H-1B Visa Guidance Counselor Jobs
Guidance Counselor roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations when the position requires a bachelor's degree or higher in counseling, psychology, or a related field. Most openings at K-12 districts, universities, and community colleges will sponsor H-1B, but you'll need to verify the employer files LCAs for education-sector SOC codes before applying.
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Get Access To All JobsPOSITION: School Counselor
REPORTS TO: Principal
PURPOSE: Utilizing leadership, advocacy, and collaboration, school counselors promote student success, provide preventive services, and respond to identified student needs by implementing a comprehensive school counseling program that addresses academic, career, and personal/social development for all students.
The major functions of the school counselor's job description are to incorporate the North Carolina State Board of Education’s guiding mission: every public school student will graduate from high school, be globally competitive for work and postsecondary education, and prepared for life in the 21st Century.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. MAJOR FUNCTION: DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM
1.1 Discusses the comprehensive school counseling program with the school administrator.
1.2 Develops and maintains a written plan for effective delivery of the school counseling program based on the NC Comprehensive School Counseling Standard Course of Study and current individual school data.
1.3 Communicates the goals of the comprehensive school counseling program to education stakeholders (i.e., administrators, teachers, students, parents, and community/business leaders).
1.4 Maintains current and appropriate resources for education stakeholders.
1.5 Uses the majority of the time providing direct services through the Guidance Curriculum, Individual Student Planning, and Preventive and Responsive Services, and most remaining time in program management, system support, and accountability (national standards recommend 80% of the time in Guidance Curriculum, Individual Student Planning and Preventive and Responsive Services and 20% of the time in program management, system support, and accountability (American School Counselor Association, 2005)).
1.6 Uses data to develop comprehensive programs that meet student needs.
2. MAJOR FUNCTIONS: DELIVERY OF A COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM
Guidance Curriculum
2.1 Provides leadership and collaborates with other educators in the school-wide integration of the State Guidance Curriculum Standard Course of Study.
2.2 Implements developmentally appropriate and prevention-oriented group activities to meet student needs and school goals.
2.3 Incorporates into their programs the life skills that students need to be successful in the twenty-first century.
Individual Student Planning
2.4 Assists all students, individually or in groups, with developing academic, career and personal/social skills, goals, and plans.
2.5 Accurately and appropriately interprets and utilizes student data.
2.6 Collaborates with parents/guardians and educators to assist students with educational, career, and life planning.
Preventive and Responsive Services
2.7 Provides individual and group counseling to students with identified concerns and needs.
2.8 Consults and collaborates effectively with parents/guardians, teachers, administrators, and other educational/community resources regarding students with identified concerns and needs.
2.9 Implements an effective referral and follow-up process as needed.
2.10 Accurately and appropriately uses assessment procedures for determining and structuring individual and group counseling services.
System Support
2.11 Provides appropriate information to school personnel related to the comprehensive school counseling program.
2.12 Assists teachers, parents/guardians, and other stakeholders in interpreting and understanding student data.
2.13 Participates in professional development activities to improve knowledge and skills.
2.14 Uses available technology resources to enhance the school counseling program.
2.15 Adheres to laws, policies, procedures, and ethical standards of the school counseling profession.
3. MAJOR FUNCTION: ACCOUNTABILITY
3.1 Conducts a yearly program audit to review extent of program implementation and effectiveness.
3.2 Collects and analyzes data to guide program direction and emphasis.
3.3 Measures results of the comprehensive school counseling program activities and shares results as appropriate with relevant stakeholders.
3.4 Monitors student academic performance, behavior, and attendance and facilitates appropriate interventions.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT
The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; and significant fine finger dexterity. Work in this classification is considered light physical work requiring the exertion of up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects. Generally, the job requires sitting, walking, and standing. This job is performed in a generally clean and healthy environment.
Certificates & Licenses
Master’s Level School Counselor License
Continuing Education/Training
Maintain Licensure & CEUs
Employment will require an extensive background check.
All employees are to adhere to ALL of Richmond County Schools Board of Education Policies. They are located on the RCS County website under District Information. Click on Board of Education. Policies are located at the bottom. Call if you need assistance.
POSITION: School Counselor
REPORTS TO: Principal
PURPOSE: Utilizing leadership, advocacy, and collaboration, school counselors promote student success, provide preventive services, and respond to identified student needs by implementing a comprehensive school counseling program that addresses academic, career, and personal/social development for all students.
The major functions of the school counselor's job description are to incorporate the North Carolina State Board of Education’s guiding mission: every public school student will graduate from high school, be globally competitive for work and postsecondary education, and prepared for life in the 21st Century.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. MAJOR FUNCTION: DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM
1.1 Discusses the comprehensive school counseling program with the school administrator.
1.2 Develops and maintains a written plan for effective delivery of the school counseling program based on the NC Comprehensive School Counseling Standard Course of Study and current individual school data.
1.3 Communicates the goals of the comprehensive school counseling program to education stakeholders (i.e., administrators, teachers, students, parents, and community/business leaders).
1.4 Maintains current and appropriate resources for education stakeholders.
1.5 Uses the majority of the time providing direct services through the Guidance Curriculum, Individual Student Planning, and Preventive and Responsive Services, and most remaining time in program management, system support, and accountability (national standards recommend 80% of the time in Guidance Curriculum, Individual Student Planning and Preventive and Responsive Services and 20% of the time in program management, system support, and accountability (American School Counselor Association, 2005)).
1.6 Uses data to develop comprehensive programs that meet student needs.
2. MAJOR FUNCTIONS: DELIVERY OF A COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM
Guidance Curriculum
2.1 Provides leadership and collaborates with other educators in the school-wide integration of the State Guidance Curriculum Standard Course of Study.
