separately so both semesters are reflected on I-20 but based on the same request. CPT must be approved and begin by the mid-semester date of the semester.

Please note that because course credit is required for CPT, enrollment deadlines will affect eligibility. The last date to enroll is typically the last date of late registration for undergraduate students and census date for graduate students.

CPT Semester	Last Day of Class for Semester Prior to CPT	CPT Earliest Start Date	CPT Latest Start Date (Mid-Semester)	CPT Latest End Date	First Day of Class for Upcoming Semester
Fall 2022	8/12/2022	8/13/2022	10/18/2022	01/16/2023	01/17/2023
Spring 2023	12/14/2022	12/15/2022	3/15/2023	06/04/2023	06/05/2023
Summer 2023	5/10/2023	5/11/2023	7/10/2023	08/20/2023	08/21/2023
Fall 2023	8/11/2023	8/12/2023	10/18/2023	01/15/2024	01/16/2024
Spring 2024	12/13/2024	12/14/2024	03/14/2024	TBD	TBD

CPT OVERVIEW

ELIGIBILITY

F-1 student in good academic standing.
New students to UT Arlington may be eligible for CPT/OPT employment authorization after completing one academic year of full-time enrollment. One academic year is defined as two consecutive semesters, fall and spring. Summer enrollment does not count toward the academic year requirement.
Students transferring in to UT Arlington may be eligible for CPT/OPT authorization after completing one long semester (Fall or Spring) of full-time enrollment.
Enrollment in the corresponding internship course at UT-Arlington.
The employment requested is an integral part of the degree program and recommended by the academic department.

LIMITATIONS

Full-time CPT is limited to two semesters per degree level.
There is no limit to the number of part-time CPT authorizations.
I-20s cannot be extended on the basis of CPT.
Students may not have a GRA/GTA and CPT in the same semester except during summer.
Students applying for CPT in their final semester must have at least one required course other than the CPT class in order to be eligible; this is not a change.
Students working on CPT in their final semester must end CPT employment by the final day of class.
Employment limited to prescribed CPT start/end dates.

REQUEST WORKFLOW

Talk to your academic advisor to discuss internship options in your specific degree program.
Interview and get an offer letter for an INTERNSHIP position.
Submit Prospective Employer's Information to the company and get a letter from the company (see "Prospective Employers Checklist" under CPT Required Forms on the left).
Enroll in the corresponding internship course. Your department can provide details. Please note that CPT deadlines are different from course registration and payment deadlines. Registration into the internship course during late registration or after can result in late registration fees.
Have your academic advisor fill out the CPT Academic Advisor Recommendation form (see "Academic Advisor Form" under CPT Required Forms on the left).
Fill out the CPT Student Form (see "CPT Student Form" under CPT Required Forms on the left).
Submit completed forms to the OIE.
Please allow up to 7 business days for processing. During that time, the OIE will determine eligibility and issue a new I-20 authorizing the employment for the specified dates.
Once you receive your new I-20, you may begin working on the start date listed on page 3.