OPT Overview
Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) is off-campus employment authorization in a student鈥檚 field of study for twelve months after completion of the academic program.
Students in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) majors may also be eligible for an additional 24-month extension of OPT. For more information on the 24-month STEM Extension and application procedures, please see our STEM Extension page.
Eligibility
- The student must be in valid F-1 status at the time of application and have been in full-time status for at least one academic year preceding the application.
- The student must be in the final semester of their academic program (unless applying for pre-completion OPT).
- The student must have attended an OPT workshop within the last year.
- The student must not have been approved for OPT for the same or higher education level previously.
- The student must not have completed 12 months of full-time CPT.
- Students in the STEM fields who wish to apply for the 24-month OPT extension have additional eligibility requirements. For more information on the 24-month STEM Extension and application procedures, please see our STEM Extension page.