J-1 Visa Therapist Jobs
Therapist roles in the United States are accessible to international professionals through J-1 visa sponsorship, most commonly under the Trainee or Research Scholar program categories. Designated sponsors issue your DS-2019 and oversee compliance while a U.S. clinic, hospital, or counseling center serves as your host employer.
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Get Access To All JobsJob ID: 53964
Positions Location: Lansing, MI
Job Description
General Purpose of Job:
The Respiratory Therapist Intern provides a wide variety of routine and advanced forms of respiratory therapy procedures for the diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients with respiratory dysfunction under the direction and supervision of a Registered Respiratory Therapist and Certified Respiratory Therapist. The Respiratory Therapist Intern role is considered temporary until credentials through the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) are obtained.
Essential Duties:
This job description is intended to cover the minimum essential duties assigned on a regular basis. Associates may be asked to perform additional duties as assigned by their leader. Leadership has the right to alter or modify the duties of the position.
- Assess patients' condition and initiate appropriate emergency and non-emergency procedures in accordance with established guidelines. Work with neonatal patients, pediatric patients, adult patients and geriatric patients.
- Administer aerosol medications, support therapy (oxygen, humidification, ventilator), and perform a variety of respiratory treatments and/or diagnostic procedures. Administer care within physician approved therapist driven protocols.
- Initiate, operate, maintain, monitor, and ensure safe patient care practices and operation of various life support devices in all critical care areas. Consult with and make recommendations to medical staff. Member of Code Blue team (CPR).
- Report/document pertinent patient care and status data in accordance with established guidelines. May accept and document physician telephone orders for respiratory therapy procedures.
- Establish an appropriate knowledge of electronic patient record and maintain accurate records relating to charges for services rendered.
- Perform routine RT equipment maintenance, cleaning/sterilization, and ensure environmental safety; member of Code Red team.
- Assist in the transportation of critical patients to or from Sparrow Hospital, and assist the physician when performing various surgical or non-surgical respiratory/cardiology procedures.
- Instruct RT students, medical personnel, and patients and families regarding specific respiratory therapy procedures. Maintain current knowledge of RT related issues.
Job Requirements
General Requirements
- Credentialed by the National Board for Respiratory Care within 90 days of hire.
- BLS Certification within 30 days of hire.
- ACLS, PALS, or NRP - preferred.
Work Experience
- Previous patient care experience - preferred.
- Critical care experience in a hospital setting - preferred.
Education
- Graduate of a Respiratory Therapy program.
- Clinicals done at Sparrow Hospital - preferred.
Specialized Knowledge and Skills
- Demonstrates the ability to work on a team.
- Able to demonstrate the knowledge and skill necessary to provide care based on physical, psycho/social, educational, safety and related criteria, appropriate to the age of the patients serviced in his/her assigned service are as related to the principle duties and responsibilities of the position. The skills and knowledge needed to provide such care may be gained through education, training or experience.
University of Michigan Health-Sparrow is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.
LI-MR1
Job Family
Clinical Professional/Technical/Allied Health
Requirements
- Shift: Nights
- Degree Type / Education Level: Associate
- Status: Part-time Benefit Eligible
- Facility: Sparrow Hospital
- Experience Level: New Grad
Job ID: 53964
Positions Location: Lansing, MI
Job Description
General Purpose of Job:
The Respiratory Therapist Intern provides a wide variety of routine and advanced forms of respiratory therapy procedures for the diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients with respiratory dysfunction under the direction and supervision of a Registered Respiratory Therapist and Certified Respiratory Therapist. The Respiratory Therapist Intern role is considered temporary until credentials through the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) are obtained.
Essential Duties:
This job description is intended to cover the minimum essential duties assigned on a regular basis. Associates may be asked to perform additional duties as assigned by their leader. Leadership has the right to alter or modify the duties of the position.
- Assess patients' condition and initiate appropriate emergency and non-emergency procedures in accordance with established guidelines. Work with neonatal patients, pediatric patients, adult patients and geriatric patients.
- Administer aerosol medications, support therapy (oxygen, humidification, ventilator), and perform a variety of respiratory treatments and/or diagnostic procedures. Administer care within physician approved therapist driven protocols.
- Initiate, operate, maintain, monitor, and ensure safe patient care practices and operation of various life support devices in all critical care areas. Consult with and make recommendations to medical staff. Member of Code Blue team (CPR).
- Report/document pertinent patient care and status data in accordance with established guidelines. May accept and document physician telephone orders for respiratory therapy procedures.
- Establish an appropriate knowledge of electronic patient record and maintain accurate records relating to charges for services rendered.
- Perform routine RT equipment maintenance, cleaning/sterilization, and ensure environmental safety; member of Code Red team.
