Working in the US- Do I need CPT or OPT?

12 March 2024

By Liz Cody, ISL Director

Happy Spring Break! I’m sharing this chart about off-campus employment to help answer questions that you might have about CPT/OPT. Our goal in ISL is to help make employment accessible for international students while following government regulations. If you have any questions about working off-campus as an international student, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Remember that you need work permission before completing ANY off-campus work.

	CPT	OPT
What	Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a form of work permission specifically for F-1 students to gain work experience within their major field of study. This work is connected to a class at Carleton as part of one's academic curriculum.	Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a form of work permission specifically for F-1 students to gain work experience within their major field of study. This is typically used after graduation.
Where/When	Employer-specific employment, you need a job offer and specific dates that you will be working to apply Submit the CPT application form (signed by a professor) and job offer to ISL Applications are normally approved same day	You can apply online within 90 days of your graduation date (after you get an I-20 with the recommendation from ISL) You can work multiple jobs at the same time on OPT. There is no maximum hour limit on full-time OPT. You do NOT need a job to apply! Applications take months to process
Cost/Logistics	FREE Work needs to be in your major field of study and can be paid or unpaid Must be in F-1 status for one academic year before applying	$410 (until 3/31), $470 (starting 4/1) Work needs to be in your major field of study and can be paid or unpaid Must be in F-1 status for one year before applying
Other Info	CPT can be repeated as long as you take a new course each term you are working off-campus Cannot exceed 12 months of full-time CPT or you will forfeit OPT eligibility	Students in STEM majors (including Econ and Psych) can apply for a two-year extension

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