Important Note: All Paper Work Requests Have a 10-day Turn-around Period
Revised 1/29/2014
F-1 Curricular Practical Training Request Packet
General Information
An F-1 student may wish to engage in temporary employment to gain practical experience in his/her field of
study prior to completion of his/her program of study. The regulations of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS) governing F-1 non immigrant’s students provide for this type of employment authorization
through what is called Curricular Practical Training (CPT). The student must have been lawfully enrolled on a
full time basis at a DHS-approved school for one academic year before being eligible for CPT. Employment
under CPT must be an integral part of an established curriculum and be directly related to the student’s field
of study. It must be a degree requirement or credit-bearing option, such as an internship or practicum class.
This requirement or degree option must be stated in the school’s catalog or departmental literature describing
the program and must be available to all students in the program.
CPT is approved for full or part-time (20 hours/week or less) and for a specific employer, place of employment,
and time period. CPT can only be granted for up to one semester at a time but no more than one year and you
must be registered for the internship or practicum class during the same semester in which CPT will be
authorized. You must request any changes (employer, location, and hours/week) or new period of CPT prior to
the changes taking place or before the new period of CPT will begin. If you are engaged in part-time CPT, you
must continue to remain enrolled as a full-time student during normal enrollment periods. If you are engaged
in full-time CPT, you may be enrolled for less than full-time but you cannot cease to be enrolled altogether
during normal enrollment periods.
To apply for Curricular Practical Training, you must provide the following to the International Student Center
(ISC) prior to the start of any employment:
1. The attached Curricular Practical Training Recommendation Form completed by your Academic
Counselor indicating that the training is a degree requirement or credit-bearing option.
2. A letter from your prospective employer stating the beginning and ending dates of the employment,
the number of hours per week you will work, the salary, job duties, exact location (street address) of
the job, and the employer’s contact information.
3. If the employment is a degree requirement but no academic credit is involved, you must submit to ISC
a copy of the departmental catalog or literature that describes the requirement. If the employment is a
degree option or a requirement, for which you earn academic credit(s), you must bring in a copy of the
schedule of classes indicating the course number and number of credits, a copy of your registration
form, and a copy of the departmental literature describing the course.
If this is your first time applying for CPT you must make an appointment with an ISC advisor to submit your
application. These documents must be submitted and approved prior to the start of any employment. In
most cases your CPT will be authorized within 10 business days. If you have any questions, please contact the
ISC at (626) 585-7808.
________________________________________________________ ________________________________________
F-1 Curricular Practical Training Recommendation Form
Student to Complete:
Each item in this form must be completed. The completed form must be submied to ISC 10 days prior to CPT start date.
Name: ______________________________________ ____________________________________ _________
Family Name First MI
Address: ___________________________________________________________________________ ______________
Number & Street Apt. # City State Postal code
PCC E-mail: ______________________@go.pasadena.edu Cell Phone #: ________________________________
PCC ID#: ________________________ SEVIS ID #: N00_______________________
Semester Requested for: __________________ # of Units: _________ Expected Gradu
on Date: _________________
mm/dd/yyyy
I state that the information provided here is true. I further understand that it is a violation of US law to provide false information to the college.
Student signature mm/dd/yyyy
For Counselor, Dean, or Faculty to Complete
This is to c fy that the student listed above is in a course of study leading to
__________________________________degree in the _____________________________________________________
(Associate) (Field or Major)
It is es mated that the student will complete all requirements for the degree by ______________________________
(date)
I further c y that:
This training is required as part of the degree. This requirement is stated in the school’s catalog or in departmental
literature describing the program. The student will or will not receive credit based on stated departmental guide-
lines for the program.
This training is a degree op on (such as an internship or p um op on). The student will enroll in a course and
receive academic credit for this training program.
Please indicate the number of credits the student will receive: _____________ during which term __________________
Name (Print) ______________________________ Signature_____________________________ Date______________
Important Note: All paperwork requests require 10 business days to process. revised 4/25/2018
Important Note: All Paper Work Requests Have a 10-day Turn-around Period
Revised 1/29/2014
On Company’s letterhead
Employer’s Sample Job Offer Letter
To: International Student Center, PCC
From: ___________________________
(Employer Name)
Re: ___________________________________
(Student Name)
This letter is to certify that _______________ (Student Name) is offered the position of
____________________ (Job Title) at the _______________________ (Company’s Name.) at
_____________________ (detailed company address). The employment start date is _______________and
the end date is __________.
I am the supervisor of ___________________ (Student Name) and he/she will work under my directions.
_______________ (Student Name) His/her responsibilities are ____________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
His/her work hours are _______________ hours per week. The salary will be $____________.
If you have any questions, please contact me at _______________ telephone number or by
FAX____________.
Sincerely,
________________________________ (Supervisor Signature)
__________________________________ (Print Name) ___________________________________ (Date)
EXAMPLE
Important Note: All Paper Work Requests Have a 10-day Turn-around Period
Revised 1/29/2014
Curricular Practical Training Checklist
CPT Recommendation (signed by Academic Counselor in L- 104).
Educational Plan (from Academic Counselor)
Job offer letter as specified on the first page
Print out of course in Schedule of Classes describing the course and required work hours
Departmental Literature describing course
I- 538 Form attached. (For ISC)
Print out of class schedule as proof that you are enrolled in the required course for CPT.
You will need to pick up from our office in 10 business days:
1. The C.P.T. I- 20.
2. At time of pick up, please print, sign and date the I-20 in BLUE ink where indicated.
3. Allow our office to make a copy of the signed I-20 BEFORE you leave our office with it.
4. Letter of recommendation for a Social Security Card.
5. Social Security Checklist.