H-1B Visa School Counselor Jobs
School Counselor roles qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship as specialty occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree in counseling, psychology, or a related field. Most positions are at K-12 districts or universities, many of which are cap-exempt employers, meaning you can skip the annual lottery entirely.
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Get Access To All JobsAnticipated SY26-27 School Counselor
Job Number: 26000182
Posting Date: Jun 18, 2026, 3:27:49 PM
Primary Location: South Side-9130 South University Avenue (Harold Washington School)
Salary Range: $64,469.94 to $82,839.39
JOB DESCRIPTION
Requirements: Master's degree in school counseling AND current ISBE Professional Educator License (PEL) with a School Counseling Endorsement
Reports to: Principal
Evaluated by: Principal
PRIMARY FUNCTION
As vital members of the school’s educational leadership team, professional school counselors provide comprehensive, developmental supports within the academic, personal/social, and career domains to ensure that today's students become the productive, well-adjusted adults of tomorrow. School counselors are uniquely trained professional educators with a mental health perspective who understand and respond to the challenges presented by today’s diverse student population. School counselors provide proactive leadership to engage all stakeholders in the delivery of programs and services to help all students achieve success in school.
MAJOR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Create, Implement, and Evaluate a Comprehensive School Counseling Program aligned with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) REACH Framework for School Counselors:
The Framework is aligned to the American School Counselor Association National Model for School Counseling Programs and outlines a comprehensive counseling program that delivers services equitably to all students in the building.
Conduct Annual Needs Assessments and Data Reviews to Determine and Prioritize Student Needs:
The school counselor will conduct an annual needs assessment and data review to identify critical areas of student need. The school counselor will then create targeted program goals aligned to the schoolwide goals, mission, and vision. This ensures that school counseling services address critical areas of demonstrated need, resulting in improved academic achievement.
Implement the School Counseling Core Curriculum:
In order to reach all students, the school counselor will design, conduct, and co-teach learning activities in classroom, large group, and/or school wide settings, based on the academic, career, postsecondary and social/emotional needs of the students so as to facilitate the infusion of school counseling as an integral component of the total education curricula. Activities to support this objective may include: classroom guidance; high school/college/career fairs; high school/college/career tours; grade-level or school-wide team building activities.
Provide Individual Student Planning Activities:
In collaboration with students, staff, and families, the school counselor will create an academic plan that ultimately results in the successful obtainment of a diploma and postsecondary option(s) of choice. Activities to support this objective may include: facilitation of completion of the Individual Learning Plan in Naviance; transition activities (i.e orientations, HS app process); events to inform families of test results and their implications for educational planning; advisement to ensure students are on-track to the next grade level or phase in life.
Provide Responsive Services:
In collaboration with students, staff, and families, the school counselor will provide responsive services to address students’ barriers to academic achievement. Activities to support this objective may include: facilitation of small groups; structured, short-term, goal-oriented individual counseling sessions; participation in building-level student assistance teams; facilitation of conferences with students, teachers, and families; consultation with teachers, families, and external partners regarding the developmental needs of students; schoolwide support during crisis or emergency situations; participation in IEP/504 Plan teams. Please note that school counselors do NOT provide therapeutic treatment of a mental, emotional, or bodily disorder.
Provide Indirect Student Support:
Indirect services are provided on behalf of students as a result of the school counselor’s interactions with others. Activities to support this objective may include: referral of students/families to district and community resources; sharing strategies that support student achievement with parents, teachers, other educators, and community organizations; serving as a student advocate to promote student development within the three domains; serving as the school’s resident expert on student development; reaching out to other experts and stakeholders to obtain information on students’ needs; teaming/partnering/serving on committees and advisory boards; creating formalized partnerships with community based organizations.
Provide System Support:
As professionals, leaders, and advocates in the school building, the school counselor will coordinate, conduct and participate in activities that contribute to the effective operation of the school consistent with the approved school counseling program. Activities to support this objective may include: creation of an annual school counseling Evidence-Based Implementation Plan and Annual Agreement to support overall school goals and objectives; creation and delivery of needs assessments to determine the primary needs of students according to a variety of audiences; collection and aggregation of multiple data sources in order to determine need, as well as to progress monitor counseling interventions; protection of planning time for the creation and modification of counseling interventions; coordination of professional development/inservice programs for faculty and staff.
Participate in Regular Professional Development:
So as to stay current with evidenced-based practices in the field, the school counselor will actively participate in district, state, and national professional development; participate in professional associations; read professional journals; attend workshops and conferences; engage in continuing education coursework.
