H-1B Visa Addiction Counselor Jobs
Addiction Counselor roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations when the position requires at least a bachelor's degree in counseling, psychology, or a related field. Many hospital systems, nonprofit treatment centers, and behavioral health networks sponsor H-1B petitions for this role, particularly where state licensure demands graduate-level credentials.
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MHSD is seeking a full-time Addiction-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) to provide psychiatric evaluation and medication management to persons with co-occurring disorders in the Office Based Opioid Treatment (OBOT) and Addiction Treatment Programs. The primary purpose of this position is to provide psychiatric evaluations including the assessment and diagnosis of substance use disorders, medication management/monitoring, and coordination of care with other mental health, addiction and primary care providers. MHSD is a government-agency that provides care to Medicaid eligible and uninsured persons with behavioral health or addictive disorders or intellectual/development disabilities in Orleans, St Bernard or Plaquemines parishes. Our PMHNPs work collaboratively with supervising physicians and a multidisciplinary treatment team consisting of counselors, nurses, peer support workers, and resource staff. Eligible candidates should have unrestricted Louisiana licensure as a PMHNP. An ideal candidate will be flexible, independent, compassionate, patient-centered, and committed to community mental health care. Addiction-Certified PMNHPs with previous direct experience treating patients with substance use disorders will be given preference in hiring.
Minimum Qualifications
APRNs shall have a valid, current and unrestricted APRN license, as a nurse practitioner (NP) or clinical nurse specialist (CNS), issued by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing. APRNs must be NP specialists in adult psychiatric and mental health, and family psychiatric and mental health, or certified nurse specialists in psychosocial, gerontological psychiatric mental health, adult psychiatric and mental health and child-adolescent mental health and may practice to the extent that services are within the APRN’s scope of practice.
Active DEA and Louisiana prescriptive authority
Job Duties and Other Information
A. Behavioral Health and Addiction Services Roles and Responsibilities.
- Completes comprehensive psychiatric evaluations for new persons-served with addiction and/or psychiatric disorders, providing DSM V diagnoses based on history, diagnostic testing, outside record review, and mental status and physical examination.
- Provides pharmacological and basic psychotherapeutic treatment for psychiatric and addictive disorders, including but not limited to prescribing medications for opioid and alcohol use disorders (MOUD, MAUD), in alignment with evidence-based practice and national guidelines.
- Triages and assesses medical risk for patients presenting with acute intoxication and withdrawal.
- Orders, reviews and interprets both toxicology testing (breathalyzers, rapid and confirmatory drug testing) and annual screening bloodwork.
- Coordinates care with other team members to fulfill treatment needs, such as nurse evaluations, vitals, psychosocial and addiction assessments and referrals for employment counseling and other resources.
- Reviews outside primary care records and coordinates care with primary care physicians and other specialists.
- Develops and recommends practice standards and suggests strategies to improve overall program delivery.
- Screens and treats specific sexually and IV transmitted diseases, including syphilis and Hepatitis C, with support of LDH and community partners.
- Provides consultations to general mental health prescribers and other staff on management of patients with co-occurring disorders.
- Writes and delivers lectures on addiction related topics as needed.
- Provides back-up coverage and clinical support for other professionals on the Mental Health and Addiction Teams. May act as sole provider, if supervising physician physically absent.
- Represents the agency at addiction-related meetings on the local and state levels as needed.
B. Administrative Responsibilities:
- Provides timely entry of all clinical information into the EHR, completing all documentation within agency defined time limits. Late Tickets per quarter not>5% for continuity of billing by the agency.
- Satisfies overall productivity goals per quarter of 60% or greater.
- Obtains 80% or better patient/PS satisfaction of individual performance, reviewed quarterly.
- Attends required regular staffing meetings including monthly prescriber meetings and weekly multidisciplinary meetings.
- Adheres to the terms of the collaborative agreement through consultation with physician collaborator in the clinical management of behavioral and addictive health care to assure alignment with delivery of best practice standards of care, meeting at minimum monthly with consulting psychiatrist to discuss co-occurring cases.
- Maintains advanced training and continuing education in the fields of advanced practice psychiatric nursing.
- Complies with all required trainings, including maintenance of nursing and PMHNP licensing, state required trainings (LEO, Relias), MHSD mandatory staff training and CPR requirements.
C. Other Responsibilities:
- Acts in a professional manner at all times and treats all staff and business associates, within and outside of MHSD, with dignity and respect.
- Meets all relevant deliverables of the MHSD Strategic Plan according to established timelines.
- Reaches decisions based on highest ethical standards; fosters a culture of trust and respect for others by treating others fairly and ethically.
- Adheres to MHSD policies and procedures and performs job duties in accordance with said procedures.
- Maintains appropriate office hours; keeps tardiness and unplanned absences to a minimum.
