H-1B Visa Psychologist Jobs
Psychologist roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations because they require at minimum a doctoral degree in psychology. Hospitals, universities, VA medical centers, and community mental health organizations all file H-1B petitions for licensed clinicians and research psychologists. No lottery exemption exists for this role, so timing your job search around the April cap season matters.
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Description
Join our team as a Psychologist 4 at the Behavioral Health and Treatment Center at the Maple Lane Campus.
Behavioral Health Treatment Center Maple Lane offers innovative treatment for residents who are civilly committed or adjudicated not guilty by reason of mental diagnosis. Each residential unit helps shape the future of behavioral health, aligning with Washington State’s vision of community-based care. Treating residents in smaller facilities helps them stay closer to home, family, and support systems, fostering stronger community connections.
You will play an integral role as a psychologist 4, responsible for the clinical oversight of the inter-disciplinary treatment team, delivering psychosocial interventions to an assigned group of residents, and coordinating with the court for residents as needed. In collaboration with the treatment team, you will advise on a resident’s appropriateness for privileges within the scope of applicable forensic and civil commitment policies. In this capacity, you will advise and document community access privileges and will develop clinical targets for residents to meet for treatment progress toward safe community access and eventual release to the community.
You will supervise up to seven Psychology Associates and Behavioral Health Specialist 2s (Peer Support Specialist). You will promote trauma-informed care by monitoring the delivery of evidence-based group and individual therapy, promote effective interpersonal skills regarding treatment, perform appropriate evaluations relevant to a resident’s psycho-diagnostics or other standards as set forward by compliance needs, and implement milieu-based psychosocial rehabilitation techniques.
The Behavioral Health and Treatment Center at Maple Lane Campus is a pioneering component of DSHS's Behavioral Health & Habilitation Administration (BHHA), where our dedicated staff offers enriching opportunities and experiences outside the hospital setting, preparing them for a smooth transition back into the community. This is a great opportunity to be a team member as BHHA modernizes and enhances behavioral health treatment in Washington State.
Opportunities performed on-site at this work location at least three days a week may be eligible for an additional 5% premium pay in addition to the advertised salary. Evening and Night shifts include a shift differential in addition to the standard compensation rate.
Some of What you will do:
- Complete routine risk assessments relevant to public safety and privilege assessments.
- Assist in reviewing resident appropriateness for a residential treatment facility (RTF).
- Conduct psychological testing and assessments when necessary to clarify diagnoses, support resource access, determine decision making capacity, and other purposes as necessary.
- Foster interdisciplinary treatment approaches that are trauma-informed and inclusive of the interests and perspectives of treatment team members.
- Oversee and coordinate the implementation of integrated treatment plans.
- Provide psychological interventions; group and individual psychotherapy, completion of documentation (e.g., progress notes, START, NGRI patient assessment update), and development of Behavior Management Plans.
- Participate in meetings with interdisciplinary team.
- Support direct-care staff in managing and responding to high-risk behaviors such as self-injurious behavior, suicidal ideation, and/or risk of violence towards others.
- You will supervise up to seven Psychology Associates and Behavioral Health Specialist 2s (Peer Support Specialist).
- Ensure the mental health treatment provided is trauma-informed, ethical, evidence-based, and appropriate within the program framework.
- Ensure accurate and timely documentation for mental health services.
What we're looking for:
- Doctoral degree in psychology from an accredited school or department of psychology;
AND - Possession of a license to practice psychology in the state of Washington.
Preferred Skills/Abilities:
- Experience working with mental health issues in an inpatient setting.
- Experience with the NGRI processes as set out in RCW 10.77, especially pertaining to evidence-based risk assessments.
- Knowledge of and experience delivering “third wave behavioral” therapies such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and/or Dialectical Behavior Therapy.
- Knowledge of the psychosocial rehabilitation model and its application to inpatient psychiatric residents.
- Ability to assess mental status and administer, score, interpret, and appropriately write up psychological and neuropsychological tests (e.g. DRS-2, MoCA, M-FAST, MMPI-2, RBANS, TOMM, WAIS-IV) to facilitate case formulation, diagnosis, and assessment of dangerousness and/or suitability for discharge to less restrictive facilities.
