J-1 Visa Psychology Jobs
Psychology positions in the United States are available to international professionals through the J-1 visa under the Research Scholar, Intern, or Trainee program category, depending on your career stage. Securing sponsorship requires a U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor organization to issue your DS-2019, not the hiring employer directly.
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St. Mary's College of Maryland is accepting applications for the tenure track position of Assistant Professor and Internship Coordinator in its newly approved Masters of Arts in Counseling and Clinical Psychology (MACCP) program, beginning August 2027. The MACCP program is the second Masters program at SMCM (following the successful Master of Teaching program). The salary range for this position is $75,000 to $79,000 based on level of experience; startup costs are negotiable; benefits information is available online.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The standard teaching load is 12 credits (usually, the equivalent of 3 courses) per semester. The Internship Coordinator will be in charge of preparing for internship placements (which is built into the teaching load). Teaching responsibilities will include courses in the Master of Arts in Counseling and Clinical Psychology program (e.g., Psychopathology and Diagnosis, Multicultural Counseling, Lifespan Development, Group Counseling, Psychological Testing, Family Systems in Practice), as well as the possibility of undergraduate courses in your area of specialization to provide cross-program collaboration with the Psychology major.
At SMCM, we seek faculty whose pedagogical practice involves culturally responsive teaching practices that promote belonging and inclusion. New faculty are paired with mentors to support your growth as a teacher-scholar. In addition, we offer start-up funding to support your research, especially encouraging projects that relate to the training of psychotherapy practitioners. Over time, professors take on roles in services to the program and College to support the College's mission; first-year faculty are exempt from college-wide committee work.
Non-sectarian since its founding, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, a public Carnegie Baccalaureate, Arts and Sciences institution located in St. Mary's City, 70 miles southeast of Washington, D.C., has been designated a national public honors college. With selective admissions policies, academically talented students, and a rigorous curriculum, we offer a small college experience similar to that found at exceptional private colleges. St. Mary’s faculty benefit from a comprehensive program of support for scholarship, research, travel, and curriculum development, including course releases for pretenure faculty and leaves for tenured faculty. The quality of life is enhanced by the recreational opportunities of the Chesapeake region and by our proximity to Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Ph.D. in Counseling or Clinical Psychology or related field (ABD acceptable at the time of application)
Employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
St. Mary’s College embodies diversity and inclusion in its mission. We create an environment that recognizes the value of individual and group differences and we encourage inquiries from applicants who will contribute to our cultural and ethnic diversity.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Application materials should include a cover letter (which should speak to ways in which the candidate's teaching will contribute to the training of Masters students in counseling and clinical psychology), curriculum vitae (including email address), statement of teaching philosophy, statement of research interests, and evidence of teaching effectiveness if available (e.g., teaching evaluations, observation notes). We request three professional references (rather than letters of recommendation) at the time of application. Of these three references, at least one referee should speak to the candidate's disciplinary expertise, and at least one should have seen the candidate deliver or design classroom instruction. References will be contacted only for candidates who advance to finalist interviews. Applications are being accepted online, with reviews starting September 1, 2026 and continuing until the position is filled.
Questions may be directed to Dr. Libby Nutt Williams at enwilliams@smcm.edu.
INTRODUCTION
St. Mary's College of Maryland is accepting applications for the tenure track position of Assistant Professor and Internship Coordinator in its newly approved Masters of Arts in Counseling and Clinical Psychology (MACCP) program, beginning August 2027. The MACCP program is the second Masters program at SMCM (following the successful Master of Teaching program). The salary range for this position is $75,000 to $79,000 based on level of experience; startup costs are negotiable; benefits information is available online.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The standard teaching load is 12 credits (usually, the equivalent of 3 courses) per semester. The Internship Coordinator will be in charge of preparing for internship placements (which is built into the teaching load). Teaching responsibilities will include courses in the Master of Arts in Counseling and Clinical Psychology program (e.g., Psychopathology and Diagnosis, Multicultural Counseling, Lifespan Development, Group Counseling, Psychological Testing, Family Systems in Practice), as well as the possibility of undergraduate courses in your area of specialization to provide cross-program collaboration with the Psychology major.
At SMCM, we seek faculty whose pedagogical practice involves culturally responsive teaching practices that promote belonging and inclusion. New faculty are paired with mentors to support your growth as a teacher-scholar. In addition, we offer start-up funding to support your research, especially encouraging projects that relate to the training of psychotherapy practitioners. Over time, professors take on roles in services to the program and College to support the College's mission; first-year faculty are exempt from college-wide committee work.
