Am I allowed to pursue F-1 OPT during or after multiple degrees I pursue in the U.S.?

Students in F-1 status, enrolled as a full-time student for at least one full academic year (Fall + Spring term) in their degree program, are eligible for up to 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT) authorization per degree level at a progressively highly degree level in a student’s lifetime.

A student who is authorized for 12 months of OPT during/after a Bachelor’s degree program, who moves on to do a Master’s degree, will be eligible to pursue 12 new months of OPT during/after completion of the Master’s degree; and this would continue to progressively higher degree levels.

If a student completes a doctoral degree and is authorized for 12 months of OPT during/after completion of that doctoral degree, but then chooses to pursue a Master’s degree (lower degree level), the student would NOT be eligible for OPT during or after the Master’s degree. 

If you applied for OPT at a particular level, and that application was approved by USCIS, whether you actually worked on that OPT authorization, it would count as OPT used at that degree level and you would not be eligible to apply for or be approved for OPT at the same degree level or at lower degree level. 

It does not matter if the new degree is in a different field of study, or if there has been many years between the degrees. The 12-months of OPT per degree level is a lifetime limit. For more information on F-1 Employment, please see the ISO Employment Information webpages.