Benefits
Health & Wellness: Your Care, Your Choice
CPS is committed to providing comprehensive health coverage to our employees and their eligible dependents. You'll have access to a variety of choices to best fit your needs:
- Medical Plan Options
- Pharmacy
- Dental
- Vision
- Behavioral Health & EAP
- Employee Wellness Program
Financial Security: Planning for Today and Tomorrow
We understand the importance of financial stability, which is why CPS offers strong retirement and savings options:
- Basic Life Insurance
- Life and Disability Insurance
- Pension Plans
- Supplemental Retirement Plans (403(b) and 457(b))
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
- Spot Pet Insurance
Work-Life Balance: Supporting Your Personal and Professional Life
CPS values the well-being of its employees and offers competitive paid time off policies:
- Paid Leave
- Sick Leave
- Vacation Days
- Parental Leaves
- Short-Term Disability
- Religious Holidays
- Leaves
Reference the Chicago Public Schools: A Comprehensive Benefits Overview or the benefits handbook for comprehensive details.
Anticipated SY26-27 School Counselor
Job Number: 26000182
Posting Date: Jun 18, 2026, 3:27:49 PM
Primary Location: South Side-9130 South University Avenue (Harold Washington School)
Salary Range: $64,469.94 to $82,839.39
JOB DESCRIPTION
Requirements: Master's degree in school counseling AND current ISBE Professional Educator License (PEL) with a School Counseling Endorsement
Reports to: Principal
Evaluated by: Principal
PRIMARY FUNCTION
As vital members of the school’s educational leadership team, professional school counselors provide comprehensive, developmental supports within the academic, personal/social, and career domains to ensure that today's students become the productive, well-adjusted adults of tomorrow. School counselors are uniquely trained professional educators with a mental health perspective who understand and respond to the challenges presented by today’s diverse student population. School counselors provide proactive leadership to engage all stakeholders in the delivery of programs and services to help all students achieve success in school.
MAJOR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Create, Implement, and Evaluate a Comprehensive School Counseling Program aligned with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) REACH Framework for School Counselors:
The Framework is aligned to the American School Counselor Association National Model for School Counseling Programs and outlines a comprehensive counseling program that delivers services equitably to all students in the building.
Conduct Annual Needs Assessments and Data Reviews to Determine and Prioritize Student Needs:
The school counselor will conduct an annual needs assessment and data review to identify critical areas of student need. The school counselor will then create targeted program goals aligned to the schoolwide goals, mission, and vision. This ensures that school counseling services address critical areas of demonstrated need, resulting in improved academic achievement.
Implement the School Counseling Core Curriculum:
In order to reach all students, the school counselor will design, conduct, and co-teach learning activities in classroom, large group, and/or school wide settings, based on the academic, career, postsecondary and social/emotional needs of the students so as to facilitate the infusion of school counseling as an integral component of the total education curricula. Activities to support this objective may include: classroom guidance; high school/college/career fairs; high school/college/career tours; grade-level or school-wide team building activities.
Provide Individual Student Planning Activities:
In collaboration with students, staff, and families, the school counselor will create an academic plan that ultimately results in the successful obtainment of a diploma and postsecondary option(s) of choice. Activities to support this objective may include: facilitation of completion of the Individual Learning Plan in Naviance; transition activities (i.e orientations, HS app process); events to inform families of test results and their implications for educational planning; advisement to ensure students are on-track to the next grade level or phase in life.
Provide Responsive Services:
In collaboration with students, staff, and families, the school counselor will provide responsive services to address students’ barriers to academic achievement. Activities to support this objective may include: facilitation of small groups; structured, short-term, goal-oriented individual counseling sessions; participation in building-level student assistance teams; facilitation of conferences with students, teachers, and families; consultation with teachers, families, and external partners regarding the developmental needs of students; schoolwide support during crisis or emergency situations; participation in IEP/504 Plan teams. Please note that school counselors do NOT provide therapeutic treatment of a mental, emotional, or bodily disorder.
Provide Indirect Student Support:
Indirect services are provided on behalf of students as a result of the school counselor’s interactions with others. Activities to support this objective may include: referral of students/families to district and community resources; sharing strategies that support student achievement with parents, teachers, other educators, and community organizations; serving as a student advocate to promote student development within the three domains; serving as the school’s resident expert on student development; reaching out to other experts and stakeholders to obtain information on students’ needs; teaming/partnering/serving on committees and advisory boards; creating formalized partnerships with community based organizations.
