One of the most commonly asked questions by international students is, Can I Work in the USA While Studying? Fortunately, the answer is yes, but with some limitations. International students are allowed to work off-campus after completing their first academic year through specific programs. Two of those programs are Optional Practical Training and Curricular Practical Training. Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a program that temporarily allows international students with an F-1 visa in the United States to work up to 12 months in relation to their major of study. F-1 visa students are eligible for OPT after completing their first academic year. OPT can be completed both before or after completing your studies, but it’s important to remember that you are only allowed to work 12 months total.
International students with an F-1 visa who have completed degrees in certain science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are eligible for a 17-month extension for post-graduation completion of OPT employment. Beginning May 10th, 2016 students may apply for a 24-month extension of their post-graduation OPT employment. This will replace the 17-month extension.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a program that temporarily allows international students with an F-1 visa to gain practical experience directly related to their major through employment, paid or unpaid internships, or cooperative (co-op) education. It must be part of an established curriculum. CPT must be completed before graduating. In addition, CPT can be part-time (20 hours or less a week) or full time (20 hours or more a week). Although, if you work full-time for 12 months in CPT, you will lose your eligibility for OPT.
1. What’s the Difference Between OPT and CPT? The major difference between OPT and CPT is the time period in which you are eligible for these programs and the type of work allowed in each program. OPT can be completed before or after graduation, while CPT must be completed before graduation. CPT employment is part of your major curriculum that allows students to work in a paid or unpaid internship, practicum, or cooperative (co-op) education program. CPT must be required by your major and if it not, you must receive course credit.
Only certain employers participate in CPT.
Alternately, OPT is not employer specific and allows work, not an internship or co-op, and you do not need to earn course credit.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
- Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a program that temporarily allows international students with an F-1 visa to gain practical experience directly related to their major through employment, paid or unpaid internships, or cooperative (co-op) education.
- It must be part of an established curriculum. CPT must be completed before graduating.
- In addition, CPT can be part-time (20 hours or less a week) or full time (20 hours or more a week). Although, if you work full-time for 12 months in CPT, you will lose your eligibility for OPT.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
- Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a program that temporarily allows international students with an F-1 visa in the United States to work up to 12 months in relation to their major of study.
- F-1 visa students are eligible for OPT after completing their first academic year. OPT can be completed both before or after completing your studies, but it’s important to remember
that you are only allowed to work 12 months total.
- International students with an F-1 visa who have completed degrees in certain science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are eligible for a 24-month extension (total 36-months) for post-graduation completion of OPT employment.
- What’s the Difference Between OPT and CPT? The major difference between OPT and CPT is the time period in which you are eligible for these programs and the type of work allowed in each program. OPT can be completed before or after graduation, while CPT must be completed before graduation. CPT employment is part of your major curriculum that allows students to work in a paid or unpaid internship, practicum, or cooperative (co-op) education program. CPT must be required by your major and if it not, you must receive course credit.
Only certain employers participate in CPT.
Alternately, OPT is not employer specific and allows work, not an internship or co-op, and you do not need to earn course credit.
- Difference Between OPT and CPT
International students on F-1 visa have two options to work in the US. They are:
- Optional Practical Training (OPT)
- Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
However, there are some differences between OPT and CPT , which a student on F1 visa must know before getting started.
Optional Practical Training (OPT) Vs Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
| Optional Practical Training (OPT) | Curricular Practical Training (CPT) |
| OPT is a temporary authorization offered to students on F-1 visa to work on their related field for a period of total 12 months. | CPT is a temporary work authorization provided to the students on F-1 visa, which is directly related to their majors for period of total 12 months. |
| OPT Eligibility Requirement : The students must have been pursuing their course full-time for at least one full academic year. | CPT Eligibility Requirement : If the students complete their full-time CPT for a period of 12 months then they would be no longer eligible for OPT. Besides, the students must have been enrolled full time for at least one academic year. |
| OPT in order to receive OPT authorization, students do not require any employment or job offer. | CPT: While applying for CPT, students require a job or employment offer. |
| OPT program has two variants— Precompletion OPT and Post-completion OPT. Students can pursue OPT while there still on their academics with Pre- | CPT is for total 12 months and it can be either full-time or part time. |
| completion OPT. And, with Postcompletion OPT students can start their OPT after their graduation. | |
| Students require OPT to work for a total period of 12 months (Pre or Post Completion OPT). Yet, students have an option to extend their OPT for another 17 months with STEM OPT extension; this is only applicable to certain majors. | Having CPT to work, students can be on job for a total period of 12 months. But, students will not have option to work on OPT once they complete their 12 month CPT. |
| With OPT, students’ employment experience must be related to their majors or field of study and it doesn’t have to be a part of their academic curriculum. | With CPT, students’ employment experience must be directly related to their major or field of study. Plus, it must be a part of students’ curriculum; this implies, students’ employment experience must offer credits in their curriculum. |
| OPT students can work part-time when University/ college is in term; during vacation students can work fulltime. | CPT students can work part-time when University/College is in term; during off-session, students can work full-time. |
| Students on OPT can work with any employer across the US as long as their OPT Jobs are related to their field of study. | Students on CPT can work only with employers those are on Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and I-20 list. |
