International students on F-1 visa have two options to work in the US. They are:
1.Optional PracticalTraining (OPT)
2.Curricular PracticalTraining (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)
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Optional Practical Training (OPT)
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Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
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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.
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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.
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OPT Eligibility Requirement: The students must have been pursuing their course
full-time for at least one full academic year.
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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.
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OPT in order to receive OPT
authorization, students do not require any employment or job offer.
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CPT: While applying for CPT,
students require a job or employment offer.
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OPT program has two variants— Pre-completion OPT and
Post-completion OPT. Students can pursue OPT while there still on their
academics with Pre-completion OPT. And, with Post-completion OPT students can
start their OPT after their graduation.
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CPT is for total 12 months and it
can be either full-time or part time.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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OPT students can work part-time
when University/ college is in term; during vacation students can work
full-time.
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CPT students can work part-time
when University/College is in term; during off-session, students can work
full-time.
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Students on OPT can work with any
employer across the US as long as their OPT jobs are related
to their field of study.
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Students on CPT can work only with
employers those are on Student and Exchange Visitor Information
System (SEVIS) and I-20 list.
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