The Optional Practical Training (OPT) program is an extension of the F-1 student visa that provides 12 months of work authorization for foreign nationals who graduated from a U.S. university. Employment must be related to a student's major area of study. In March 2016, the Obama administration issued a final rule that extended OPT work authorization in STEM fields (STEM OPT) for an additional 24 months (36 months total) post-graduation and expanded vetting requirements to include a formal training plan that specifies learning objectives.