H-1B Visa Licensed Professional Counselor Jobs
Licensed Professional Counselor roles qualify as H-1B specialty occupations when the position requires a master's degree in counseling or a closely related field. State licensure adds a credential layer that strengthens your petition, but your employer must still file the LCA and I-129 before you can start work.
See All Licensed Professional Counselor JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 13+ Licensed Professional Counselor jobs


Have you applied for this role?


Have you applied for this role?


Have you applied for this role?


Have you applied for this role?


Have you applied for this role?
See all Licensed Professional Counselor jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Licensed Professional Counselor roles.
Get Access To All Jobs
INTRODUCTION
Performs clinical interventions with patients (children through older adults), families/significant others, staff, outside organizations and providers in order to coordinate patient care, implement treatment and perform discharge planning. Provides psychosocial assessments and clinical therapies (i.e., individual, couples, group, play, and family therapies) to patients of Behavioral Health Services. May be required to travel between clinical sites to assist in the Provision of Care.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities
-
Demonstrates service excellence and patient and family centered care by showing respect, honesty, fairness and a positive attitude toward all customers.
-
Maintains confidentiality.
-
Demonstrates dependability, to include attendance and punctuality.
-
Is accountable - takes initiative and ownership of issues.
-
Displays a professional demeanor. Represents hospital in a positive way. Has a compassionate working relationship with patients and families.
-
Assumes personal responsibility for 2-way communication. Communicates and listens effectively with patients, families, coworkers, other departments, physicians/providers and community.
-
Supports coworkers, initiatives and a patient and family centered philosophy; pitches in; does own part and helps others.
-
Works to continuously improve work environment/processes (Performance Improvement). Demonstrates a patient and family centered focus when considering/developing improvement solutions.
-
Represents willingness/enthusiasm to create, embrace and facilitate change.
-
Develops self and others; supports a learning environment; leads by example. Encourages patients and families to give feedback and suggestions for improvement.
-
Develops working relationships critical to the organization including patients, families, coworkers, other departments, physicians/providers and community.
-
Encourages others by providing recognition and support.
-
Thinks critically; utilizes sound judgment; promptly reports potential risks.
-
Maintains state of art knowledge of area of specialty, healthcare trends and practice, populations served.
-
Maintains a level of computer literacy appropriate to their role.
-
Meets and maintains current all unit specific and organizational skills/competencies, certifications/licensures, as required.
-
Completes hospital-required reviews, e.g. HIPAA, safety, health screening, care concerns, and others as assigned.
-
Adheres to National Patient Safety Goals.
-
Clinical knowledge and skills remain current to meet the needs of all age/population groups served. Demonstrates understanding of age-appropriate behavior and psychosocial development for children through older adults.
-
Communicates plan of care based on assessment of patients and family; keeps appropriate people aware of pertinent changes or problems in a timely manner.
-
Participates productively in treatment team meetings and ensures attendance on a regular basis.
-
Consistently attends and participates in staff meetings at least 50% and other committee meetings.
-
Achieves minimum thresholds for productivity on a consistent basis.
-
Meets required thresholds for chart review and documentation.
-
Utilizes therapeutic communication skills with patients and family.
-
Responds appropriately to emergency situations.
Inpatient Job Specifics:
-
Provides individual, group, and family therapy utilizing a wide range of techniques designed to treat mental illness, emotional problems, social and interpersonal problems, and functional deficits.
-
Assists in developing and executing individual treatment plans for patients.
-
Supports day-to-day oversight of all therapeutic activities.
-
Maintains an awareness of significant patient history, present status, and any precautions in effect. Collaborates with other staff to provide input into treatment plans for individual patients.
-
Orients family members to nature of therapeutic services and the specific program.
-
Increases other family members understanding of patient needs and progress.
-
Exhibits clinically appropriate relational (e.g., accurate empathy, active listening) skills.
-
Manage behavioral crises including 1:1 observation, redirection, and crisis team interventions.
-
Writes behavioral management and safety plans for acute patients in cooperation with treatment team recommendations.
-
Completes assessments as needed.
-
Communicates relevant client progress and participates in weekly treatment team planning.
-
Maintains ongoing professional relationships with personnel from public agencies and mental health/drug and alcohol treatment facilities.
-
Conducts inter-agency meetings as necessary.
-
Collaborates in appropriate treatment and discharge planning with client, supports, and community agencies.
-
Assists in the implementation of education and training experiences for interns or other designated students.
Outpatient Job Specifics:
-
Effectively performs intake assessments as scheduled and documents appropriately. Is flexible and responsive in rearranging schedule to accommodate emergent cases.
-
Ensures that admission assessments for clients contain the following documented components: Background information, current mental status, treatment recommendations, discharge planning needs, target problems for treatment, expected patient outcomes.
-
Appropriately utilizes standardized tools and scales to assess and reassess patient functioning. Uses the appropriate tool for the age/population of the patient being assessed (e.g., adolescent and geriatric depression scales, GAF, etc.)
-
Assumes appropriate responsibility and accountability for the development, review and revision of the plan of care for outpatients: completes within 2 visits.
-
Expected outcomes/target objectives and interventions measurable and are developed with recognition given to expected age-related variations in the baseline psychosocial and developmental functional capacity of the individual (child to older adult).
-
Incorporates patient/family teaching into plan of treatment; including patient identified target symptoms with severity ratings.
-
Documents discharge plan, revisions to the Plan of Care, and final discharge instructions and linkages community services, as per current policy.
-
Accurately assesses interventions made and reassesses data to plan further interventions throughout the therapeutic process in a responsive and timely manner, in order to meet patient needs and third-party payor requirements.
-
Effectively implements the treatment modalities appropriate to age/population served.
-
Markets the therapeutic value of therapy group participation and solicits referrals from appropriate sources.
-
Implements, facilitates and maintains therapy group(s) participation, the majority of the calendar year.
