J-1 Visa Clinical Counselor Jobs
Clinical Counselor roles in the U.S. are accessible to international professionals through J-1 visa sponsorship, typically under the Trainee or Specialist program category. A U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor organization issues your DS-2019, while the counseling practice, hospital, or community mental health center serves as your host employer.
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Get Access To All JobsJOB NO:
540164
WORK TYPE:
Post Doc Associate
LOCATION:
Main Campus (Gainesville, FL)
CATEGORIES:
Health Care Administration/Support
DEPARTMENT:
29120000 - MD-PSYCHIATRY
Classification Title:
Adjunct Clinical Postdoctoral Associate – Department of Psychiatry
Job Description:
The Department of Psychiatry is recruiting two (2) Adjunct Clinical Postdoctoral Associates (1.0 FTE each). This Adjunct Clinical Postdoctoral Associate appointment is a training position at the College of Medicine at the University of Florida. Trainees will work collaboratively with the UF Health Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment (UF Health CAN) to expand the Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) services, with a particular focus on funded research projects and clinical contracts. The associates may also engage in additional research and clinical initiatives aligned with the UF Health CAN mission. Responsibilities include providing clinical and case supervision of behavioral treatment for patients with severe behavior disorders, in accordance with contractual requirements.
Advertised Salary:
$64,100 - $65,000 based on PDA years of experience
Minimum Requirements:
Doctoral degree (PhD) in psychiatry, psychology, or a closely related mental health discipline with a focus in Behavioral Analysis and Behavioral Assessment (BABA) and an emphasis in applied behavior analysis.
Preferred Qualifications:
- BCBA-D, with demonstrated expertise in the area of assessment and treatment for severe behavior disorders.
Health Assessments
RISC Assessment and Pre-Employment Health Assessment will be required.
Special Instructions to Applicants:
To be considered, you must upload your cover letter, resume, and two letters of recommendation. The University of Florida is An Equal Employment Opportunity Institution. If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352/392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800/955-8771 (TDD). Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. Searches are conducted in accordance with Florida's Sunshine Law. Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.
ADVERTISED:
10 Jun 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
APPLICATIONS CLOSE:
Open until filled
JOB NO:
540164
WORK TYPE:
Post Doc Associate
LOCATION:
Main Campus (Gainesville, FL)
CATEGORIES:
Health Care Administration/Support
DEPARTMENT:
29120000 - MD-PSYCHIATRY
Classification Title:
Adjunct Clinical Postdoctoral Associate – Department of Psychiatry
Job Description:
The Department of Psychiatry is recruiting two (2) Adjunct Clinical Postdoctoral Associates (1.0 FTE each). This Adjunct Clinical Postdoctoral Associate appointment is a training position at the College of Medicine at the University of Florida. Trainees will work collaboratively with the UF Health Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment (UF Health CAN) to expand the Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) services, with a particular focus on funded research projects and clinical contracts. The associates may also engage in additional research and clinical initiatives aligned with the UF Health CAN mission. Responsibilities include providing clinical and case supervision of behavioral treatment for patients with severe behavior disorders, in accordance with contractual requirements.
Advertised Salary:
$64,100 - $65,000 based on PDA years of experience
Minimum Requirements:
Doctoral degree (PhD) in psychiatry, psychology, or a closely related mental health discipline with a focus in Behavioral Analysis and Behavioral Assessment (BABA) and an emphasis in applied behavior analysis.
Preferred Qualifications:
- BCBA-D, with demonstrated expertise in the area of assessment and treatment for severe behavior disorders.
Health Assessments
RISC Assessment and Pre-Employment Health Assessment will be required.
Special Instructions to Applicants:
To be considered, you must upload your cover letter, resume, and two letters of recommendation. The University of Florida is An Equal Employment Opportunity Institution. If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352/392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800/955-8771 (TDD). Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. Searches are conducted in accordance with Florida's Sunshine Law. Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.
ADVERTISED:
10 Jun 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
APPLICATIONS CLOSE:
Open until filled
See all 756+ J-1 Visa Clinical Counselor Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new J-1 Visa Clinical Counselor Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as a Clinical Counselor
Verify your credentials transfer to U.S. licensure
State licensing boards for counselors often require CACREP-accredited training or equivalent foreign credentials. Get your degree evaluated by a NACES-approved credential evaluation service before applying, so host employers see a clear path to supervised practice.
Distinguish Trainee from Specialist category early
Trainee status fits professionals within five years of their degree or last full-time employment in counseling. Specialist status suits established practitioners with a distinctive skill set. Your category determines DS-2019 duration limits and training plan requirements, so confirm eligibility before contacting hosts.
Target host employers with supervision infrastructure
Community mental health centers, university counseling centers, and VA-affiliated outpatient clinics routinely supervise unlicensed clinicians, making them better positioned to host J-1 visa Trainees than private solo practices, which often lack the compliance infrastructure a designated sponsor requires.
Search Migrate Mate to find J-1-aligned counseling roles
Use Migrate Mate to filter Clinical Counselor openings at organizations already familiar with exchange visitor hosting. Targeting employers with a documented history of J-1 placements shortens the sponsor coordination process and reduces the risk of a host withdrawing after an offer is extended.
Request a detailed training plan before the offer stage
Designated sponsors require a structured Training and Evaluation Objectives form before issuing a DS-2019. Ask the host employer whether they've completed this document with previous J-1 trainees. Employers unfamiliar with it will need your help drafting measurable clinical learning objectives.
Clarify the two-year home residency requirement upfront
Counseling roles funded by a government agency or in a field designated as shortage-area may trigger the two-year home-country residency requirement under INA section 212(e). Confirm with your designated sponsor whether your specific placement activates this obligation before accepting an offer.
Clinical Counselor J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to Clinical Counselor positions?
Most Clinical Counselor placements fall under the Trainee category if you're within five years of graduation or last relevant employment, or the Specialist category if you're an experienced practitioner with a specialized counseling background. The Trainee program allows up to 18 months, extendable to 24 in some cases. Your designated sponsor determines which category fits your profile based on your CV and the host employer's training plan.
Who actually sponsors the J-1 visa for a Clinical Counselor role?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor organization, such as Cultural Vistas or AIPT, not the counseling employer. The employer is the host. The designated sponsor reviews your training plan, issues the DS-2019, and monitors compliance throughout your program. Conflating the host employer with the visa sponsor is one of the most common misunderstandings in the J-1 process.
How do I find Clinical Counselor host employers open to J-1 placements?
Migrate Mate lets you search Clinical Counselor openings and filter for employers with demonstrated exchange visitor hosting experience. Community mental health centers, federally qualified health centers, and university counseling services are the host types most likely to have an existing relationship with a designated sponsor, which significantly speeds up DS-2019 issuance once you have an offer.
Does a J-1 Clinical Counselor placement trigger the two-year home residency requirement?
It can. The two-year home-country physical presence requirement under INA section 212(e) applies if your program is government-funded, if counseling is on the exchange visitor skills list for your home country, or if you received government financing. You must complete two years in your home country before adjusting to most other U.S. visa statuses unless you obtain a waiver through a U.S. federal or state agency.
Can a host employer hire a J-1 Clinical Counselor without a clinical license?
Yes, in most states, but only under direct supervision. J-1 Trainee and Specialist placements are structured as supervised training programs, not independent practice. Your training plan must specify the licensed supervisor, the clinical competencies being developed, and the evaluation schedule. Some states have specific supervision hour requirements that your host must agree to fulfill before a designated sponsor will issue the DS-2019.