Employment Opportunities in the U.S.A.

(CPT) Curricular Practical Training
(OPT) Optional Practical Training

(CPT) Curricular Practical Training: allows students who have been in F-1 status for a minimum of 9 months and in good academic standing to gain real-world experience through PAID internship/ co-operative education/ employment with off-campus employers (students seeking to do unpaid internship/ volunteer/ co-operative education placements do NOT require CPT or prior authorization from CIE).  A placement must be closely related to a student's major field of study and students MUST be receiving CSULB academic credit for that specific CPT internship/ co-operative education/ work experience.  CIE approval is REQUIRED BEFORE any paid CPT internship/ co-operative education/ work experience can start.  Two Types of CPT: 1) Department Based CPT for Graduate Students; 2) CPT Based on a Career Development Center authorized internship course for undergraduate or graduate students.  TYPE 1: Department Based CPT for Graduate Students requires the Graduate Advisor or Thesis Advisor to complete a CIE CPT application form verifying that the work the student will be doing provides experience that supplements the student's academic program of study in a meaningful way and that the academic credit awarded for this work experience will count toward the student's academic program.  TYPE 2: Career Development Center Based CPT requires the student to enroll in a 3 credit internship course through the Career Development Center and to complete a CIE CPT form.  CPT is considered a benefit of maintaining proper F-1 status and the final decision to authorized CPT is made by the Center for International Education. Students should attend a workshop as indicated below or meet with their International Student Advisor to discuss CPT options and to request a CPT application form.

(OPT) Optional Practical Training: allows F-1 status students to gain practical work experience in a job closely related to their major fields of study.  Undergraduate Students & Graduate Students seeking this benefit MUST apply by the CIE APPLICATION DEADLINE the semester they will complete all course requirements for their academic program.  Completion of the WPE (GWAR) is NOT required to apply for OPT.  CIE recommends students start the OPT application process a minimum of 3 to 4 months prior to completion of all coursework. Graduate students who have only thesis and no regular classes remaining may apply for OPT before finishing their thesis.  OPT may be granted for a maximum of 12 months only once per academic level. After your OPT application has been mailed to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for processing, it cannot be cancelled by CIE. It is not possible to "save" any unused OPT time for future use.

CLICK HERE FOR F-1 WORK OPTIONS CHART (.pdf 86kb)

PLEASE ATTEND a Scheduled OPT/ CPT WORKSHOP for Complete Application Instructions and Information

Spring 2008- Workshop Schedule

All workshops are held in the Career Development Center Conference Center (BH-250).

To make your reservation, sign up at the front counter in the CIE, BH-201
For further information, please call (562) 985-4106

SMALL GROUP SESSIONS

If you need additional help filling out your application, or if you want to submit your application for OPT/CPT, SMALL GROUP SESSIONS will be held in the CIE Conference Room (BH-201). You do not need to sign up for these sessions.  Small Group Sessions will be held during the following days and times throughout the semester:

The first Small Group Session will be held on THURSDAY, February 14, 2008 at 10 AM

Small Group Sessions are offered the following days:

MONDAYS: 11 AM -12:00 PM
THURSDAYS: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

The last Small Group Session will be held on:
THURSDAY, May 8, 2008

THERE WILL BE NO SMALL GROUP SESSIONS ON THE FOLLOWING DAYS:
(Thursday, March 6 /  Monday, March 31)

OPT APPLICATION DEADLINES

Last day to submit your OPT application for SPRING 2008 graduates is THURSDAY; May 8, 2008

Last day to submit your OPT application for SUMMER 2008 graduates is MONDAY; August 11, 2008