CPT Applications Guideline

CPT Applications Guidelines
CPT FAQ

• Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is defined as “alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school."  CPT is the employment authorization granted during the program.
• CPT FAQ: Check it out here.
• CPT Duration : Students can request for one semester or one session. 
• CPT Start Date and End Date:
  • For new students, the earliest CPT start date available to request is the program start date on the I-20.
  • For Current students, the earliest CPT start date available to request is around 28-30 days before the upcoming session or semester start date. 
  • For all students, CPT end date cannot be after the program end date on the I-20.
• Types of CPT: Full-time CPT (over 20 hours of work per week); Part-time CPT (20 hours or less of work per week).
• CPT regulations and requirements: Please review the CPT Cooperative Agreements here.
• PLE and CPT Internship Course:
  • PLE (Practical Learning Experience) is a graduation requirement, which requires student to have an internship experience. For more details, please consult Student Services Department/Academic Advisors.
  • CPT Internship Course: All students on CPT are required to attend and pass the internship courses throughout all of their CPT authorization periods.
• Required documents : 
  • Cooperative Agreement and Offer Letter. 
  • IMPORTANT: Please follow the document requirements listed below. Any missing or incomplete documents will cause a secondary review and delay in processing
  •  The Cooperative Agreement :  
    Available at https://www.westcliff.edu/life-at-westcliff/student-services/forms/. Please fill out : 
    • on Page 3: Parties Involved. IMPORTANT :  For new students, the start date cannot be prior to the program start date on your I-20; otherwise, need to resubmit the CA and cause delay. 
    • on Page 4: CLO checkbox; 
    • on Page 4: The student's and the employer's Signature/Print name/Date Section .
  • Job Offer Letter : 
    • Official Offer Letter (current student and new students) or  Letter of Employment or Employment Verification Letter (new students only)
    • Must be signed by the representative of your employer
    • The issue date must be within 90 days of the submission
    • Job descriptions and job duties should be clearly stated

Processing Time: 

• 7- 10 business days excluding weekends and holidays
• For current students with Terra Dotta (TD)  access : Check your application status on your TD profile- Control Center - Ongoing Requests. When it shows "submitted", it is in queue for processing

CPT Internship course enrollment and requirements

• The Registrar Office will add Internship course to your Student First portal and GAP at the first two weeks of the session/semester.
• Student Accounts will charge the internship course fee to your account.
• Students  ensure to make the payment through your Student First Portal to remain enrolled in the internship course
• Students must attend and pass the internship course. Not passing the INT course will affect your eligibility for CPT in the next semester.
• INT course is an online course that does NOT have on-campus meetings. 
• INT cousre has weekly discussion questions and assignments.
• It is a pass/no pass course.
• INT course credits won’t be counted towards program credits.
• INT course costs one credit hour per semester.

New CPT Application

• All forms and documents are accessible via Westcliff Email Account. As soon as you complete the form, you will be in the queue for processing.
• Submit this form if you do not currently have CPT with Westcliff, or if this is your first CPT application request. Follow the instructions on the application form.
• For current students, please submit your CPT request through Terra Dotta. Please review TD Step by Step CPT Request Submission Tutorial PDF or Video.
• For new students and Change of Education Level students, please submit the NEW CPT APPLICATION from on the University Forms Webpage here: https://www.westcliff.edu/life-at-westcliff/student-services/forms/
• For incoming/new students, your CPT will be processed after your completion of the SEVIS registration requirements including
  • (1) having completed your admission process,
  • (2) attending NSO,
  • (3) submitting I-94,
  • (4) submitting the Contact Update link ( for initial attendance students),
  • (5) transferring your SEVIS record to WU( for transfer students).
  • (6) Receiving I-797 Approval Notice ( only for Change of Status and Reinstatement students). 
• Required document :  Recently signed Cooperative Agreement, Recently signed Offer Letter or Letter of Employment.
• Step 1:Check New CPT Application open dates and deadlines here. 
• Step 2:Gather the required documents. Required documents: Cooperative Agreement, Job Offer Letter
• Step 3:Fill out and submit the CPT Request through your Terra Dotta Portal (current students) or the NEW CPT APPLICATION form on the University Forms Webpage (new students, change of education level students).
• Step 4: Check your application status on your TD profile- Control Center - Ongoing Requests. When it shows submitted, it is in queue for processing.
• Step 5: Receive the TD notification : CPT I-20-uploaded to your TD profile.
• Step 6: Start working on or after the start date on the page 2 of your CPT -20.

CPT Renewal Application

• All forms and documents are accessible via Westcliff Email Account. As soon as you complete the form, you will be in the queue for processing.
• Submit this form if you are working for the same employer and would like to extend your work authorization for the upcoming semester/session. Follow the instructions on the application form.
• You can submit the CPT renewal as early as 30 days prior to the current CPT end date on your I-20.
• Required document :  previously signed Cooperative Agreement, previously signed Offer Letter
• Please review TD Step by Step CPT Request Submission Tutorial PDF or Video.
• Step 1: Check CPT Renewal Application open dates and deadlines here.
• Step 2: Gather your previously signed Cooperative Agreement and the previously signed Offer Letter.
• Step 3: Fill out and submit the CPT Request through your Terra Dotta Portal.
• Step 4: Check your application status on your TD profile- Control Center - Ongoing Requests. When it shows submitted, it is in queue for processing.
• Step 5: Receive the TD notification : CPT I-20-uploaded to your TD profile.
• Step 6: Start working on or after the start date on the page 2 of your CPT -20.

Change of CPT Application

• All forms and documents are accessible via Westcliff Email Account. As soon as you complete the form, you will be in the queue for processing.
• Submit Change of CPT application form to make a change to the current CPT authorization period at least 10 days before the desired change.
• Changes may include: employer change, start date/end date, employer address change, part-time/full-time change, cancel CPT, etc.
  • New Employer:
    • Changes to CPT will not change the original authorized CPT end date. 
    • Required documents : new Job Offer Letter, new Cooperative Agreement.
    • The start date of the CPT will not be backdated. The earliest CPT start date will be your requested start date or the CPT processing date, whichever is later.
    • The CPT end date remains the same.
  • Start date/end date change:
    • The SEVIS system will not allow for backdating of the CPT start date.
    • Within the authorization period, CPT end date can be shorted.
  • Employer address change: 
    • Need a letter from the employer confirming the change.
  • Switch between full-time and part-time CPT :
    • Need a letter from the employer confirming the change and the start date of the change. 
    • Changing from part-time to full-time, need to meet the academic requirements of the full-time CPT.
  • Cancel CPT: CPT can only be shorted to the end date of the employment end date.
    • When cancel the CPT, there is option for remaining in the internship course for the reminder of the semester/session, which allows student to get back to CPT and continue the internship course by submitting another Change of CPT to add an employer.
    • When cancel the CPT, there is option for withdrawing from the internship course.  This option won't allow students to get back to the CPT during the reminder of the semester/session.  Students need to wait for the next available CPT applications window to submit a NEW CPT Request to get back to CPT and internship course.
• Submit the Change of CPT Application through the Terra Dotta- Control Center