J-1 Visa Education Counselor Jobs
Education Counselor roles in the United States are typically sponsored under the J-1 visa Specialist or Trainee program category, connecting international professionals with host organizations in higher education, nonprofits, and student services. Securing sponsorship requires a designated sponsor organization to issue your DS-2019 before you can begin work.
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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 Education Counselor Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new J-1 Visa Education Counselor Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as an Education Counselor
Document your counseling credentials before applying
Compile official transcripts, licensure records, and reference letters that demonstrate your education or student advising background. Designated sponsors evaluating Specialist or Trainee eligibility will scrutinize credential alignment with your proposed U.S. role before issuing a DS-2019.
Target host organizations with established J-1 programs
Universities, community colleges, and nonprofit student-services agencies regularly host J-1 exchange visitors in counseling roles. Prioritize institutions whose job postings mention J-1 hosting experience, since a host unfamiliar with the program adds significant onboarding time before a sponsor can engage.
Search Migrate Mate to find J-1-aligned counseling roles
Use Migrate Mate to filter Education Counselor openings at U.S. organizations that have a documented track record of hosting international exchange visitors, so you spend less time approaching hosts who are unfamiliar with the J-1 process.
Clarify whether your role triggers the two-year rule
Specialist and some Trainee placements funded by your home government or involving skills in short supply at home carry a two-year home-residency requirement after the program ends. Confirm this with your designated sponsor before signing an offer, since it affects any future H-1B visa or green card plans.
Get the training plan signed before your start date
Designated sponsors require a formal training plan outlining your learning objectives, supervision schedule, and evaluation milestones. Your host employer must co-sign this document, and USCIS or the State Department may review it during entry. Gaps or vague objectives are common grounds for program delays.
Verify wage compliance through the OFLC Wage Search
Even though J-1 is not subject to DOL prevailing-wage certification the way H-1B is, your host must pay you the same wage as similarly situated U.S. workers. Cross-check the offered salary against the OFLC Wage Search for Education Counselor roles in your host's metro area before accepting.
Education Counselor J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category fits an Education Counselor role?
It depends on your career stage. Current students completing a practicum or internship typically qualify under the Intern category. Professionals with a degree and relevant work experience who want structured on-the-job training in U.S. student advising generally qualify under the Trainee category. Senior practitioners invited to share expertise at an institution may qualify as a Specialist.
Who actually sponsors the J-1 visa for an Education Counselor position?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, not your hiring employer. Organizations such as Cultural Vistas or CIEE issue the DS-2019 form and monitor program compliance. Your hiring institution is the host organization. The host cannot sponsor you directly; they must work with an approved designated sponsor to bring you onboard.
How do I find U.S. employers willing to host a J-1 Education Counselor?
Use Migrate Mate to identify Education Counselor openings at colleges, nonprofits, and student-services agencies that have hosted J-1 exchange visitors before. Host familiarity with the program matters because they must co-sign your training plan and coordinate with the designated sponsor throughout your placement.
Does an Education Counselor J-1 placement come with a two-year home-residency requirement?
Potentially, yes. If your exchange program is funded by your home government, if your home country has identified education counseling as a skill in short supply, or if you receive graduate medical education, the two-year home-residency requirement may apply. This bars you from changing to most work visas or adjusting status until you return home or obtain a waiver.
Can I extend my J-1 status if my counseling placement runs longer than expected?
Extensions are possible within the maximum program duration set by your designated sponsor, provided your training objectives justify additional time and the host organization remains willing to continue the placement. Your designated sponsor submits an amended DS-2019 to the State Department. Requests should be initiated well before your current program end date to avoid any gap in authorized status.