The OPT full form is Optional Practical Training. It is a type of temporary work permission for international students in the United States on an F-1 student visa, letting them work in a job directly related to their field of study, usually after they finish a degree.
So if a classmate says they are "on OPT," they have graduated or are close to it and are working, or looking for work, under that permission. Outside immigration talk, opt is just the ordinary English verb, as in opt in or opt out, and is not an acronym at all.
Quick facts
Stands for
Optional Practical TrainingWho it is for
F-1 international students in the USType
Initialism, said O P TBasic length
Up to 12 months per degree levelExtension
STEM OPT, up to 24 more months for eligible fieldsRelated terms
CPT, EAD, DSO, SEVIS, USCISNot to be confused with
Opt in and opt out, plain English verbs
OPT full form, broken into its three words
- Optional: students choose whether to use it. It is not required for the degree.
- Practical: the job must give real world experience in the student's major.
- Training: the work is treated as an extension of the education, which is why it has to match the field of study.
OPT is part of the F-1 student rules, so it is tied to the student's school and immigration record. A student does not need a job offer to apply for the most common kind, post completion OPT, but they do need approval before they start working.
How the OPT process usually works
- Talk to the DSO. The designated school official in the international student office reviews eligibility and adds a recommendation to the student's record in SEVIS, the federal student tracking system.
- File Form I-765. The student applies to US Citizenship and Immigration Services for an Employment Authorization Document, or EAD card.
- Watch the timing. For post completion OPT, the application window generally opens before the program end date and closes a short time after it.
- Wait for the card. Work can begin only on or after the start date printed on the approved EAD.
- Report changes. Students report employers, addresses and job changes as their school requires.
Pre completion, post completion and STEM OPT
| Kind | When | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| Pre completion OPT | While still studying | Usually part time during the school year; uses up OPT time |
| Post completion OPT | After finishing the degree | The most common kind, often full time |
| STEM OPT extension | After post completion OPT | Up to 24 more months for degrees in eligible STEM fields |
The STEM extension comes with extra rules. The employer generally has to take part in a federal work verification program, and the student and employer complete a formal training plan. There are also limits on how many days a student may be unemployed during OPT, so a long job search can become a problem.
OPT vs CPT
CPT stands for Curricular Practical Training. Both let F-1 students work, but they fit different moments:
- CPT is part of the curriculum while the student is enrolled, such as a required internship or co op. The school authorizes it, and no EAD card is needed.
- OPT is approved by the federal agency, needs an EAD card and is most often used after graduation.
A career center email: "International students: summer internships for credit use CPT. Full time jobs after graduation use OPT." The office is pointing students to the right kind of permission for each job.
Other meanings of OPT
Outside student visas, the letters and the word have a few other uses:
- opt (verb): to choose, as in "opt out of emails." Written in lowercase and not an acronym.
- Optometry or optical: opt. is sometimes used as a short form in medical or eye care contexts.
- Optimal or optimization: engineers and coders sometimes write opt as shorthand.
If the letters appear in capitals next to words like F-1, visa, EAD or graduation, they mean Optional Practical Training. More campus letters are explained on the school acronyms hub.
Pronouncing OPT and putting it in writing
Say it letter by letter, "O P T," which makes it an initialism. O is pronounced "oh," so pair it with an: "an OPT application" and "an OPT job." Use capitals without periods. People also say "on OPT" to describe their status, as in "She is on OPT until next summer."
Curious why some campus letters get spoken and others spelled? Try acronym vs abbreviation.
Questions people ask
What does OPT stand for for international students?
It stands for Optional Practical Training. It allows F-1 students to work in a job related to their major for a limited time, usually after they graduate.
How long does OPT last?
The standard limit is up to 12 months for each higher degree level. Students with a degree in an eligible STEM field may apply for a STEM extension of up to 24 more months.
Can I work while my OPT application is pending?
In general, no. Post completion OPT work starts only on or after the start date on the approved EAD card. Ask your international student office about your own timing.
Do I need a job offer to apply for OPT?
For regular post completion OPT, a job offer is not required to apply. The STEM extension, however, is tied to a specific qualifying employer.
What is the difference between OPT and an H-1B?
OPT is temporary work permission that comes from F-1 student status. H-1B is a separate work visa category for specialty jobs that an employer sponsors, and it has its own rules and limits.