- Complies with all agency requirements for use of technology and equipment.
- Exhibits willingness to share knowledge, experience, time and talent with others.
- Supports MHSD initiatives aimed at improving the health and wellness of Louisiana citizens.
- Promotes efforts to develop the clinical core of the agency and to expand partnerships with other healthcare agencies.
- Provides exceptional and responsive customer service to internal and external clients.
Position-Specific Details:
Appointment Type: Unclassified
Compensation: The salary offered will be determined based on qualifications and experience.
How To Apply:
No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy. To apply for this vacancy, click on the “Apply” link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.
Information to support your eligibility for this job title must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education). Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.
Contact Information:
For further information about this vacancy, contact:
Tanisha Alexander
MHSD Human Resources Business Partner
tanisha.alexander@mhsdla.org
Louisiana is a State As a Model Employer (SAME) that supports the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities.
About this Job
MHSD is seeking a full-time Addiction-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) to provide psychiatric evaluation and medication management to persons with co-occurring disorders in the Office Based Opioid Treatment (OBOT) and Addiction Treatment Programs. The primary purpose of this position is to provide psychiatric evaluations including the assessment and diagnosis of substance use disorders, medication management/monitoring, and coordination of care with other mental health, addiction and primary care providers. MHSD is a government-agency that provides care to Medicaid eligible and uninsured persons with behavioral health or addictive disorders or intellectual/development disabilities in Orleans, St Bernard or Plaquemines parishes. Our PMHNPs work collaboratively with supervising physicians and a multidisciplinary treatment team consisting of counselors, nurses, peer support workers, and resource staff. Eligible candidates should have unrestricted Louisiana licensure as a PMHNP. An ideal candidate will be flexible, independent, compassionate, patient-centered, and committed to community mental health care. Addiction-Certified PMNHPs with previous direct experience treating patients with substance use disorders will be given preference in hiring.
Minimum Qualifications
APRNs shall have a valid, current and unrestricted APRN license, as a nurse practitioner (NP) or clinical nurse specialist (CNS), issued by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing. APRNs must be NP specialists in adult psychiatric and mental health, and family psychiatric and mental health, or certified nurse specialists in psychosocial, gerontological psychiatric mental health, adult psychiatric and mental health and child-adolescent mental health and may practice to the extent that services are within the APRN’s scope of practice.
Active DEA and Louisiana prescriptive authority
Job Duties and Other Information
A. Behavioral Health and Addiction Services Roles and Responsibilities.
- Completes comprehensive psychiatric evaluations for new persons-served with addiction and/or psychiatric disorders, providing DSM V diagnoses based on history, diagnostic testing, outside record review, and mental status and physical examination.
- Provides pharmacological and basic psychotherapeutic treatment for psychiatric and addictive disorders, including but not limited to prescribing medications for opioid and alcohol use disorders (MOUD, MAUD), in alignment with evidence-based practice and national guidelines.
- Triages and assesses medical risk for patients presenting with acute intoxication and withdrawal.
- Orders, reviews and interprets both toxicology testing (breathalyzers, rapid and confirmatory drug testing) and annual screening bloodwork.
- Coordinates care with other team members to fulfill treatment needs, such as nurse evaluations, vitals, psychosocial and addiction assessments and referrals for employment counseling and other resources.
- Reviews outside primary care records and coordinates care with primary care physicians and other specialists.
- Develops and recommends practice standards and suggests strategies to improve overall program delivery.
- Screens and treats specific sexually and IV transmitted diseases, including syphilis and Hepatitis C, with support of LDH and community partners.
- Provides consultations to general mental health prescribers and other staff on management of patients with co-occurring disorders.
- Writes and delivers lectures on addiction related topics as needed.
- Provides back-up coverage and clinical support for other professionals on the Mental Health and Addiction Teams. May act as sole provider, if supervising physician physically absent.
- Represents the agency at addiction-related meetings on the local and state levels as needed.
B. Administrative Responsibilities:
- Provides timely entry of all clinical information into the EHR, completing all documentation within agency defined time limits. Late Tickets per quarter not>5% for continuity of billing by the agency.
- Satisfies overall productivity goals per quarter of 60% or greater.
- Obtains 80% or better patient/PS satisfaction of individual performance, reviewed quarterly.
- Attends required regular staffing meetings including monthly prescriber meetings and weekly multidisciplinary meetings.
- Adheres to the terms of the collaborative agreement through consultation with physician collaborator in the clinical management of behavioral and addictive health care to assure alignment with delivery of best practice standards of care, meeting at minimum monthly with consulting psychiatrist to discuss co-occurring cases.
- Maintains advanced training and continuing education in the fields of advanced practice psychiatric nursing.