See why people like you choose to work here:
To Apply:
Please provide the following:
- Resume or CV
Questions? Please contact Kathy Simmons at Kathy Simmons and reference job number 07369.
The Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency’s vision that you bring an equity, anti-racism, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to create greater access and affirming representation of the communities we serve, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.
Supplemental Information
Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protected veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at (360) 725-5810. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.
Relationship and Reporting Structure (Nepotism) Disclosure: If you are selected for hire, you must disclose whether you have a relative, household member, close friend, or romantic partner within your potential supervisory chain of command. DSHS has a Relationships and the Reporting Structure policy that prohibits nepotism and can be reviewed here. Applicants whose appointment would result in a prohibited reporting relationship are not eligible for appointment to that position.
E-Verify® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship in Psychologist
Verify your licensure transfers across states
Your psychology license is state-issued, and H-1B petitions tie your work authorization to a specific employer and location. Confirm your credentials are recognized in the state where your sponsoring employer operates before the I-129 is filed.
Target cap-exempt employers first
Universities, nonprofit research institutions, and government-affiliated hospitals are cap-exempt H-1B filers. They can petition for you year-round, bypassing the April lottery entirely. Focus your search on academic medical centers and federally funded behavioral health programs.
Check prevailing wage levels before negotiating
Your employer must certify your wage meets DOL prevailing wage standards on the LCA. Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up Level I through Level IV wages for SOC code 19-3031 in your target metro before you enter salary discussions.
Confirm your degree meets specialty occupation standards
USCIS requires a directly related degree for specialty occupation classification. A doctoral degree in psychology satisfies this cleanly, but a master's degree in a related field may face an RFE. Ask your employer's immigration counsel to review your credentials before filing.
Search verified H-1B sponsors on Migrate Mate
Filter by psychology roles on Migrate Mate to see employers with confirmed H-1B LCA filing history. This cuts out guesswork about whether a hiring manager understands sponsorship and puts you in front of organizations that have done it before.
Request premium processing if your start date is fixed
Standard H-1B adjudication can run several months, which creates problems if you're starting a clinical position with a hard credentialing deadline. Premium processing through USCIS cuts the adjudication window to 15 business days and gives your employer a predictable timeline.
H-1B Visa Psychologist: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a psychologist role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes. USCIS treats psychologist positions as specialty occupations because they normally require at minimum a doctoral degree in psychology. The O*NET occupation profile for psychologists supports this classification. Roles that require only a master's degree may face additional scrutiny, so your employer's I-129 filing should clearly document the degree requirement for the specific position.
Which types of employers sponsor H-1B visas for psychologists?
Academic medical centers, VA hospitals, universities, federally qualified health centers, and nonprofit research institutions are the most active H-1B sponsors for psychologists. Many of these are cap-exempt, meaning they can file year-round without entering the April lottery. Private practices rarely sponsor H-1B visas due to cost and administrative complexity. You can find employers with verified H-1B filing history for psychology roles on Migrate Mate.
Does state psychology licensure affect my H-1B petition?
Your H-1B petition is employer- and location-specific, so your license must be valid in the state where you'll work. If your employer has multiple sites across state lines, each state requires its own license. Some states offer temporary or provisional licenses for candidates completing supervised hours, but USCIS may request evidence that you hold or are eligible for full licensure at the time of filing.
Can I switch employers while on an H-1B as a psychologist?
Yes, H-1B portability under AC21 lets you transfer to a new employer once your petition has been pending for 180 days or more, provided the new role is in the same or a similar occupational classification. Your new employer files an H-1B transfer petition, and you can typically start working as soon as that petition is received by USCIS, without waiting for approval.
How does the DOL prevailing wage apply to psychologist H-1B petitions?
Before your employer can file your H-1B petition, they must certify on the Labor Condition Application that your offered wage meets the DOL prevailing wage for your occupation and location. Wages are tiered from Level I through Level IV based on experience and responsibility. Use the OFLC Wage Search with SOC code 19-3031 to look up the applicable wage level for your role before accepting an offer.