How to complete the CPT Verification in Terra Dotta
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1. Academic department in which course is offered
The name of the department offering the course the student will enroll in for their practical workplace experience.
2. Course details
There are 4 parts to this question.
1. What course will the student enroll in that is integral to the degree program and appropriate for practical workplace development? The appropriate course may depend on what type of CPT the student is eligible for.
There are two types of CPT
- Required by the degree program
- Optional or elective of the degree program
The latter is the most common type of CPT at UW-Madison.
Common CPT course enrollment includes
| College of Agricultural & Life Sciences | wdt_ID | College of Letters & Science | College of Business | College of Engineering | Dissertator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Departmental 399 Course | 1 | Inter LS 260 | GB 450, 451, 750, 751 | ECS co-op | Dissertator research credits |
| 3 |
2. For which terms is the student expected to enroll for this course?
3. How many credits is this course worth?
4. Does the department in #1 consider this course to meet full-time enrollment requirements? Some courses frequently used for CPT count as full-time enrollment during the fall and spring semesters:
| wdt_ID | College of Business | College of Engineering | Dissertator | “Coursework Completed” Graduate Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GB 451 & 751 | ECS co-op | Dissertator research credits | Approved ISS RCL for “Coursework Completed” |
3. Requested dates of employment
Exact start and end dates are required. These dates must match CPT Offer Letter. The dates are typically contingent on specific course enrollment and therefore align roughly with the dates of the semester.
Note that these are the requested start and end dates. A student must have an I-20 with valid CPT authorization in order to start working. CPT review and processing can take up to 15 business days.
Authorized CPT dates may be able to be shortened or extended with the permission of the student, employer, and the student’s academic/faculty/career advisor and ISS approval.
4. Employment Details
Indicate whether the student is expected to work part-time (20 hours per week or less) or full-time (over 20 hours per week). This information should match CPT Offer Letter. CPT must be authorized for either part-time or full-time.
A student may be restricted to the number of hours per week they can be authorized to work by their academic or on-campus employer department. Inform a student of any restrictions and only approve according to the department policy.
If there is a change in the number of hours per week the student is expected to work that will change it to or from part-or full-time, a new CPT application must be submitted to ISS for review and approval.
The position title and most importantly the position description must be directly related to the student’s major (not a minor or certificate). Confirm whether or not the offer is directly related to the degree program and is an appropriate practical workplace experience for the degree level and major.
5. Curricular Component
Which of the following best matches the information in #1 and #2 above?
The first option requires proof from the UW-Madison Guide. It must be required of every student enrolled in that particular degree program. Course enrollment may or may not be required.
The second option is for schools, colleges, or departments that have a particular elective or optional course with course objectives that support practical workplace training.
The third option is for graduate students with a thesis or dissertation requirement who have a practical training experience that is directly related to their research or is otherwise appropriate for a person pursuing that degree program.
The fourth option is for departments that have directed/independent study designated for practical workplace training. Enrollment in directed/independent study courses for practical training experiences should have a written plan of study and should be no more than 3 credits, unless it is a graduate student who has completed all coursework requirements and has an approved ISS Reduced Course Load (RCL)- coursework completed. Undergraduates must follow UW-Madison policy for directed/independent study enrollment.
6. Degree Completion
A student must meet additional requirements to be eligible for CPT during their final semester. It may be necessary to review a student’s DARS and/or satisfactory academic progress report.
CPT cannot be used to delay graduation or degree completion. If a student has completed all degree requirements, post-completion OPT may be an option.
The final semester cannot be used to complete requirements only for a minor or certificate. The I-20 is issued to earn a degree and that is the primary academic objective.
Advisor Certification
The name, title, contact information, signature and date are required by a person authorized to sign off on a CPT form for the specific course in #2.
If it is a directed/independent study course, the instructor of the course should complete the CPT form.
WHAT IS CURRICULAR PRACTICAL TRAINING (CPT)?
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an employment authorization for F-1 students. Eligible students may seek authorization to work in an internship, co-op, or practicum that is directly related to their major field of study. The purpose of CPT is to apply the knowledge and skills they are gaining in the classroom to practical work experience in the U.S.
WHO AUTHORIZES CPT?
CPT is authorized by a Designated School Official (DSO) at International Student Services (ISS). It may take ISS 15 business days to review and approve a student’s CPT request. An F-1 student must request authorization from the school at which they are enrolled full-time with their F-1 I-20.
A student must have CPT authorization before they can start their practical training experience. CPT authorization is typically granted for one semester at a time, because authorization is contingent on enrollment in a specific course. More information on CPT authorization dates can be found in the student information section.
What is my role as an academic or career advisor?
An eligible F-1 student visa holder at UW-Madison must first secure an offer for a practical training experience and follow the steps in the CPT application process.
You are asked to:
- Review the CPT offer letter.
- Determine if the position description is directly related to the student’s major. If it is not, you cannot proceed with your CPT recommendation.
- Discuss proper course enrollment for the practical training opportunity.
- Instruct the student to send you the CPT Verification through their TerraDotta portal. The student will need your name and email address to the send the verification.
- Complete the CPT Verification via the TerraDotta link that will be sent to you automatically via email. The student will see that you have completed the CPT Verification in their CPT Request in TerraDotta. The CPT Request cannot be submitted by the student until your CPT Verification is completed.
What does CPT authorization look like?
CPT is authorized on an F-1 student’s Form I-20 on page 2 (of 3 pages total). The authorization is granted using the information collected on the ISS CPT application form. The student must keep the original document for their permanent records. The employer should see the original document and verify the authorization dates and details.
Can a student take directed/independent study for CPT?
Enrollment in directed/independent study courses for practical training experiences should have a written plan of study and should be no more than 3 credits, unless it is a graduate student who has completed all coursework requirements and has an approved ISS Reduced Course Load (RCL)- coursework completed. Undergraduates must follow UW-Madison policy for directed/independent study enrollment.
Does CPT require visa sponsorship?
CPT is not a separate visa category and does not require “sponsorship” from an employer. However, the student must have an offer for practical training from the employer before they can apply for CPT authorization.
What’s the difference between CPT and OPT?
Here is a quick reference CPT-vs-OPT Handout. Detailed information is available on the CPT and OPT web pages for students. Are you working with a J-1 student visa holder? The practical training option for J-1 students is called Academic Training (AT).
How do I advise a student if their offer is not related to their major?
Practical training authorization for F-1 students (CPT and OPT) requires that the training be directly related to their major. It cannot be related only to a minor or certificate; it must be directly related to the major that matches their current I-20. If the offer does not relate, you cannot recommend the student for CPT.
How do I advise a student if the department does not have a course for them to enroll in for CPT?
If there is no course appropriate for CPT enrollment, an alternative option is for the student to apply for pre-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT). Direct students to the ISS website and refer them to ISS advising for specific questions. Advanced planning is required. Application processing may take up to 5 months.
It is ultimately the student’s responsibility and decision. The student may assume the risks of accepting the practical training opportunity without authorization.
ISS and UW-Madison employees are not government officials or USCIS adjudicating officers and cannot guarantee their current or future benefits. We can only educate and empower our F-1 and J-1 students to make informed decisions to maintain their current immigration status.
Additional information about CPT
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Give us your feedback via email at iss@studentlife.wisc.edu.