-
Effectively and consistently demonstrates the successful ability to facilitate a therapy group.
-
Accurately maintains attendance and participation documentation as required by licensors regulations.
-
Plans for education needs of students assigned for supervision of internship and assumes responsibility for communication with hospital staff regarding the student's plan of internship.
General Requirements
The following requirements are expected of all employees:
Annual Health Screening with Infection Control and Blood Borne Pathogens Education
Safety Awareness: Hospital Fire, Safety, and Disaster Procedures
Confidentiality: Maintains Employee and Patient Confidentiality.
Attendance: Regular attendance is an essential function of the position
Job Performance: Results Orientation, Customer Focus, Decision Making, Awareness
Interpersonal Skills: Communication, Relationship-building, Team Player, Celebration
Innovation: Breakthrough Thinking, Knowledge-Building/Sharing, Coaching/Empowering, System Vision & Management
Reporting Structure:
A. Formal Reporting and Chain of Command - Outpatient reports to Clinical Manager of Outpatient Behavioral Health Services or delegated supervisor. Inpatient reports to Assistant Manager of Behavioral Health Services or delegated supervisor.
B. Informal Reporting and Relationships - Establishes and maintains harmonious, productive relationships with all levels of mental health personnel, other hospital personnel, physicians, patients, patients families, and the general public.
By identifying essential job functions, we are in no way stating or implying that these required tasks are the only activities that are to be performed by the employee occupying this position. In addition, employees will also be expected to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties that are included in the job description. The preceding requirements represent only the minimum acceptable levels of knowledge, skills, and/or abilities that a job incumbent must possess; in order to perform the job successfully, the incumbent will possess additional aptitudes so as to perform the other duties that the job description entails.
Qualifications and Standards
Education: Graduate of an accredited Master's degree program in counseling, psychology or other mental health field.
Experience: Experience applying customer service behaviors and communication skills required. A minimum of two (2) years clinical experience in the mental health field including the provision of psychotherapy to individuals, families, couples, and/or groups is required. Play therapy experience required as applicable. Two years post licensure experience preferred. Evidence of participation in educational programs to update and maintain knowledge and clinical skills.
Certifications/Licensure: Licensed as a Professional Counselor (LPC) in Pennsylvania. Current CPR certification required. Child Abuse History Clearance and Criminal Background Check required.
See all Licensed Professional Counselor jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Licensed Professional Counselor roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Licensed Professional Counselor
Verify your degree meets specialty occupation
USCIS requires your master's degree field to directly relate to the LPC role. A general psychology degree supporting a clinical counseling position can trigger an RFE, so document the connection between your coursework and your specific job duties upfront.
Confirm state licensure before the offer
Most states require an LPC license before you can practice independently. If your license is pending, clarify with the employer whether the role can begin under supervision, since USCIS evaluates the position as it will actually be performed.
Target employers with active LCA filing history
Use Migrate Mate to filter Licensed Professional Counselor roles by employers who have filed LCAs for counseling positions. This surfaces organizations already familiar with H-1B sponsorship rather than those encountering it for the first time.
Check prevailing wage before negotiating salary
Run the OFLC Wage Search for SOC code 21-1014 in your target metro area. Your employer's LCA must certify wages at or above the DOL prevailing wage level, so knowing that floor before negotiations prevents offers that can't clear DOL certification.
Ask employers about supervision and LPCA status
Some employers sponsor H-1B for Licensed Professional Counselor Associates rather than fully licensed LPCs. Confirm exactly which license level the position requires, since the specialty occupation argument and wage level both depend on the role as defined in the LCA.
Request premium processing for time-sensitive starts
If your start date is firm, ask your employer to file Form I-907 with USCIS for premium processing. This cuts the adjudication window to 15 business days and reduces the risk of gaps between your current status and your new employment authorization.
Licensed Professional Counselor jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Licensed Professional Counselor JobsLicensed Professional Counselor H-1B Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Licensed Professional Counselor role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes, LPC positions qualify when the employer requires a master's degree in counseling, clinical mental health, social work, or a directly related field. USCIS evaluates the specific job duties, not just the job title. Roles where a general bachelor's degree is accepted in lieu of a specialized master's may not meet the specialty occupation standard.
Do I need a state license to get H-1B sponsorship as an LPC?
Not necessarily at the time of filing, but most employers require licensure before you practice independently. If you're still completing supervised hours toward full licensure, the employer must structure the role as a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate position, which carries its own wage and duty requirements under the LCA filed with DOL.
Which types of employers sponsor H-1B visas for Licensed Professional Counselors?
Community mental health centers, hospital systems, university counseling centers, and large behavioral health networks are the most consistent H-1B sponsors for LPC roles. Private group practices less commonly sponsor due to the administrative burden. You can browse LPC roles at verified H-1B sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate, filtered by employers with LCA filing history.
Can I transfer my H-1B to a new LPC employer mid-year?
Yes, H-1B portability under AC21 lets you start working for a new employer once they file a non-frivolous I-129 petition, without waiting for approval, as long as your prior H-1B was approved and you've maintained status. The new employer must file a fresh LCA with DOL certifying the prevailing wage for the new position before filing with USCIS.
How does the H-1B cap lottery affect LPC job seekers?
Most for-profit behavioral health employers are cap-subject, meaning your petition enters the annual lottery capped at 85,000 slots. University counseling centers, nonprofit community mental health organizations, and government-affiliated healthcare systems are often cap-exempt, so petitions file year-round without lottery risk. Identifying cap-exempt LPC employers is one of the most strategic moves you can make in your job search.
See which Licensed Professional Counselor employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.
Search Licensed Professional Counselor Jobs