J-1 Visa Social Work Jobs
Social work positions in the United States are available to qualified international professionals through J-1 visa sponsorship under the Trainee or Specialist program categories. Host organizations across public agencies, nonprofits, and healthcare systems partner with State Department-designated sponsors to issue the DS-2019 and support your exchange placement.
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The University of Nevada, Reno Counseling Services is recruiting for a full-time, 40-hour per week Post-Master’s Clinical Social Work Intern. Under the supervision of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, the Clinical Social Work Intern (CSW-Intern) will provide a full range of mental health services to university students. The Clinical Social Work Intern will receive a comprehensive training experience in university counseling services, including individual and group psychotherapy, same-day sessions, crisis interventions, outreach, and consultation services to university students.
The majority of this work is accomplished via one-to-one clinical contact with students, but consultation and/or outreach services may be extended to faculty, campus organizations, and other professional members of the community. Careful attention is paid to opportunities to ensure sufficient clinical hours are available, so the CSW-Intern can meet the LCSW requirements set forth by the State of Nevada Board of Examiners for Social Workers. Clinical Social Work Interns receive a minimum of 60 minutes of individual supervision per week and have access to didactic training seminars.
The start date is August 1, 2026, and the position will continue for three years, or the applicable end date, dependent on the candidate’s board registration as an intern.
Required Qualifications
- Applicants must hold a Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) from a Graduate School of Social Work program accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) or equivalent accrediting body.
- Applicants must pass the appropriate examination given by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) and must be licensed at the LMSW level in Nevada by the start of the internship.
- Candidates must be at least 21 years of age.
- Must not currently hold an LCSW license.
Preferred Qualifications
- Candidates having experience working in a clinical setting with university student or emerging adult populations are encouraged to apply.
- The preferred candidate would have experience providing counseling services to underserved populations and should have interest in serving members from diverse groups.
Compensation Grade-Letter of Appointment
$50,000 with a salary increase for the second year, third year, and after LCSW licensure is obtained.
Total Compensation View the Benefits Overview here https://www.unr.edu/hr/benefits/benefits/lob-glance for information on benefits associated with a letter of appointment position at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Department Information
The University of Nevada Counseling Services provides individual and group psychotherapy, crisis intervention, psychological assessment, outreach including educational workshops and presentations, consultation, and referrals to community health care providers. These services are undertaken in accordance with the following mission – UNR Counseling Services provides personalized culturally-responsive mental health services, training, and outreach to the University community. By doing so, we promote an inclusive learning environment supportive of mental health, diversity and social justice, as well as student personal growth and academic success.
We invite you to take a moment to see a short video about our center here.
The University of Nevada, Reno Counseling Services acknowledges, accepts, and embraces diversity in its multiple forms, including but not limited to ability, age, cultural identity, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, language, nationality, body size, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, race, and religion. We are committed to providing a safe, affirming, accepting, and empowering environment in our relationships amongst our staff and trainees as well as our clients, the university, and the community as a whole.
Counseling Services provides education and training in diversity, equity, and inclusion to practicum students, interns, postdoctoral fellows, and our professional staff. We believe staff diversity improves teamwork, promotes innovation, enriches the training experience, enhances learning, and helps us best meet the needs of our student clients. For these reasons, we encourage applicants from a variety of diverse backgrounds and lived experience with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion to apply to our internship positions.
The professional staff currently consists primarily of licensed psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, and several administrative and outreach staff. Each year we have an average of 10 mental health trainees from the practicum to postdoctoral level.
Contact information: Jodi Thomas, jodit@unr.edu
Exempt
Full-Time Equivalent
100.0%
Required Attachment(s)
Please note, once you submit your application the only attachment/s viewable to you will be the attachment/s to the resume/CV section of the application. Any additional required
Job Description
The University of Nevada, Reno Counseling Services is recruiting for a full-time, 40-hour per week Post-Master’s Clinical Social Work Intern. Under the supervision of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, the Clinical Social Work Intern (CSW-Intern) will provide a full range of mental health services to university students. The Clinical Social Work Intern will receive a comprehensive training experience in university counseling services, including individual and group psychotherapy, same-day sessions, crisis interventions, outreach, and consultation services to university students.
The majority of this work is accomplished via one-to-one clinical contact with students, but consultation and/or outreach services may be extended to faculty, campus organizations, and other professional members of the community. Careful attention is paid to opportunities to ensure sufficient clinical hours are available, so the CSW-Intern can meet the LCSW requirements set forth by the State of Nevada Board of Examiners for Social Workers. Clinical Social Work Interns receive a minimum of 60 minutes of individual supervision per week and have access to didactic training seminars.
The start date is August 1, 2026, and the position will continue for three years, or the applicable end date, dependent on the candidate’s board registration as an intern.
Required Qualifications
- Applicants must hold a Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) from a Graduate School of Social Work program accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) or equivalent accrediting body.
- Applicants must pass the appropriate examination given by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) and must be licensed at the LMSW level in Nevada by the start of the internship.
- Candidates must be at least 21 years of age.
- Must not currently hold an LCSW license.
Preferred Qualifications
- Candidates having experience working in a clinical setting with university student or emerging adult populations are encouraged to apply.
- The preferred candidate would have experience providing counseling services to underserved populations and should have interest in serving members from diverse groups.