Non-sectarian since its founding, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, a public Carnegie Baccalaureate, Arts and Sciences institution located in St. Mary's City, 70 miles southeast of Washington, D.C., has been designated a national public honors college. With selective admissions policies, academically talented students, and a rigorous curriculum, we offer a small college experience similar to that found at exceptional private colleges. St. Mary’s faculty benefit from a comprehensive program of support for scholarship, research, travel, and curriculum development, including course releases for pretenure faculty and leaves for tenured faculty. The quality of life is enhanced by the recreational opportunities of the Chesapeake region and by our proximity to Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Ph.D. in Counseling or Clinical Psychology or related field (ABD acceptable at the time of application)
Employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
St. Mary’s College embodies diversity and inclusion in its mission. We create an environment that recognizes the value of individual and group differences and we encourage inquiries from applicants who will contribute to our cultural and ethnic diversity.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Application materials should include a cover letter (which should speak to ways in which the candidate's teaching will contribute to the training of Masters students in counseling and clinical psychology), curriculum vitae (including email address), statement of teaching philosophy, statement of research interests, and evidence of teaching effectiveness if available (e.g., teaching evaluations, observation notes). We request three professional references (rather than letters of recommendation) at the time of application. Of these three references, at least one referee should speak to the candidate's disciplinary expertise, and at least one should have seen the candidate deliver or design classroom instruction. References will be contacted only for candidates who advance to finalist interviews. Applications are being accepted online, with reviews starting September 1, 2026 and continuing until the position is filled.
Questions may be directed to Dr. Libby Nutt Williams at enwilliams@smcm.edu.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship in Psychology
Align your credentials with specialty occupation standards
Your psychology degree must correspond to the specific role you're applying for. A clinical psychology position typically requires a doctoral-level credential, while research or assessment roles may accept a master's. Document your licensure status and any supervised hours before outreach begins.
Distinguish your J-1 category before applying
Current graduate students in psychology programs typically use the Intern category, while post-degree professionals use Trainee. Research scholars and faculty qualify under the Research Scholar or Professor category. Applying to host employers under the wrong category delays DS-2019 issuance and can void your placement.
Search for J-1-aligned psychology roles on Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to filter psychology positions by employers with active J-1 visa hosting history. This saves you from cold-applying to organizations that have never hosted exchange visitors and won't know how to coordinate with a designated sponsor.
Target host organizations with established sponsor relationships
University counseling centers, research hospitals, and behavioral health institutes frequently host J-1 psychology trainees because they already work with designated sponsors like IIE or Cultural Vistas. Prioritize these settings over private practices, which rarely have existing sponsorship infrastructure.
Confirm the two-year home residency rule applies to your situation
Many psychology positions funded by government grants or tied to skills on the Exchange Visitor Skills List trigger a two-year home residency requirement after your J-1 ends. Ask your prospective host employer whether the role carries this condition before you accept an offer.
Build your training plan before the DS-2019 request
Your designated sponsor needs a detailed training plan outlining your psychology objectives, supervision structure, and evaluation schedule. Prepare this document with your host supervisor early because sponsors like Cultural Vistas and CIEE require it before issuing any DS-2019 form.
Psychology J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category fits a psychology professional?
It depends on your career stage. Graduate students completing a practicum or internship use the Intern category. Post-degree professionals gaining structured clinical or research experience use the Trainee category. Doctoral-level researchers and faculty joining U.S. universities qualify under Research Scholar or Professor. Each category has different eligibility rules and maximum duration limits, so confirm the right fit with your designated sponsor before your host employer submits any paperwork.
Who actually sponsors my J-1 visa if I get a psychology job offer?
Your visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, not your employer. Organizations like IIE, CIEE, Cultural Vistas, and ECFMG issue the DS-2019 form that authorizes your exchange visitor status. Your employer is the host organization. They provide the position and training environment, but the designated sponsor is legally responsible for your program compliance and reporting to the State Department.
How do I find psychology employers who have hosted J-1 exchange visitors before?
Use Migrate Mate to search for psychology roles at organizations with J-1 hosting history. Employers who already understand the DS-2019 process, training plan requirements, and sponsor coordination move through placements far faster than those encountering the J-1 system for the first time. Cold-applying to employers with no exchange visitor experience often stalls or fails entirely.
Does a psychology J-1 position trigger the two-year home residency requirement?
Many do. If your psychology role is funded by a U.S. government agency, your home country's government, or if your occupation appears on the Exchange Visitor Skills List maintained by the State Department, you'll be subject to the two-year home residency requirement after your J-1 ends. This means you cannot immediately change to H-1B visa, O-1 visa, or apply for a green card until you fulfill or receive a waiver of that requirement.
Can I work in a private practice or outpatient clinic on a J-1 psychology visa?
It's uncommon. Private psychology practices rarely have the administrative infrastructure to coordinate with a designated sponsor, and J-1 Trainee and Intern programs require structured supervision and a formal training plan. University counseling centers, research hospitals, behavioral health departments within academic medical centers, and government-affiliated mental health programs are far more likely to have existing sponsor relationships and the oversight capacity J-1 programs require.