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 JobsFayette County Public Schools, KY
JOB DESCRIPTION
– Guidance Specialist - HS/MS (Social Worker)
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description.
Guidance Specialist - HS/MS (Social Worker)
Job Class Code: 4107
Position Type: Salary
Job Type: Certified
Pay Grade: Salary calculations are based on verified education and related experience levels
Reports To: Superintendent’s Designee
Supervises: N/A
Work Calendar Name: 10.5 month salaried
Days in work calendar: 209
JOB SUMMARY
Provides a functional, comprehensive program of direct services for all children utilizing the expertise gained through professional training in the areas of school counseling, school social work or school psychology. These services will emphasize counseling children; consultation with teachers, parents and other significant adults; and coordinating a variety of activities and functions related to the academic, social, emotional and physical needs of students.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
- Counsels children, individually and in small groups, concerning a variety of developmental tasks and problems
- Provides prevention programs through classroom guidance activities
- Consults with teachers and parents about children’s needs, concerns and academic issues
- Collaborates with school staff and community representatives in assessing student needs and utilizes the data to plan and evaluate the guidance program
- Coordinates with faculty, parents, attendance personnel and District Court to correct the attendance problems of truant students
- Provides home visits as needed to assess family circumstances and make needed referrals to community resources for problems interfering with the child’s academic progress, social, emotional or physical development
- Serves as a resource person on the Special Education Admissions and Release Committee when appropriate
- Refers students to the proper authorities for child abuse or neglect when suspicion exists and provides support services to those children as needed
- Assists or serves as the coordinator of testing and interprets test data to teachers and parents as needed
- Consults with teachers in planning and providing classroom guidance activities
- Assists new students with orientation and acclimation to their new school environment
- Selects and purchases program materials and manages their budget allocation
- Selects and attends professional development as required by the State and District
- Demonstrates the ability to communicate in more than one language or the willingness to learn to communicate in more than one language at the novice level of proficiency
- Performs other duties as assigned
- Maintains regular attendance
QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience:
Masters’ Degree in either School Counseling, Social Work or School Psychology
Three years of professional social work, teaching, or counseling experience is preferred.
Licenses or Certifications:
School Counseling Certification, School Social Work Certification or School Psychology Certification is required.
Relevant Kentucky Board of Psychology, Social Work or Professional Counseling is required.
Special Requirements:
N/A
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Work is performed while standing, sitting and/or walking
- Requires the ability to communicate effectively using speech, vision and hearing
- Requires the use of hands for simple grasping and fine manipulations
- Requires bending, squatting, crawling, climbing, reaching
- Requires the ability to lift, carry, push or pull light weights
The Fayette County Board of Education is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Superintendent shall adhere to a policy of equal employment opportunity in all personnel matters. No person shall be subjected to discrimination in regard to employment, retention, promotion, demotion, transfer or dismissal because of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation or gender identity), genetic information, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, age or disabling condition or limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.
Fayette County Public Schools, KY
JOB DESCRIPTION
– Guidance Specialist - HS/MS (Social Worker)
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description.
Guidance Specialist - HS/MS (Social Worker)
Job Class Code: 4107
Position Type: Salary
Job Type: Certified
Pay Grade: Salary calculations are based on verified education and related experience levels
Reports To: Superintendent’s Designee
Supervises: N/A
Work Calendar Name: 10.5 month salaried
Days in work calendar: 209
JOB SUMMARY
Provides a functional, comprehensive program of direct services for all children utilizing the expertise gained through professional training in the areas of school counseling, school social work or school psychology. These services will emphasize counseling children; consultation with teachers, parents and other significant adults; and coordinating a variety of activities and functions related to the academic, social, emotional and physical needs of students.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
- Counsels children, individually and in small groups, concerning a variety of developmental tasks and problems
- Provides prevention programs through classroom guidance activities
- Consults with teachers and parents about children’s needs, concerns and academic issues
- Collaborates with school staff and community representatives in assessing student needs and utilizes the data to plan and evaluate the guidance program
- Coordinates with faculty, parents, attendance personnel and District Court to correct the attendance problems of truant students
- Provides home visits as needed to assess family circumstances and make needed referrals to community resources for problems interfering with the child’s academic progress, social, emotional or physical development
- Serves as a resource person on the Special Education Admissions and Release Committee when appropriate
- Refers students to the proper authorities for child abuse or neglect when suspicion exists and provides support services to those children as needed
- Assists or serves as the coordinator of testing and interprets test data to teachers and parents as needed
- Consults with teachers in planning and providing classroom guidance activities
- Assists new students with orientation and acclimation to their new school environment
- Selects and purchases program materials and manages their budget allocation
- Selects and attends professional development as required by the State and District
- Demonstrates the ability to communicate in more than one language or the willingness to learn to communicate in more than one language at the novice level of proficiency
- Performs other duties as assigned
- Maintains regular attendance
QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience:
Masters’ Degree in either School Counseling, Social Work or School Psychology
Three years of professional social work, teaching, or counseling experience is preferred.
Licenses or Certifications:
School Counseling Certification, School Social Work Certification or School Psychology Certification is required.
Relevant Kentucky Board of Psychology, Social Work or Professional Counseling is required.
Special Requirements:
N/A
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Work is performed while standing, sitting and/or walking
- Requires the ability to communicate effectively using speech, vision and hearing
- Requires the use of hands for simple grasping and fine manipulations
- Requires bending, squatting, crawling, climbing, reaching
- Requires the ability to lift, carry, push or pull light weights
The Fayette County Board of Education is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Superintendent shall adhere to a policy of equal employment opportunity in all personnel matters. No person shall be subjected to discrimination in regard to employment, retention, promotion, demotion, transfer or dismissal because of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation or gender identity), genetic information, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, age or disabling condition or limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.
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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.