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 JobsSUMMARY:
As a member of the School Counseling staff, the Counseling Intern collaborates with an assigned school counselor to implement the TUSD School Counseling Program. School Counseling Interns are working toward their Master's Degree in School Counseling (or a related field), and are provided with mentorship from our Certified School Counselor.
Our School Counselors Implement the American School Counselor Association National Model (ASCA). As a member of the School Counseling staff, the counselor is to provide a comprehensive school counseling program for all students at the school site while ensuring equity and access for all students.
School Counselors work at all levels of the school system to support the social, emotional, and academic well-being of students. As a School Counselor, you will collaborate with school and school district staff to help students succeed in all aspects of their lives. This can be helping students through social and emotional challenges or liaising with other agencies and organizations outside the school. You may also help students with course planning and applying for post-secondary education.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Arizona IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card
- Currently enrolled in the last year of a Master’s Degree program in School Counseling that, when completed, meets the requirements for Arizona Department of Education Certification as a School Guidance Counselor
REQUIREMENTS PRIOR TO START DATE
- Proof of immunity to rubeola (measles) and rubella (German measles), or proof of MMR immunization
- Must hold a valid Driver's license (Arizona Driver’s License required within 30 days of hire)
- MVReport – showing no more than the allowable points against Driver’s License as described under Governing Board Policy: EEB-R-1 Business and Personnel Transportation Services - Transportation by Employees.
- Reliable mode of personal transportation with evidence of insurance compliance greater than or equal to the state required minimum for car insurance as described under Governing Board Policy: EEB-R-1 Business and Personnel Transportation Services - Transportation by Employees
PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:
- Experience with diverse student populations
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with parents, students, teachers and staff
REPORTS TO: School Site Principal/Counseling Coordinator
COMMENTS
EFFECTIVE: 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR
LOCATION: Multiple Locations – District-Wide
FTE: Varies. Typical School Counseling Intern FTE 1.0, 8 hours per day.
WORK MONTHS: 9.5 month
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE TEACHER HIRING PROCESS:
This is a pooled job posting for positions across the district. By applying, your application will be added to a candidate pool accessible to schools or departments seeking to fill current or future vacancies. If your qualifications match the needs of a specific site, you may be contacted directly for further consideration.
If you are having trouble securing an interview, please contact Careers@tusd1.org.
CURRENT VACANCIES:
This is a list of current teacher vacancies, as they become available, listed alphabetically with grade/subject area and FTE. The list is subject to change daily:
For current vacancies please contact the TUSD Guidance & Counseling department at 520-225-6211
Internal candidates will transfer at a rate commensurate with their bargaining unit language. For more information on the salary schedule, please reference the Employee Agreements Webpage.
Positions less than 30 hours per week are not eligible for district benefits.
Tucson Unified School District is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination based on disability, race, color, religion/religious beliefs, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or national origin.
SUMMARY:
As a member of the School Counseling staff, the Counseling Intern collaborates with an assigned school counselor to implement the TUSD School Counseling Program. School Counseling Interns are working toward their Master's Degree in School Counseling (or a related field), and are provided with mentorship from our Certified School Counselor.
Our School Counselors Implement the American School Counselor Association National Model (ASCA). As a member of the School Counseling staff, the counselor is to provide a comprehensive school counseling program for all students at the school site while ensuring equity and access for all students.
School Counselors work at all levels of the school system to support the social, emotional, and academic well-being of students. As a School Counselor, you will collaborate with school and school district staff to help students succeed in all aspects of their lives. This can be helping students through social and emotional challenges or liaising with other agencies and organizations outside the school. You may also help students with course planning and applying for post-secondary education.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Arizona IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card
- Currently enrolled in the last year of a Master’s Degree program in School Counseling that, when completed, meets the requirements for Arizona Department of Education Certification as a School Guidance Counselor
REQUIREMENTS PRIOR TO START DATE
- Proof of immunity to rubeola (measles) and rubella (German measles), or proof of MMR immunization
- Must hold a valid Driver's license (Arizona Driver’s License required within 30 days of hire)
- MVReport – showing no more than the allowable points against Driver’s License as described under Governing Board Policy: EEB-R-1 Business and Personnel Transportation Services - Transportation by Employees.
- Reliable mode of personal transportation with evidence of insurance compliance greater than or equal to the state required minimum for car insurance as described under Governing Board Policy: EEB-R-1 Business and Personnel Transportation Services - Transportation by Employees
PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:
- Experience with diverse student populations
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with parents, students, teachers and staff
REPORTS TO: School Site Principal/Counseling Coordinator
COMMENTS
EFFECTIVE: 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR
LOCATION: Multiple Locations – District-Wide
FTE: Varies. Typical School Counseling Intern FTE 1.0, 8 hours per day.
WORK MONTHS: 9.5 month
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE TEACHER HIRING PROCESS:
This is a pooled job posting for positions across the district. By applying, your application will be added to a candidate pool accessible to schools or departments seeking to fill current or future vacancies. If your qualifications match the needs of a specific site, you may be contacted directly for further consideration.
If you are having trouble securing an interview, please contact Careers@tusd1.org.
CURRENT VACANCIES:
This is a list of current teacher vacancies, as they become available, listed alphabetically with grade/subject area and FTE. The list is subject to change daily:
For current vacancies please contact the TUSD Guidance & Counseling department at 520-225-6211
Internal candidates will transfer at a rate commensurate with their bargaining unit language. For more information on the salary schedule, please reference the Employee Agreements Webpage.
Positions less than 30 hours per week are not eligible for district benefits.
Tucson Unified School District is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination based on disability, race, color, religion/religious beliefs, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or national origin.
See all 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.