There are variety of different ways to get valuable work experience in the United States as part of or after completing your Certificate Programs at UCSD Extension.

Work Experience

After nine consecutive months of full-time study in our Certificate Programs, our International Student Advisor can assist you in applying for permission to work in the United States for a period of time (usually up to one year), as a practical application of what you have learned. This is called Optional Practical Training (OPT). If your application is approved by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), you will get authorization to work in the United States for up to 12 months in the subject area you have been studying. Many students take a six-month Certificate Program, followed by a three-month program, and then get a job for a year with approved OPT. Read more about OPT below.

Please note: We assist you with your application for OPT, and we have an extraordinary success rate with these applications. We cannot, however, guarantee that your application will be approved by the INS.

Internships with local companies are included in the Business Management Program.

Please note that the International Student Services staff does not assist with job search or job placement services. However, UC San Diego Extension offers career advice, instruction on resume writing, interviewing, networking and salary negotiations. International students can sign up and pay for these workshops concurrently with their full-time study program in the one or two quarters before they complete their certificate and apply for OPT. For more information please see: http://extension.ucsd.edu/student/index.cfm?vAction=careerservices

Frequently Asked Questions about OPT

What exactly is OPT?
Optional Practical Training is temporary employment for practical training directly related to a student's major area of study. The maximum time allowed for OPT is 12 months (one year). OPT is a benefit of F1 status, not a right. Eligibility for OPT does not automatically guarantee it.

What are the preconditions to apply for OPT?
A student must have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis at an INS approved school for at least 9 consecutive months before being eligible for OPT. (Time spent studying in English language programs may not be counted towards the 9-month requirement.)

Travelling outside the U.S. after completing a program and before starting a new program may be considered by INS to be a break in the 9-consecutive-month rule and could have a negative effect on your OPT application. Therefore, travel between programs is NOT recommended.

How do I apply for OPT?
The international student advisor, together with the program coordinator, will assist you with the application process.

How long does it take to get an Employment Authorization Document (EAD)?
It can take 1 - 3 months to get approval for an EAD. However, it cannot take more than 3 months. Students should plan ahead for this waiting period, during which they cannot work.

What is the start date of the EAD?
The effective date of the EAD issued for practical training after completion of a course of study will be either the date of completion of studies, as indicated by the International Student Advisor's recommendation, or the date an EAD is issued, whichever occurs later.

Can I travel while waiting for OPT approval?
If you leave the U.S. while your application for OPT is pending, you may be considered to have abandoned your application and you may be denied reentry to the U.S. Therefore, travel while waiting for an EAD is NOT recommended. You may travel after receiving your EAD and reenter the U.S. providing your have: a valid passport, F1 visa, EAD, and your I-20 with a recent signature on page 4 from the International Student Advisor. It is also recommended (but not required) that you have a letter of offer of employment.