- Assist in the transportation of critical patients to or from Sparrow Hospital, and assist the physician when performing various surgical or non-surgical respiratory/cardiology procedures.
- Instruct RT students, medical personnel, and patients and families regarding specific respiratory therapy procedures. Maintain current knowledge of RT related issues.
Job Requirements
General Requirements
- Credentialed by the National Board for Respiratory Care within 90 days of hire.
- BLS Certification within 30 days of hire.
- ACLS, PALS, or NRP - preferred.
Work Experience
- Previous patient care experience - preferred.
- Critical care experience in a hospital setting - preferred.
Education
- Graduate of a Respiratory Therapy program.
- Clinicals done at Sparrow Hospital - preferred.
Specialized Knowledge and Skills
- Demonstrates the ability to work on a team.
- Able to demonstrate the knowledge and skill necessary to provide care based on physical, psycho/social, educational, safety and related criteria, appropriate to the age of the patients serviced in his/her assigned service are as related to the principle duties and responsibilities of the position. The skills and knowledge needed to provide such care may be gained through education, training or experience.
University of Michigan Health-Sparrow is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.
LI-MR1
Job Family
Clinical Professional/Technical/Allied Health
Requirements
- Shift: Nights
- Degree Type / Education Level: Associate
- Status: Part-time Benefit Eligible
- Facility: Sparrow Hospital
- Experience Level: New Grad
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Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new J-1 Visa Therapist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship in Therapist
Verify your credentials meet state licensure requirements
Most U.S. states require a master's degree in counseling, social work, or a related field for licensed therapist roles. Confirm your foreign credentials are evaluated by a recognized credential assessment service before targeting host employers.
Target host employers with active training infrastructure
J-1 visa Trainee and Research Scholar programs require a formal training plan signed by your host employer. Hospitals, university counseling centers, and large behavioral health networks are best positioned to provide the structured supervision the program demands.
Search Migrate Mate to identify J-1-aligned therapy roles
Use Migrate Mate to find U.S. employers actively hosting international professionals in mental health and therapy positions, so you can focus outreach on organizations already familiar with J-1 program requirements.
Clarify the two-year home residency rule early
Therapists sponsored under certain J-1 categories, particularly government-funded or shortage-area programs, may be subject to a two-year home residency requirement. Confirm your program's funding source with your designated sponsor before accepting an offer.
Align your DS-2019 category to your career stage
Current students completing clinical practicums typically qualify under the Intern category. Professionals with a degree and relevant post-graduate experience should pursue the Trainee category, which allows up to 18 months of supervised clinical exchange.
Confirm your host employer can meet DOL training plan standards
The J-1 Trainee program requires a detailed training plan, Form DS-7002, outlining your supervision structure and learning objectives. Ask prospective host employers whether they have completed this document for prior J-1 participants.
Therapist J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category fits a therapist or mental health professional?
The J-1 Trainee category is the most common fit for therapists who have completed their degree and have relevant post-graduate experience. Current students in accredited counseling or social work programs may qualify under the Intern category instead. Research-focused clinicians affiliated with academic institutions sometimes qualify as Research Scholars, depending on the nature of their placement.
Is the hiring clinic or hospital my J-1 visa sponsor?
No. Under the J-1 program, your visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, such as CIEE, Cultural Vistas, or AIPT, that issues your DS-2019 form and monitors your program compliance. The clinic or counseling center where you work is your host employer, not your sponsor. Both roles are required, but they are held by separate organizations.
How can I find therapy employers open to hosting J-1 exchange visitors?
Most therapy employers don't advertise J-1 compatibility in job postings, so targeted outreach matters. Use Migrate Mate to search for U.S. employers in behavioral health and mental health settings that have a history of hosting international professionals, which significantly narrows your list to organizations already prepared for the host employer obligations the program requires.
What is the two-year home residency requirement and does it apply to therapists?
The two-year home residency requirement (INA Section 212(e)) obligates certain J-1 participants to return to their home country for two years before applying for an H-1B visa, L-1 visa, or immigrant visa. It applies when your exchange program is funded by a U.S. or foreign government, or when your field appears on your home country's skills list. Therapists sponsored through government-funded behavioral health shortage programs are among those most likely to be subject to it.
Does the J-1 Trainee program allow licensed clinical work, or is it observation only?
The J-1 Trainee category is designed for structured skills development, not independent licensed practice. Your training plan, Form DS-7002, must outline specific learning objectives and supervision requirements. Whether you can perform clinical work depends on your host state's licensure laws and the scope your supervising employer defines. Many states permit supervised clinical hours under a provisional or associate license, which can run concurrently with your J-1 placement.