2.2 Implements developmentally appropriate and prevention-oriented group activities to meet student needs and school goals.
2.3 Incorporates into their programs the life skills that students need to be successful in the twenty-first century.
Individual Student Planning
2.4 Assists all students, individually or in groups, with developing academic, career and personal/social skills, goals, and plans.
2.5 Accurately and appropriately interprets and utilizes student data.
2.6 Collaborates with parents/guardians and educators to assist students with educational, career, and life planning.
Preventive and Responsive Services
2.7 Provides individual and group counseling to students with identified concerns and needs.
2.8 Consults and collaborates effectively with parents/guardians, teachers, administrators, and other educational/community resources regarding students with identified concerns and needs.
2.9 Implements an effective referral and follow-up process as needed.
2.10 Accurately and appropriately uses assessment procedures for determining and structuring individual and group counseling services.
System Support
2.11 Provides appropriate information to school personnel related to the comprehensive school counseling program.
2.12 Assists teachers, parents/guardians, and other stakeholders in interpreting and understanding student data.
2.13 Participates in professional development activities to improve knowledge and skills.
2.14 Uses available technology resources to enhance the school counseling program.
2.15 Adheres to laws, policies, procedures, and ethical standards of the school counseling profession.
3. MAJOR FUNCTION: ACCOUNTABILITY
3.1 Conducts a yearly program audit to review extent of program implementation and effectiveness.
3.2 Collects and analyzes data to guide program direction and emphasis.
3.3 Measures results of the comprehensive school counseling program activities and shares results as appropriate with relevant stakeholders.
3.4 Monitors student academic performance, behavior, and attendance and facilitates appropriate interventions.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT
The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; and significant fine finger dexterity. Work in this classification is considered light physical work requiring the exertion of up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects. Generally, the job requires sitting, walking, and standing. This job is performed in a generally clean and healthy environment.
Certificates & Licenses
Master’s Level School Counselor License
Continuing Education/Training
Maintain Licensure & CEUs
Employment will require an extensive background check.
All employees are to adhere to ALL of Richmond County Schools Board of Education Policies. They are located on the RCS County website under District Information. Click on Board of Education. Policies are located at the bottom. Call if you need assistance.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Guidance Counselor
Match your credentials to the SOC code
Guidance Counselors typically fall under SOC 21-1012. Pull the O*NET profile for that code and confirm your degree field and job duties align before applying. A mismatch between your transcript and the posted role is the most common RFE trigger for counseling petitions.
Check prevailing wage before negotiating salary
Run your target job title and location through the OFLC Wage Search before entering salary discussions. Your employer's LCA must certify a wage at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your SOC code and county, so knowing Level I through IV thresholds strengthens your negotiating position.
Target employers with established HR compliance teams
Large school districts, state university systems, and multi-campus community colleges process H-1B petitions regularly and have HR staff familiar with USCIS requirements. Smaller private schools often haven't sponsored before, which adds filing risk and delays to your timeline.
Search verified H-1B sponsors on Migrate Mate
Filter Migrate Mate by the Guidance Counselor job category to see employers with confirmed LCA filing history in education. That filing history tells you which districts and institutions have already navigated the specialty-occupation determination for counseling roles.
Secure your state license before the petition files
Most states require a school counseling license or certification as a condition of employment. USCIS expects the offered position to be immediately workable, so arriving without a valid state credential can cause the petition to be denied or an RFE to issue on specialty occupation grounds.
Clarify cap-exempt status with university employers
Colleges and universities that qualify as institutions of higher education are cap-exempt under USCIS rules, meaning your petition bypasses the annual lottery. Confirm this status with your prospective employer's HR team before relying on it, since not every affiliated entity qualifies.
H-1B Visa Guidance Counselor: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Guidance Counselor role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes, provided the employer requires at least a bachelor's degree in counseling, psychology, education, or a closely related field as a minimum entry requirement for the position. If the job posting accepts any bachelor's degree regardless of field, USCIS may challenge the specialty occupation determination and issue an RFE. Review the O*NET profile for SOC 21-1012 to confirm the degree requirement is field-specific.
Which types of employers sponsor H-1B visas for Guidance Counselor positions?
Public school districts, state university systems, community colleges, and large private K-12 institutions are the most consistent H-1B sponsors for counseling roles. Colleges and universities that qualify as institutions of higher education are cap-exempt, making them especially attractive because your petition skips the annual lottery. You can browse employers with verified LCA filing history for counseling roles on Migrate Mate.
Do I need a state counseling license before my employer files the H-1B petition?
You don't need the license in hand before the petition is filed, but you must be eligible for licensure in the state where you'll work, and the employer must intend to employ you in a fully licensed capacity. USCIS scrutinizes petitions where the beneficiary cannot immediately perform the licensed duties, so check your state's school counselor certification requirements early and start the credentialing process before your offer letter is issued.
How does the H-1B prevailing wage requirement affect Guidance Counselor hiring?
Your employer's Labor Condition Application must certify that your offered salary meets or exceeds the DOL prevailing wage for your SOC code, job title, and work location. Wage levels are tiered from Level I through Level IV based on experience and supervision, and underpaying relative to the certified level is a DOL compliance violation. Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the applicable wage before you receive a formal offer.
Can a school district sponsor an H-1B if they haven't done it before?
Yes, any U.S. employer can file an H-1B petition for the first time, but first-time filers face a steeper administrative process. The district must register as an H-1B employer with USCIS, file a certified LCA with DOL, and submit Form I-129 with supporting documentation proving the role meets specialty occupation standards. Expect longer internal timelines if the district's HR team is learning the process alongside you.