Virginia Commonwealth University OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Virginia Commonwealth University hires OPT students across research, healthcare, engineering, and administrative roles, making it a viable target for F-1 graduates seeking education-sector experience. Its large academic medical center and research programs create recurring demand for candidates with specialized degrees who already hold an OPT EAD.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
We support student success by providing comprehensive clinical services, advocacy, recovery support, outreach, and professional training. We provide a compassionate and welcoming atmosphere that creates spaces for healing and growth. We demonstrate our commitment to social justice and cultural sensitivity through validation, empowerment, and building wide-ranging relationships.
Unit: Athletics MBU
Department: Athletics Office
Department Summary: At Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) learning, research, creativity, service and discovery are the hallmarks of the VCU experience. It’s a place of opportunity, where your success is supported and your career can thrive. VCU offers employees a generous leave package, career paths for advancement, competitive pay, and an opportunity to do mission-driven work.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Summary
At Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) learning, research, creativity, service and discovery are the hallmarks of the VCU experience. It’s a place of opportunity, where your success is supported and your career can thrive. VCU offers employees a generous leave package, career paths for advancement, competitive pay, and an opportunity to do mission-driven work.
About University Counseling Services:
The mission of University Counseling Services is to support student success by providing clinical services, advocacy, recovery support, outreach, and professional training. We provide a compassionate and welcoming atmosphere that creates spaces for healing and growth. We believe that investing in staff both personally and professionally is integral to accomplishing our mission.
About the Role:
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) University Counseling Services (UCS) invites applications for an Athletic counselor position. This position will be embedded within the VCU Athletic department and primarily provides services to our VCU student-athletes. The Athletic Counselor provides comprehensive mental health counseling and mental performance services to college student-athletes. This role integrates clinical expertise with sport psychology principles to support student-athletes’ psychological well-being, enhance performance, and promote resilience. The counselor works collaboratively with athletics staff, coaches, medical providers, and campus partners to optimize both the personal and athletic experience of student-athletes.
Key Responsibilities:
Clinical:
- Provide individual counseling to student-athletes presenting with a wide range of clinical concerns, including depression, anxiety, injury recovery, eating disorders, substance misuse, and other mental health conditions.
- Conduct thorough assessments, and develop treatment plans.
- Provide crisis intervention, risk assessment, and appropriate referrals when needed.
- Maintain timely and accurate clinical documentation in accordance with ethical and legal standards.
- Attend Counseling center staff meetings and serve on committees.
- Collaborates in Counseling Center efforts to provide services in new and creative ways.
- Adheres legal statutes and to NCAA standards regarding case management, documentation, and parameters of service, including occasional availability for emergency response or outreach during non-traditional hours of operation.
Mental Skills Training & Performance Enhancement:
- Deliver individual and team-based mental skills training to enhance performance, including focus, confidence, motivation, emotional regulation, and consistency.
- Develop and implement programs that build resilience, stress management, and mental fortitude.
- Support athletes in managing performance pressure, transitions, setbacks, and injury-related challenges.
- Attend sporting events and practices of the various teams.
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications
The successful candidate must have Master’s or doctoral degree in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Sport Psychology, Social Work, or a related field. The applicant must be licensed (or license-eligible) as a mental health professional in the Commonwealth of Virginia or within one year of hire date. The candidate must demonstrate experience providing clinical services to college age student populations, experience treating a range of clinical concerns including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, substance misuse, and trauma-related issues. Also, training and experience in sport psychology and/or mental skills training.
We seek someone who is collaborative in nature, practices good self-care, and possess the ability to manage a challenging workload while promoting a positive atmosphere and healthy relationships.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working with collegiate or elite athletes
- Knowledge of NCAA or collegiate athletics environments
- Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC)
- Experience delivering team-based interventions and workshops
This position plays a critical role in supporting student-athletes’ mental health and maximizing their performance potential. By addressing both clinical needs and performance goals, the Athletic Counselor contributes to a holistic model of student-athlete development, enhancing well-being, resilience, and success both on and off the field.
University Description
VCU is a public, urban university with just under 30,000 students located on two campuses in the capital city of Richmond, VA. University Counseling Services has an APA-accredited pre-doctoral intern training program. The multidisciplinary staff of UCS includes full-time clinicians from the fields of psychology and social work.
Application review will begin May 25, 2026 and the position is open until filled. To apply, electronically please submit your letter of interest and current vita. For additional information about Virginia Commonwealth University and UCS, visit our web site at https://counseling.vcu.edu/. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal employment/affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Salary Range: $73,000 - $83,000
Benefits:
All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.
FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt
Hours per Week: 40
Restricted Position: No
ORP Eligible: Yes
Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite
University Job Title: 21212Y - Counselor HS 2
State Role Code: 49012
Contact Information:
Contact Name: Dr. Bridget Smith
Contact Email: smithb28@vcu.edu
INTRODUCTION
We support student success by providing comprehensive clinical services, advocacy, recovery support, outreach, and professional training. We provide a compassionate and welcoming atmosphere that creates spaces for healing and growth. We demonstrate our commitment to social justice and cultural sensitivity through validation, empowerment, and building wide-ranging relationships.
Unit: Athletics MBU
Department: Athletics Office
Department Summary: At Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) learning, research, creativity, service and discovery are the hallmarks of the VCU experience. It’s a place of opportunity, where your success is supported and your career can thrive. VCU offers employees a generous leave package, career paths for advancement, competitive pay, and an opportunity to do mission-driven work.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Summary
At Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) learning, research, creativity, service and discovery are the hallmarks of the VCU experience. It’s a place of opportunity, where your success is supported and your career can thrive. VCU offers employees a generous leave package, career paths for advancement, competitive pay, and an opportunity to do mission-driven work.
About University Counseling Services:
The mission of University Counseling Services is to support student success by providing clinical services, advocacy, recovery support, outreach, and professional training. We provide a compassionate and welcoming atmosphere that creates spaces for healing and growth. We believe that investing in staff both personally and professionally is integral to accomplishing our mission.
About the Role:
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) University Counseling Services (UCS) invites applications for an Athletic counselor position. This position will be embedded within the VCU Athletic department and primarily provides services to our VCU student-athletes. The Athletic Counselor provides comprehensive mental health counseling and mental performance services to college student-athletes. This role integrates clinical expertise with sport psychology principles to support student-athletes’ psychological well-being, enhance performance, and promote resilience. The counselor works collaboratively with athletics staff, coaches, medical providers, and campus partners to optimize both the personal and athletic experience of student-athletes.
Key Responsibilities:
Clinical:
- Provide individual counseling to student-athletes presenting with a wide range of clinical concerns, including depression, anxiety, injury recovery, eating disorders, substance misuse, and other mental health conditions.
- Conduct thorough assessments, and develop treatment plans.
- Provide crisis intervention, risk assessment, and appropriate referrals when needed.
- Maintain timely and accurate clinical documentation in accordance with ethical and legal standards.
- Attend Counseling center staff meetings and serve on committees.
- Collaborates in Counseling Center efforts to provide services in new and creative ways.
- Adheres legal statutes and to NCAA standards regarding case management, documentation, and parameters of service, including occasional availability for emergency response or outreach during non-traditional hours of operation.
Mental Skills Training & Performance Enhancement:
- Deliver individual and team-based mental skills training to enhance performance, including focus, confidence, motivation, emotional regulation, and consistency.
- Develop and implement programs that build resilience, stress management, and mental fortitude.
- Support athletes in managing performance pressure, transitions, setbacks, and injury-related challenges.
- Attend sporting events and practices of the various teams.
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications
The successful candidate must have Master’s or doctoral degree in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Sport Psychology, Social Work, or a related field. The applicant must be licensed (or license-eligible) as a mental health professional in the Commonwealth of Virginia or within one year of hire date. The candidate must demonstrate experience providing clinical services to college age student populations, experience treating a range of clinical concerns including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, substance misuse, and trauma-related issues. Also, training and experience in sport psychology and/or mental skills training.
We seek someone who is collaborative in nature, practices good self-care, and possess the ability to manage a challenging workload while promoting a positive atmosphere and healthy relationships.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working with collegiate or elite athletes
- Knowledge of NCAA or collegiate athletics environments
- Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC)
- Experience delivering team-based interventions and workshops
This position plays a critical role in supporting student-athletes’ mental health and maximizing their performance potential. By addressing both clinical needs and performance goals, the Athletic Counselor contributes to a holistic model of student-athlete development, enhancing well-being, resilience, and success both on and off the field.
University Description
VCU is a public, urban university with just under 30,000 students located on two campuses in the capital city of Richmond, VA. University Counseling Services has an APA-accredited pre-doctoral intern training program. The multidisciplinary staff of UCS includes full-time clinicians from the fields of psychology and social work.