Provide System Support:
As professionals, leaders, and advocates in the school building, the school counselor will coordinate, conduct and participate in activities that contribute to the effective operation of the school consistent with the approved school counseling program. Activities to support this objective may include: creation of an annual school counseling Evidence-Based Implementation Plan and Annual Agreement to support overall school goals and objectives; creation and delivery of needs assessments to determine the primary needs of students according to a variety of audiences; collection and aggregation of multiple data sources in order to determine need, as well as to progress monitor counseling interventions; protection of planning time for the creation and modification of counseling interventions; coordination of professional development/inservice programs for faculty and staff.
Participate in Regular Professional Development:
So as to stay current with evidenced-based practices in the field, the school counselor will actively participate in district, state, and national professional development; participate in professional associations; read professional journals; attend workshops and conferences; engage in continuing education coursework.
Benefits
Health & Wellness: Your Care, Your Choice
CPS is committed to providing comprehensive health coverage to our employees and their eligible dependents. You'll have access to a variety of choices to best fit your needs:
- Medical Plan Options
- Pharmacy
- Dental
- Vision
- Behavioral Health & EAP
- Employee Wellness Program
Financial Security: Planning for Today and Tomorrow
We understand the importance of financial stability, which is why CPS offers strong retirement and savings options:
- Basic Life Insurance
- Life and Disability Insurance
- Pension Plans
- Supplemental Retirement Plans (403(b) and 457(b))
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
- Spot Pet Insurance
Work-Life Balance: Supporting Your Personal and Professional Life
CPS values the well-being of its employees and offers competitive paid time off policies:
- Paid Leave
- Sick Leave
- Vacation Days
- Parental Leaves
- Short-Term Disability
- Religious Holidays
- Leaves
Reference the Chicago Public Schools: A Comprehensive Benefits Overview or the benefits handbook for comprehensive details.
See all 537+ H-1B Visa School Counselor Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new H-1B Visa School Counselor Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a School Counselor
Target cap-exempt employers first
Public school districts, nonprofit universities, and government-affiliated educational institutions are cap-exempt under H-1B rules. Filing through these employers bypasses the lottery, so your petition can be submitted any time of year.
Verify your degree meets specialty occupation requirements
USCIS requires your degree to be directly related to school counseling. A general psychology or social work degree may trigger an RFE. Check your credential against the O*NET occupation profile for SOC code 21-1012 before applying.
Check prevailing wage before negotiating your offer
Your employer's LCA must certify a wage at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your location and job zone. Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the Level I through Level IV wage tiers for school counselors in your metro area.
Find sponsoring school districts on Migrate Mate
Search Migrate Mate to identify school districts and educational institutions with verified H-1B LCA filing history for counseling roles. Filtering by employer type saves time and surfaces districts already familiar with the sponsorship process.
Get your foreign credentials evaluated early
If your counseling degree is from outside the U.S., have it evaluated by a NACES-member credential evaluation service before your employer files the I-129. USCIS scrutinizes foreign degree equivalency closely for licensed counseling positions.
Confirm state licensure timing with your employer
Most states require school counselors to hold an active state license or certification. Discuss with your employer whether the H-1B petition will be filed before or after you obtain state licensure, since USCIS may request proof of eligibility to practice.
H-1B Visa School Counselor: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a School Counselor role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes. USCIS recognizes school counseling as a specialty occupation because the role typically requires at least a bachelor's degree in counseling, psychology, education, or a closely related field. Employers must document the degree requirement in the Labor Condition Application and petition. Positions that list the degree as preferred rather than required can face additional scrutiny.
Are school districts and universities cap-exempt for H-1B purposes?
Public and nonprofit educational institutions are generally cap-exempt, meaning they can file H-1B petitions outside the annual 65,000 cap and the 20,000 master's cap exemption. This also means petitions can be filed at any point in the year rather than only during the April registration window. Confirm cap-exempt status with your employer before the offer stage.
How do I find school districts that have sponsored H-1B visas before?
Migrate Mate lets you filter employers by verified H-1B LCA filing history, so you can identify school districts and educational institutions that have actively sponsored counseling roles. Starting with employers who already have a sponsorship track record reduces delays caused by HR teams unfamiliar with the I-129 process.
Does my state counseling license affect my H-1B petition?
It can. Several states require school counselors to hold active state certification or licensure to practice. USCIS may request evidence that you meet state licensure requirements as part of establishing specialty occupation status. Work with your employer to clarify whether licensure needs to be in place before or concurrent with the H-1B filing.
What happens to my H-1B status if my school district ends my contract mid-year?
If your employer terminates your H-1B employment, you have a 60-day grace period to find a new sponsoring employer, change to a different visa status, or prepare to depart the U.S. The new employer must file an H-1B transfer petition before your grace period expires. For cap-exempt educational employers, transfers can be filed at any time.