OPT Jobs VS CPT Jobs

What is OPT Jobs in USA ?

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a period during which undergraduate and graduate students with F-1 status who have completed or have been pursuing their degrees for more than 9 months are permitted by the USCIS ( United States Citizenship and Immigration Services ) to work towards getting practical training to complement their field of studies.

All the international students are eligible to appear for this training program except for the Students in English language training, who are not eligible for OPT. It is kind of temporary work authorization provided to international students.

To appear for the OPT; you need to be an international student pursuing studies in USA which requires F-1 visa. It is a special kind of visa, granted to the international students who want to do schooling from the foreign universities.

Find latest Opt jobs in USA for international students in USA at

OPT Jobs in USA

What is CPT Jobs in USA ?

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is temporary employment authorization for F-1 visa non-immigrant foreign students in the United States while enrolled in a college-level degree program.

It allows F-1 international students to participate in paid off-campus academic internships during their degree program. The main aim is to use the skills obtain during the course of study.

To be eligible to apply for Curricular Practical Training the duration of stay in USA has to be of 9 months.

Unlike Optional Practical Training, Curricular Practical Training is restricted to be completed before graduation. But just like OPT; it can be carried out in part time or full time. Students appear for part time Curricular Practical Training during their classes while in the vacations they take up the full time Curricular Practical Training. Working less that 20 hours in a week comes under the part time while working for more than 40 hours forms the full time.

Find latest CPT jobs in USA at 

CPT Jobs in USA

Differentiate between OPT & CPT:

However, there are some differences between OPT and CPT , which a student on F1 visa must know before getting started.

Many students get confused between the terms OPT and CPT. To solve the misconception in their mind, below mentioned are the Difference between OPT and CPT which will clarify the clear meaning of each term. The difference mentioned will clearly distinguish the terms helping students know the benefits of each.

OPT	CPT
Opt is a 12 month work authorization provided to international students related to their field of study.	International students have the benefit of working on CPT which has to be directly related to their core subjects.
To be eligible for the OPT; the students must be pursuing the studies for minimum one year.	After the completions of full OPT period, the students no more remain eligible to apply for the CPT. Students also need to be complete the eligible for one whole year.
OPT in order to receive OPT authorization, students do not require any employment or job offer.	While applying for CPT Jobs in USA students require a job or employment offer.
OPT has two parts. The pre-completion is attempted while the student is studying and the post completion opt is the tag for the Opt work after graduation.	CPT is for total 12 months and it can be either full-time or part time.
Students on the OPT does not need to work continuously for the 12 months, they can work in breaks and stops. There is also possibility of the extension of OPT period.	CPT requires students to work for the 12 months but once they have used the total of OPT period, they cannot then use the CPT time.
The work can be done part time as well as full time for the OPT students.	The work can be done part time as well as full time for the CPT students.
The OPT Work the student’s employment experience must be related to their field of graduation but not necessarily the academic curriculum.	To work for the CPT, the employment has to have the direct effect on the employment. The work undertaken by the student directly affects the curricular credit of the student.