International Students & Scholars Office
F-1 Employment
Employment can be an important part of your academic and professional experience in the United States. F-1 students may have opportunities to work on campus or participate in employment and practical training related to their academic program, but federal immigration requirements determine when and how those activities are permitted.
Do not begin employment, an internship, practical training, or another work-related activity unless you are certain that it is permitted under your F-1 status and you have received any required authorization.
CPT Policy Change
New CPT Requests Are Currently Limited
Cal State LA is currently authorizing CPT only when the internship, practicum, or practical training is a documented graduation requirement for every student in the degree program.
May Qualify for CPT
Practical training that is required to complete your major or graduate degree program.
Does Not Qualify Under the Current Process
An optional internship, elective course, independent study, or experience that provides academic credit but is not required for graduation.
If your training may qualify: Follow the CPT process below. You may begin only after ISSO authorizes CPT in SEVIS and issues an updated Form I-20 showing the authorization.
Career Support and Immigration Authorization Are Different
The Cal State LA Career Center can help you find jobs and internships, develop your résumé, prepare for interviews, connect with employers, and use Handshake.
ISSO advises students regarding F-1 employment authorization and processes immigration requests such as CPT, OPT, and STEM OPT.
Finding a job or internship does not automatically mean that you are authorized to participate in it.
On-Campus Employment
Eligible F-1 students may generally work in qualifying on-campus employment without applying to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for a separate Employment Authorization Document.
During periods when school is in session, F-1 students may work a total of up to 20 hours per week across all qualifying on-campus positions. Eligible students may generally work more than 20 hours during official periods when school is not in session or during an authorized annual vacation.
What Qualifies as On-Campus Employment?
Qualifying employment may include:
- Employment directly for Cal State LA, such as a student assistant, instructional student assistant, graduate assistant, research assistant, or other qualifying University position
- Employment for a business located on campus that directly provides services to students
- Certain employment at an off-campus location that is educationally affiliated with Cal State LA and meets federal requirements
Simply working at a location physically located on campus does not automatically make a job qualifying on-campus employment.
If you are unsure whether a position qualifies as on-campus employment, contact ISSO before beginning work.
More Than One On-Campus Job
F-1 students may hold more than one qualifying on-campus position, but the combined hours from all positions must remain within the applicable employment-hour limit while school is in session.
Find an On-Campus Job
Most Cal State LA student employment opportunities are posted through Handshake, the University's career and employment platform.
The Career Center also provides information about student jobs on campus .
Social Security Number and Employment Verification
F-1 students generally become eligible to apply for a Social Security Number when they have qualifying employment.
Students who need an ISSO employment verification or Social Security support letter should submit the appropriate request through the International Student Portal.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Curricular Practical Training is a form of F-1 practical training associated with an established academic curriculum and directly related to the student's major field of study.
CPT May Be Considered When All Four Are True
- The training is directly related to your major.
- It is an established part of the academic curriculum.
- It is required of every student in the degree program.
- It is required to complete the degree.
ISSO may request the University catalog, approved curriculum, or department documentation confirming the requirement.
New CPT Requests Are Currently Paused When Training Is Optional
- An elective internship or practicum
- An internship available to only some students
- An internship that earns academic credit but is not required
- Independent study or experiential-learning credit
- A faculty recommendation without an established program requirement
Academic value, relevance to your major, or course credit does not by itself establish eligibility.
Why the Process Changed
SEVP guidance issued in August 2026 applies a more restrictive interpretation of the federal requirement that CPT be an integral part of an established curriculum. Cal State LA has temporarily limited new CPT authorization while the University evaluates the guidance and its implications for academic programs.
Students and academic departments will be notified if federal guidance or Cal State LA procedures change.
If Your Degree Program Requires the Training
- Confirm the requirement Verify with your academic program that the training is a published or formally established graduation requirement for every student in the program.
- Obtain a firm offer The offer must identify the employer, position, location, dates, and proposed weekly hours.
- Complete the CPT process Finish any required CPT information session and submit the CPT request with all supporting documentation to ISSO.
- Receive authorization Wait for ISSO to approve the request in SEVIS and issue your updated Form I-20 before you begin.
Your Updated Form I-20 Shows Your CPT Authorization
CPT approval is specific to the employer, location, dates, and whether the training is part time or full time. You may participate only as shown on the updated Form I-20 issued by ISSO.
If the Training Is Optional
Do not submit a new CPT request at this time. You may contact ISSO to ask whether another F-1 employment category could apply, although eligibility is not guaranteed.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Optional Practical Training allows eligible F-1 students to participate in temporary employment or practical training that is directly related to their major field of study.
Eligible students may generally receive up to 12 months of OPT at a particular educational level, subject to prior use of practical training and other eligibility requirements.
Post-Completion OPT
Post-completion OPT is generally used after a student completes the academic program listed on the Form I-20.
OPT requires a recommendation from an ISSO DSO and approval from USCIS. Students may not begin employment until USCIS has approved the application, the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) has been issued, and the authorized employment start date has arrived.
Complete the OPT Course
Cal State LA students must complete the ISSO OPT course in Canvas before beginning the University's OPT application process.
24-Month STEM OPT Extension
Some students completing post-completion OPT may qualify for an additional 24 months of STEM OPT based on an eligible science, technology, engineering, or mathematics degree.
Eligibility includes requirements involving the student's qualifying degree, current OPT status, the employer's participation in E-Verify, and completion of the Form I-983 Training Plan.
STEM OPT also carries ongoing reporting and training-plan requirements for both the student and employer.
Students approaching the end of post-completion OPT should contact ISSO early if they believe they may qualify for the STEM OPT extension.
Internship With a Qualifying International Organization
Federal regulations provide a separate employment-authorization category for eligible F-1 students who receive an internship offer from certain qualifying international organizations.
This is a specialized category and requires immigration review and USCIS employment authorization.
Contact ISSO before accepting or beginning an internship that you believe may fall within this category.
Severe Economic Hardship Employment
In limited circumstances, an eligible F-1 student who experiences severe economic hardship caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond the student's control may be able to request off-campus employment authorization.
This category requires specific eligibility criteria, a recommendation from a DSO, an application to USCIS, and USCIS approval before employment can begin.
Students experiencing unexpected financial hardship should schedule an appointment with ISSO to discuss their individual circumstances rather than beginning off-campus work without authorization.
Build Your Career While Maintaining F-1 Status
Immigration authorization determines whether you may participate in a particular employment experience. The Career Center can help you prepare for those opportunities.
Career Center services include job and internship searches through Handshake, résumé and cover letter support, interview preparation, career fairs and employer events, and career exploration and planning.
Employment Forms & Requests
Most ISSO employment-related requests are submitted through the International Student Portal.
Access the International Student Portal
For instructions and a list of common requests, visit Forms & Requests .
Unsure Whether You Can Work?
Ask ISSO before you begin. Unauthorized employment can have serious consequences for F-1 status. If you are uncertain whether an opportunity qualifies as on-campus employment or requires CPT, OPT, STEM OPT, or another form of authorization, contact ISSO before accepting or beginning the activity.
Questions About F-1 Employment?
Contact the International Students and Scholars Office for immigration advising related to employment or practical training.
International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO)
Library Palmer Wing, Room 4053
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 323-343-3170