CURRICULAR PRACTICAL TRAINING (CPT)
GRADUATE STUDENTS

CPT Eligibility Information:

AM I ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR CPT?

  • A matriculated student in good standing at the University of Utah
  • Legal F-1 student status at the University of Utah for 9 consecutive months (students in programs which REQUIRE immediate participation in curricular practical training may begin their training before they have been here nine months)
  • Minimum 2.5 GPA
  • Have a job offer that is related to your field of study and is an integral part of your degree program

HOW DO I MAINTAIN MY CPT ELIGIBILITY?

PART-TIME CPT:

  • Work 20 hours or less per week
  • Simultaneously enrolled as a full-time student (taking 9 credit hours or 3 credit hours of thesis research, dissertation research or faculty consultation that include courses numbered 6970-6980, and 7970-7980)

FULL-TIME CPT:

  • Includes working between 21 and 40 hours per week
  • Allowed ONLY during vacation semester and university breaks (the semester you are graduating IS NOT a vacation semester)
  • If you participate in 12 months of full-time Curricular Practical Training you will NOT be eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduation
  • If you are in a thesis program, have completed your coursework, and wish to work full-time while you finish your thesis or dissertation, you must apply for full-time Optional Practical Training (OPT) instead of CPT - the time spent in OPT prior to graduation would count against the 12-month period of OPT allowed

ADDITIONAL INFO:

  • Transferring schools cancels your CPT
  • CPT is only granted one semester at a time
  • All personal, residential, work locations, etc. must be kept up-to-date with the International Center, Career Services, your academic department, and CIS or you will fall “out of status” with the CIS and will not be eligible for ANY further work authorization in the U.S.

 

CPT Application Information:

Please note that it may take up to two weeks for your CPT to be authorized. You may NOT begin working until you receive a new CPT I-20 form from the International Center authorizing your training.

1)  DOWNLOAD THE STUDENT INFORMATION SHEET

Click here to download the form. Print it and fill in the requested information.

 

2) OBTAIN A FORMAL OFFER LETTER FROM YOUR EMPLOYER

  • Written on company letterhead
  • Listing your job title
  • Including the number of hours per week you will be working
  • Including the proposed time period of employment (from what date to what date)
  • Providing the supervisor’s name, address, and phone number
  • Signed by a representative of the company

3) OBTAIN A LETTER FROM YOUR ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT

  • Written on department letterhead
  • Written by a faculty advisor, committee member, department chair, or approved department member
  • Attesting that the department knows and approves of your proposed work experience, that the job relates to your graduate work, and that it would contribute to your educational experience

4) MEET WITH PATTI HENRIKSEN TO OBTAIN YOUR CPT APPROVAL LETTER

CPT letters will not be issued on a walk-in basis. You must make an appointment. Patti’s office is located in Career Services (350 SSB), and she makes her own appointments. To make an appointment, you need to call or email Patti at 581-5726 or phenriksen@sa.utah.edu.

 

Bring the following items to the meeting with Patti:

  • Completed Student Information Sheet you downloaded and printed
  • Formal Offer Letter you obtained from your employer
  • Letter from your Academic Department

During your appointment, Patti will determine whether your work experience meets CPT criteria. If your job qualifies for CPT, she will provide you with four copies of a CPT Approval Letter.

 

5) SIGN UP IN UCAREERLINK (THE CAREER SERVICES DATABASE)

  • Go to the Career Services home page: http://careers.utah.edu
  • Click “Sign Up for Services” at the top of the page
  • Fill in the requested information and click “Register”

Once you have signed up, you may access UCareerLink at any time by going to the Career Services home page, clicking “UCareerLink Login”, and entering your Student ID and the password you created when you signed up.

 

6)  OBTAIN A CURRENT OFFICIAL UNIVERSITY OF UTAH TRANSCRIPT

The Transcripts Division is located in the Student Services Building, Window #21 (2nd floor). The following information is needed to process transcript requests:

  • Full name and any prior names
  • Student identification number and/or Social Security Number
  • Birth date
  • Approximate dates of enrollment
  • Student signature
  • Payment (transcripts are $3 each; cash, check, money order, or credit card accepted)

 

7) TURN IN PAPERWORK TO THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER

  • Current official University of Utah transcript
  • Current I-20
  • Four copies of the CPT approval letter from Patti Henriksen

 

The International Center will process your CPT request, and if your CPT is approved, they will issue you a new CPT I-20 form. You are NOT allowed to start working until you receive the I-20 with the work authorization. This may take several days. If you need more time than stated on your I-20, you will need to reapply for CPT.

Once you are approved for CPT and receive your new CPT I-20 form, a representative from the International Center will sign the four copies of your approval letter. Two of these copies will be kept by the International Center (one for their office and one to send to Career Services). You are responsible to give a copy to your employer and to keep a copy for your own records.

It is your responsibility to know the law and comply with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations, as well as with University of Utah policies.