Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is defined as an “an integral part of an established curriculum” and "directly related to the student's major area of study." Students must receive academic credit to participate in CPT. This may include internships, cooperative education programs, thesis research, or independent study.
Pre-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a benefit of F-1 status that permits off-campus employment directly related to the student’s field of study before degree completion.
Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a benefit of F-1 status that permits off-campus employment directly related to the student’s field of study after a student completes their coursework.
A student's eligibility for the STEM OPT extension depends on their degree, their job, and employer. Students applying for the STEM extension must be on active 12-month post-completion OPT and cannot have exceeded 90 days of unemployment on OPT.
Students are eligible for the STEM OPT extension once per STEM degree and may be eligible for a second STEM OPT extension only after completing another qualifying degree at a higher level. Students may not receive the STEM OPT extension more than two times across all degrees earned.
(F-M Visa Program)
F-1 students who are the beneficiaries of an H-1B petition subject to the cap on the number of H-1B petitions accepted by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in a given year (65,000), cannot begin employment until the beginning of the next fiscal year (October 1st).
The cap-gap extension bridges the gap between the end of F-1 status and the start of H-1B status on October 1st, allowing the student to remain in F-1 status until September 30th. If the student is in a period of authorized post-completion OPT on the date the student becomes eligible for the cap-gap extension, the student’s post-completion OPT employment authorization is also automatically extended.