CPT Applications Guideline

CPT (Curriculum Practical Training) Applications Guidelines
CPT FAQ

• CPT FAQ: Check it out here.
• CPT Duration : To align with the SEVIS processing requirement, the school can only approve for CPT up to a maximum of 12 months at a time.  Students can also request for one semester or one session CPT. 
• 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 : 
    • Parties Involved on Page 3. 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. 
    • CLO checkbox on Page 4; 
    • The student's and the employer's Signature/Print name/Date Section on Page 4.
  • 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/fee/payment/receipt:

• The internship course payment receipt is no longer required when submitting the application.
• As part of the CPT participation, F-1 students will be required to be enrolled into internship courses throughout all the CPT authorization periods.
• The internship course is charged at a rate of one credit hour per semester. Payment is due each semester.
• The credit for the internship course does not count toward the academic credits required for graduation.
• The internship course includes weekly assignments. Please follow the syllabus provided on your GAP.
• Students on CPT will be automatically enrolled into an internship course by the Registrar Office at the beginning of the session/semester.
• If CPT is approved, Student Accounts will charge the internship course fee to your account after you are enrolled in the internship course. 
• Please ensure to make the payment through your Student First Portal to remain enrolled in the internship course

New CPT Application

• 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 APPICATION from on the University Forms Webpage here: https://www.westcliff.edu/life-at-westcliff/student-services/forms/
• 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 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).
• 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).
• 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.
• 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 form on the University Forms Webpage.