Application review will begin May 25, 2026 and the position is open until filled. To apply, electronically please submit your letter of interest and current vita. For additional information about Virginia Commonwealth University and UCS, visit our web site at https://counseling.vcu.edu/. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal employment/affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Salary Range: $73,000 - $83,000
Benefits:
All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.
FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt
Hours per Week: 40
Restricted Position: No
ORP Eligible: Yes
Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite
University Job Title: 21212Y - Counselor HS 2
State Role Code: 49012
Contact Information:
Contact Name: Dr. Bridget Smith
Contact Email: smithb28@vcu.edu
Job Roles at Virginia Commonwealth University
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Virginia Commonwealth University OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Target VCU's research and clinical departments
VCU Health and its research institutes consistently hire OPT students in life sciences, clinical research, and data analytics roles. Focus your applications on departments tied to active grants or clinical trials, where hiring managers are accustomed to working with candidates on time-limited work authorization.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before your STEM extension
If your degree qualifies for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, verify that VCU is enrolled in E-Verify before your standard OPT expires. E-Verify enrollment is a USCIS requirement for STEM OPT employers, and confirming it early prevents gaps in your work authorization while the extension processes.
Align your degree field with posted role requirements
VCU hiring managers in education and healthcare settings review whether your degree directly supports the job function, not just your GPA. Map your degree classification from O*NET to the SOC code listed in the job posting, and make that connection explicit in your cover letter and interviews.
Ask about H-1B sponsorship during your offer negotiation
VCU has an established international employee population and experience filing H-1B petitions through its HR department. Raise the H-1B transition question during offer discussions, not after onboarding, so both sides understand the employer's process and timeline before your OPT EAD expiration date approaches.
Use Migrate Mate to identify VCU's sponsorship history
Before applying, pull VCU's verified DOL Labor Condition Application filing history on Migrate Mate to see which job titles and departments have led to H-1B sponsorship. That data tells you where VCU has committed to sponsoring international employees, helping you prioritize roles with a realistic transition pathway.
Prepare your credentials for VCU's HR review process
VCU's HR teams typically verify foreign degree equivalency for credentialed roles in healthcare and education. Get a NACES-member credential evaluation completed before you apply to research or clinical positions, so your application isn't delayed by document requests after an offer is extended.
Virginia Commonwealth University OPT Eligibility: Frequently Asked Questions
Does Virginia Commonwealth University sponsor OPT visas?
OPT is work authorization issued directly to you by USCIS, not something employers sponsor. VCU hires students who already hold a valid OPT EAD. What matters is whether VCU is enrolled in E-Verify, which is required if you plan to use the 24-month STEM OPT extension while employed there.
Which departments at VCU typically hire OPT students?
VCU's strongest hiring for OPT students tends to concentrate in VCU Health, its research institutes, the School of Engineering, and administrative units supporting data and analytics functions. Life sciences, clinical research coordination, biomedical engineering, and health informatics roles appear with regularity and suit the profile of F-1 graduates in technical fields.
How do I start the OPT process if I receive a job offer from VCU?
Your DSO at your university initiates the OPT recommendation in SEVIS, and you file Form I-765 with USCIS. VCU is not involved in that application. Once you receive your EAD, you provide it to VCU's HR team as proof of work authorization. Start the USCIS filing up to 90 days before your program end date to avoid gaps.
How long does it typically take to move from OPT to H-1B at VCU?
Standard H-1B visa processing through USCIS takes several months, and VCU must file the petition before the April 1 cap-subject deadline for an October 1 start date. If your OPT expires before October 1, a cap-gap provision may extend your authorization automatically. Raise the H-1B question with VCU HR well before your OPT end date to align timelines.
How do I find OPT-compatible roles at VCU?
Search VCU's careers portal and filter by department or job family to identify roles matching your degree field. Use Migrate Mate to review VCU's historical LCA filings by job title, which shows where the university has previously committed to sponsoring international employees. That history is the clearest signal of which teams are open to supporting work authorization transitions.
How does Virginia Commonwealth University hire OPT students?
OPT is work authorization granted directly to F-1 students after graduation — no employer petition is required. Virginia Commonwealth University can hire OPT students as soon as their EAD card is approved. STEM degree holders can extend OPT by 24 months when their employer is enrolled in E-Verify. Most companies that hire OPT students also support the transition to H-1B when the student's OPT period is ending. Check Virginia Commonwealth University's individual postings on Migrate Mate to confirm OPT acceptance per role.