H-1B Visa Behavioral Health Counselor Jobs
Behavioral Health Counselor roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations when the position requires at least a bachelor's degree in counseling, psychology, or a directly related field. Many hospitals, community mental health centers, and nonprofit agencies sponsor H-1B petitions for licensed counselors, making this a viable path to long-term U.S. work authorization.
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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
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- 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
INTRODUCTION
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
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- 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 698+ H-1B Visa Behavioral Health Counselor Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Behavioral Health Counselor
Verify your licensure transfers across states
State licensure requirements for behavioral health counselors vary significantly. Confirm that your credentials meet the licensing board requirements of the state where the employer operates before applying, since your H-1B petition is tied to a specific work location.
Check employer LCA filing history first
Before reaching out to a potential employer, search their Labor Condition Application history through Migrate Mate to confirm they've sponsored H-1B petitions for counseling or mental health roles, not just unrelated positions.
Target cap-exempt employers in behavioral health
Nonprofit mental health centers, federally qualified health centers, and university-affiliated clinics are often cap-exempt H-1B employers. Filing through these organizations bypasses the annual lottery entirely and lets you start sooner.
Confirm your role meets specialty occupation standards
Use O*NET to document that Behavioral Health Counselor roles require a specific bachelor's degree or higher. USCIS scrutinizes this requirement closely for counseling positions, so having the occupation profile ready strengthens your petition.
Request the employer file before your OPT expires
If you're transitioning from F-1 OPT, give your employer at least 90 days before your OPT end date to file the H-1B petition. USCIS processing under standard service can run three to five months, and cap-gap protection only applies if the petition is filed on time.
Negotiate the prevailing wage tier into your offer
The DOL assigns your role a prevailing wage level based on duties and supervision. Use OFLC Wage Search to identify the wage level your employer selected on the LCA, and ensure your offered salary meets or exceeds that level before signing.
H-1B Visa Behavioral Health Counselor: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Behavioral Health Counselor role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes, if the position requires at least a bachelor's degree in counseling, psychology, social work, or a closely related field. USCIS evaluates this on a case-by-case basis, so the job description must specify the degree requirement. Roles that accept any bachelor's degree regardless of field are more likely to receive a Request for Evidence.
Which types of employers sponsor H-1B visas for behavioral health counselors?
Hospitals, community mental health centers, federally qualified health centers, nonprofit behavioral health agencies, and university counseling programs are common sponsors. Many of these organizations are cap-exempt, meaning they can file H-1B petitions at any time of year without entering the annual lottery. You can filter for verified sponsors on Migrate Mate.
Does my state license affect my H-1B petition as a counselor?
Yes, directly. Your H-1B is tied to the state where you'll work, and USCIS expects you to hold or be eligible for the applicable state license. If your home-country credentials require a licensure evaluation before you can obtain a state license, start that process early since it can take several months and may affect your petition timeline.
Can I switch behavioral health counselor employers on an H-1B?
Yes, under H-1B portability rules established by AC21, you can transfer to a new employer once your original petition has been pending for 180 days or more. Your new employer must file an H-1B transfer petition before you start, and the new role must remain in a specialty occupation. The 60-day grace period gives you time to secure a new petition if you're laid off.
What documentation should I prepare for an H-1B petition in this field?
Your employer will need your academic transcripts, any credential evaluation if your degree is from outside the U.S., state licensure documentation or eligibility confirmation, and a detailed job description that ties the role to your specific degree field. A foreign credential evaluation from a NACES-member organization is typically required if your counseling degree was earned abroad.