Compensation Grade-Letter of Appointment
$50,000 with a salary increase for the second year, third year, and after LCSW licensure is obtained.
Total Compensation View the Benefits Overview here https://www.unr.edu/hr/benefits/benefits/lob-glance for information on benefits associated with a letter of appointment position at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Department Information
The University of Nevada Counseling Services provides individual and group psychotherapy, crisis intervention, psychological assessment, outreach including educational workshops and presentations, consultation, and referrals to community health care providers. These services are undertaken in accordance with the following mission – UNR Counseling Services provides personalized culturally-responsive mental health services, training, and outreach to the University community. By doing so, we promote an inclusive learning environment supportive of mental health, diversity and social justice, as well as student personal growth and academic success.
We invite you to take a moment to see a short video about our center here.
The University of Nevada, Reno Counseling Services acknowledges, accepts, and embraces diversity in its multiple forms, including but not limited to ability, age, cultural identity, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, language, nationality, body size, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, race, and religion. We are committed to providing a safe, affirming, accepting, and empowering environment in our relationships amongst our staff and trainees as well as our clients, the university, and the community as a whole.
Counseling Services provides education and training in diversity, equity, and inclusion to practicum students, interns, postdoctoral fellows, and our professional staff. We believe staff diversity improves teamwork, promotes innovation, enriches the training experience, enhances learning, and helps us best meet the needs of our student clients. For these reasons, we encourage applicants from a variety of diverse backgrounds and lived experience with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion to apply to our internship positions.
The professional staff currently consists primarily of licensed psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, and several administrative and outreach staff. Each year we have an average of 10 mental health trainees from the practicum to postdoctoral level.
Contact information: Jodi Thomas, jodit@unr.edu
Exempt
Full-Time Equivalent
100.0%
Required Attachment(s)
Please note, once you submit your application the only attachment/s viewable to you will be the attachment/s to the resume/CV section of the application. Any additional required
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship in Social Work
Align your credentials with U.S. licensure expectations
State licensing boards often require a master's degree in social work for clinical roles. Get your foreign degree evaluated by a NACES-accredited credential evaluator before you apply, so host employers can confirm your educational equivalency upfront.
Target host employers with active exchange visitor programs
Hospitals, county human services departments, and refugee resettlement agencies regularly host J-1 Trainees or Specialists. Search Migrate Mate to filter Social Work roles by employers that have supported exchange visitors in these program categories.
Clarify the two-year home residency requirement early
Social work exchange visitors sponsored under government-funded programs or by certain countries may face a two-year home residency requirement before changing to most other visa statuses. Confirm your eligibility with your designated sponsor before accepting a host offer.
Build a training plan that satisfies DOL program goals
Your designated sponsor will require a structured Training or Exchange Visitor Program plan. Document specific clinical or community practice objectives, supervision arrangements, and weekly activity breakdowns so the plan meets DOL's substantive exchange requirements for the Trainee or Specialist category.
Verify your host employer's supervision capacity
J-1 Trainee and Specialist programs require the host to designate a qualified supervisor throughout your placement. Confirm before signing any offer that a licensed social worker or department manager is formally assigned and that the host has signed a training plan agreement with your designated sponsor.
Understand program duration limits before negotiating your offer
J-1 Trainee placements are capped at 18 months; Specialist placements allow up to five years. If the host role requires longer engagement, discuss extension eligibility with your designated sponsor before finalizing your contract to avoid a gap in authorized status.
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Find Social Work JobsSocial Work J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to social work roles?
It depends on your career stage. Current students completing a field placement abroad typically qualify for the Intern category. Post-degree professionals gaining supervised clinical or community practice experience use the Trainee category, capped at 18 months. Experienced practitioners invited to share expertise at a U.S. institution may qualify as a Specialist. Your designated sponsor confirms the correct category based on your qualifications and the host's program structure.
Who actually sponsors the J-1 visa for a social work position?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, not the hiring employer. The designated sponsor issues your DS-2019, monitors your program compliance, and serves as your point of contact with the State Department. Common designated sponsors for Trainee and Specialist programs include Cultural Vistas and AIPT. The employer where you perform your work is the host organization, not the legal sponsor.
How do I find U.S. employers that support J-1 social work placements?
Most job boards don't filter by exchange visitor program compatibility. Migrate Mate lets you search Social Work roles specifically by employers that have supported J-1 exchange visitors, saving you the time of qualifying each employer individually. Once you identify a host, they coordinate the DS-2019 and training plan directly with your designated sponsor.
Does the two-year home residency requirement affect social work J-1 holders?
It can. The two-year home country physical presence requirement applies when your program is government-funded, when your country of nationality or last residence appears on the Exchange Visitor Skills List, or when your J-1 is in certain government-designated categories. If you're planning to transition to an H-1B or green card after your exchange, confirm your residency requirement status with your designated sponsor before you start your placement.
Can a social work host employer extend my J-1 placement?
Extensions are possible within program category limits. Trainee placements are capped at 18 months total, including any extensions. Specialist placements can extend up to five years. The host employer requests the extension through your designated sponsor, who must verify that the extended program still meets substantive exchange objectives. Requests should be submitted well before your DS-2019 end date to avoid a lapse in authorized status.
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