International Student Services: Current Students
Overview
One of the important benefits of the F-1 student status is practical training, which allows you to apply for temporary employment in your field of study. Practical training is a privilege of F-1 status for which some F-1 students may qualify; it is not an entitlement of F-1 status. It may be available to F-1 students both before and after completing a course of study. The objective of practical training employment is not financial - rather, it is to provide the opportunity for the practical application of your academic studies. Please note that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service does not accept late applications for Optional Practical Training. Students who are graduating can apply up to 90 days before and 60 days after completion of their studies.
Getting permission to work is only one part of the process. To engage in practical training, you will need to find a job related to your field of study. If you need help in your job search, take advantage of all the resources available to you: the Career Resource Center; your faculty adviser; or other faculty in your school or department.
Here are the different types of practical training:
- Curricular practical training (before completion of your studies)
- Optional practical training after completion of your studies
- Optional practical training before completion of your studies:
- practical training during the annual vacation
- practical training while school is in session, provided that employment does not exceed 20 hours per week
- practical training after completion of all graduate course requirements, except for comprehensive exams or thesis
If you have questions about practical training, please contact International Student Programs.
