Entry Level Behavioral Health Counselor Jobs
New grad behavioral health counselor jobs welcome recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where strong internship work or supervised practicum hours can matter more than a long resume. Most openings are on-site roles across Healthcare & Medical Services, Social Media, and Technology & Software, with employers like Alexander Youth Network, Ascension, and Sanford Health hiring at this level now.
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Showing 5 of 25+ Entry Level Behavioral Health Counselor jobs
RESPOND provides services to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders with severe problem behaviors.
RESPOND is a program with other LBS staff that offers services to clients in a residential group home setting with 2 beds and in the family home to manage challenging behaviors, implement behavioral plans and strategies to prevent services and placement in a restrictive setting. This role requires staff to travel within Allegheny County. Treatment team meetings and working station are available at the Quantum Building, which is located in the Southside Works area of Pittsburgh.
Responsibilities:
- Mentors new staff and student interns
- Manages administrative aspects of patient care independently (e.g., scheduling, documentation)
- Uses clinical assessment tools and communicates results and treatment recommendations
- Provides direct patient care and supports crisis/safety planning
- Delivers staff training and supports regulatory/licensure preparation
- Completes required documentation and participates in team and interagency meetings
- Applies behavior support techniques and helps develop individualized behavior plans
- Participates in special projects and ongoing training
- Builds expertise in psychopathology, crisis intervention, and behavioral therapy
- Provides individual and family therapy across care settings
- Evaluates and updates behavior plans as needed
- Supervises staff through individual, group, and onsite supervision; leads team meetings
- May assume leadership responsibilities when needed to ensure continuity and safety
- Coordinates care and facilitates referrals for clients and families
- Ensures implementation fidelity of behavior plans and conducts FBAs with support plans
- Collaborates with and liaises across services to improve care delivery
- Addresses and resolves service delivery issues
- Continuously develops clinical skills using evidence-based approaches
- Master’s degree in Psychology, Child Development, Applied Behavior Analysis, Early Intervention, Education, Special Education, Instruction in Learning, Social Work or a related field.
- Two years of clinical experience required.
- Knowledge of behavior principles, evaluation and assessment process, as well as application of current version of the DSM preferred.
ATTENTION: A COPY OF YOUR MASTER LEVEL TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE ATTACHED FOR CONSIDERATION.
Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:
Behavior Specialist Licensure and/or Certification as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst strongly preferred, National Certified Counselor, Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner, Alcohol Highway Safety Schools Instructor, LCSW or other similar Behavioral Health license/certification required.
- Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) OR Licensed Behavior Specialist (LBS) Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner OR Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW) OR National Certified Counselor
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
- Comprehensive Crisis Management (CCMC)
- Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting with renewal
- Act 33 with renewal
- Act 34 with renewal
- Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal
UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran
RESPOND provides services to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders with severe problem behaviors.
RESPOND is a program with other LBS staff that offers services to clients in a residential group home setting with 2 beds and in the family home to manage challenging behaviors, implement behavioral plans and strategies to prevent services and placement in a restrictive setting. This role requires staff to travel within Allegheny County. Treatment team meetings and working station are available at the Quantum Building, which is located in the Southside Works area of Pittsburgh.
Responsibilities:
- Mentors new staff and student interns
- Manages administrative aspects of patient care independently (e.g., scheduling, documentation)
- Uses clinical assessment tools and communicates results and treatment recommendations
- Provides direct patient care and supports crisis/safety planning
- Delivers staff training and supports regulatory/licensure preparation
- Completes required documentation and participates in team and interagency meetings
- Applies behavior support techniques and helps develop individualized behavior plans
- Participates in special projects and ongoing training
- Builds expertise in psychopathology, crisis intervention, and behavioral therapy
- Provides individual and family therapy across care settings
- Evaluates and updates behavior plans as needed
- Supervises staff through individual, group, and onsite supervision; leads team meetings
- May assume leadership responsibilities when needed to ensure continuity and safety
- Coordinates care and facilitates referrals for clients and families
- Ensures implementation fidelity of behavior plans and conducts FBAs with support plans
- Collaborates with and liaises across services to improve care delivery
- Addresses and resolves service delivery issues
- Continuously develops clinical skills using evidence-based approaches
- Master’s degree in Psychology, Child Development, Applied Behavior Analysis, Early Intervention, Education, Special Education, Instruction in Learning, Social Work or a related field.
- Two years of clinical experience required.
- Knowledge of behavior principles, evaluation and assessment process, as well as application of current version of the DSM preferred.
ATTENTION: A COPY OF YOUR MASTER LEVEL TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE ATTACHED FOR CONSIDERATION.
Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:
Behavior Specialist Licensure and/or Certification as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst strongly preferred, National Certified Counselor, Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner, Alcohol Highway Safety Schools Instructor, LCSW or other similar Behavioral Health license/certification required.
- Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) OR Licensed Behavior Specialist (LBS) Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner OR Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW) OR National Certified Counselor
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
- Comprehensive Crisis Management (CCMC)
- Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting with renewal
- Act 33 with renewal
- Act 34 with renewal
- Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal
UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran
See All 25 Entry Level Behavioral Health Counselor Jobs
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Find JobsEntry Level Behavioral Health Counselor Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Alexander Youth Network5
- Ascension2
- Sanford Health2
- Indiana University Health2
- UPMC1
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services17
- Social Media5
- Technology & Software5
- Marketing & Advertising5
- Education1
Entry Level Behavioral Health Counselor Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level behavioral health counselor job?
Employers hiring at the entry level look for a relevant degree in counseling, psychology, social work, or a related field, along with supervised clinical hours from an internship or practicum. Highlighting hands-on experience with specific populations, any licensure-track progress such as working toward an LPC or LCSW, and strong case documentation skills gives new candidates a clear edge over applicants with only coursework.
Which companies hire entry level behavioral health counselors?
Companies hiring entry level behavioral health counselors right now include Alexander Youth Network, Ascension, and Sanford Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Hiring at this level covers community mental health centers, outpatient clinics, hospital systems, and nonprofit social service organizations that build their counseling teams by bringing in new graduates and training them on-site.
Are there remote entry level behavioral health counselor jobs?
Yes, though most roles at this level are on-site or hybrid given the hands-on nature of clinical work. About 0% of entry level behavioral health counselor openings are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, and those positions tend to appear most often in telehealth platforms and larger health systems with established virtual care programs.
Are these new grad behavioral health counselor jobs?
Yes, these listings include new grad, recent graduate, and junior roles alongside other entry level postings. A new grad-friendly posting typically welcomes zero to two years of experience, counts internship placements or supervised practicum hours as qualifying experience, and does not require an active independent license, making them accessible to candidates who are still working toward full licensure.
Which industries hire the most entry level behavioral health counselors?
Entry Level behavioral health counselor roles concentrate in Healthcare & Medical Services, Social Media, and Technology & Software, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. These sectors drive entry level hiring because they operate high-volume service settings, rely on state and federal funding tied to workforce development, and regularly need to recruit new graduates to meet ongoing caseload and community care demands.