- Complies with all required trainings, including maintenance of nursing and PMHNP licensing, state required trainings (LEO, Relias), MHSD mandatory staff training and CPR requirements.
C. Other Responsibilities:
- Acts in a professional manner at all times and treats all staff and business associates, within and outside of MHSD, with dignity and respect.
- Meets all relevant deliverables of the MHSD Strategic Plan according to established timelines.
- Reaches decisions based on highest ethical standards; fosters a culture of trust and respect for others by treating others fairly and ethically.
- Adheres to MHSD policies and procedures and performs job duties in accordance with said procedures.
- Maintains appropriate office hours; keeps tardiness and unplanned absences to a minimum.
- Complies with all agency requirements for use of technology and equipment.
- Exhibits willingness to share knowledge, experience, time and talent with others.
- Supports MHSD initiatives aimed at improving the health and wellness of Louisiana citizens.
- Promotes efforts to develop the clinical core of the agency and to expand partnerships with other healthcare agencies.
- Provides exceptional and responsive customer service to internal and external clients.
Position-Specific Details:
Appointment Type: Unclassified
Compensation: The salary offered will be determined based on qualifications and experience.
How To Apply:
No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy. To apply for this vacancy, click on the “Apply” link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.
Information to support your eligibility for this job title must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education). Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.
Contact Information:
For further information about this vacancy, contact:
Tanisha Alexander
MHSD Human Resources Business Partner
tanisha.alexander@mhsdla.org
Louisiana is a State As a Model Employer (SAME) that supports the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities.
See all 54+ H-1B Visa Addiction Counselor Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new H-1B Visa Addiction Counselor Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as an Addiction Counselor
Verify your credential meets specialty occupation
USCIS requires the role to normally require a specific bachelor's degree or higher. Pull the O*NET profile for Addiction Counselors and confirm your degree field aligns before applying, since generalist degrees in social work or psychology may draw an RFE.
Target employers with behavioral health billing structures
Hospital systems and Federally Qualified Health Centers file H-1B petitions far more reliably than private outpatient practices. These organizations have HR infrastructure and legal counsel already familiar with the process, which shortens your path from offer to petition.
Search H-1B filing history on Migrate Mate
Filter by addiction counseling or substance use disorder roles to identify employers with verified DOL Labor Condition Application filings. This narrows your search to organizations that have already navigated H-1B sponsorship for this occupation.
Get your state licensure timeline straight before the offer
Most states require a Licensed Professional Counselor or CADC credential tied to supervised hours. If you're mid-licensure, clarify with the employer whether their H-1B petition will list you as a candidate for licensure, since USCIS has approved petitions for roles where licensure is pending but required.
Ask whether the employer uses a cap-exempt institution
Nonprofit research hospitals and university-affiliated treatment programs may qualify as cap-exempt H-1B filers, meaning your petition can be filed any time of year without the annual lottery. Confirm this with the employer's HR or legal team before counting on it.
Check the prevailing wage before your salary negotiation
Run the OFLC Wage Search for your SOC code and work location before negotiating. The employer's LCA must certify wages at or above the DOL prevailing wage, so knowing the Level I through Level IV thresholds lets you negotiate with the actual floor in mind.
H-1B Visa Addiction Counselor: Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Addiction Counselor role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
It qualifies when the position requires at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field such as counseling, psychology, or social work. Roles that accept any degree or substitute work experience alone are harder to defend. Positions at accredited hospitals or treatment programs that mandate a specific degree field have the strongest case with USCIS.
Which types of employers sponsor H-1B visas for Addiction Counselors?
Hospital systems, integrated behavioral health networks, and Federally Qualified Health Centers are the most consistent H-1B sponsors for this role. Nonprofit treatment centers affiliated with universities may also file as cap-exempt employers. You can search verified H-1B LCA filing history by role on Migrate Mate to identify which organizations have sponsored this position before.
How does state licensure affect my H-1B petition as an Addiction Counselor?
USCIS has approved H-1B petitions for counseling roles where full licensure is pending, as long as the job description requires licensure and you're actively pursuing it. The employer should document your supervised hours progress and expected licensure date in the petition. Unlicensed roles without a clear licensure pathway are more vulnerable to an RFE.
Can my H-1B employer be a small outpatient clinic or private practice?
Small private practices can technically file H-1B petitions, but they face more scrutiny because USCIS may question whether the role genuinely requires a specialty degree at that employer size. Practices without an established legal or HR process for immigration also carry execution risk. Behavioral health groups with multi-site operations tend to have smoother filing track records.
What happens to my H-1B status if I change employers mid-authorization?
H-1B portability under AC21 lets you start working for a new employer once they file an H-1B transfer petition, without waiting for USCIS approval, as long as your prior petition was approved and has been pending or approved for at least 180 days. The new employer files a new LCA and I-129. You can't work for the new employer until that transfer petition is filed.