Addiction Therapist Jobs for OPT Students
Addiction Therapist roles on OPT require active state licensure or supervised hours toward licensure, making your visa timeline a real planning factor. Most employers fall under STEM-ineligible counseling fields, so standard 12-month OPT authorization applies unless your degree qualifies for extension.
See All Addiction Therapist JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 6+ Addiction Therapist jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 6+ Addiction Therapist jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Addiction Therapist roles.
Get Access To All JobsJob Title: Addiction Therapist
Department: Hope Haven
Location: Jerome Medical Center - 16 Bank St, Batavia NY 14020
Hours Per Week: 40
Schedule: Tuesday - Saturday, Day shift and evening shift
Sign on Bonus: $10,000 - $15,000
Summary
The Addiction Therapist provides addiction diagnostic assessment, treatment planning, case management, and individual/group counseling for clients with chemical dependency. In acute and residential settings, the Addiction Therapist is also responsible for oversight and management of the patient community. Treatment is provided in the context of a clinical team.
Responsibilities
- Serves as a primary therapist providing Substance Use Disorder treatment through individual and group counseling.
- Responsible for patient community oversight and management.
- Responsible for care management and discharge planning including the submission of housing and continuing care referrals.
- Responsible for the timely completion of progress summaries and all patient documentation.
- Responsible for the timely completion and submission of insurance authorization requests and denial appeals.
- Conducts quality audits of patient records and processes.
- Provides initial and ongoing assessment for clients in order to determine diagnosis and appropriate level of care.
- Provides individual, family and group counseling, which engages and motivates clients throughout treatment.
- Develops treatment plans that are individualized and culturally sensitive.
- Communicates with other care providers and referral sources to increase understanding of client problems and assets.
- Participates in professional supervision and education that supports continuous improvement of client care.
- Completes required medical record documentation in a timely and comprehensive manner and in compliance with regulatory standards.
- Participates as a contributing member of an interdisciplinary team in coordination and delivery of patient care.
- Provides crisis intervention/management and de-escalation as needed.
Required Qualifications
- Master's Degree not required for CASAC-T, CASAC-P or CASAC OR Master's Degree in corresponding OASAS QHP license or permit.
- If hired on or after 10/05/2023 Completion of a clinical internship in chemical dependency or at least 1 year of work experience in chemical dependency or mental health program.
- CASAC OR CASAC-T, or CASAC-P permitted with the condition that full certification is obtained within 36 months OR OASAS QHP (LCSW, LMSW, LMHC, LCAT, LMFT or permit holder).
Preferred Qualifications
- Associates, Bachelors, or Master’s Degree in Human service field.
Education
BS (Required)
Physical Requirements
LICENSES / CERTIFICATIONS:
S - Sedentary Work - Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.
For disease specific care programs refer to the program specific requirements of the department for further specifications on experience and educational expectations, including continuing education requirements.
Any physical requirements reported by a prospective employee and/or employee’s physician or delegate will be considered for accommodations.
Pay Range
$27.25 - $36.00
City
Batavia
Postal Code
14020
The listed base pay range is a good faith representation of current potential base pay for a successful full time applicant. It may be modified in the future and eligible for additional pay components. Pay is determined by factors including experience, relevant qualifications, specialty, internal equity, location, and contracts.
Rochester Regional Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital or familial status, military or veteran status, citizenship or immigration status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
Job Title: Addiction Therapist
Department: Hope Haven
Location: Jerome Medical Center - 16 Bank St, Batavia NY 14020
Hours Per Week: 40
Schedule: Tuesday - Saturday, Day shift and evening shift
Sign on Bonus: $10,000 - $15,000
Summary
The Addiction Therapist provides addiction diagnostic assessment, treatment planning, case management, and individual/group counseling for clients with chemical dependency. In acute and residential settings, the Addiction Therapist is also responsible for oversight and management of the patient community. Treatment is provided in the context of a clinical team.
Responsibilities
- Serves as a primary therapist providing Substance Use Disorder treatment through individual and group counseling.
- Responsible for patient community oversight and management.
- Responsible for care management and discharge planning including the submission of housing and continuing care referrals.
- Responsible for the timely completion of progress summaries and all patient documentation.
- Responsible for the timely completion and submission of insurance authorization requests and denial appeals.
- Conducts quality audits of patient records and processes.
- Provides initial and ongoing assessment for clients in order to determine diagnosis and appropriate level of care.
- Provides individual, family and group counseling, which engages and motivates clients throughout treatment.
- Develops treatment plans that are individualized and culturally sensitive.
- Communicates with other care providers and referral sources to increase understanding of client problems and assets.
- Participates in professional supervision and education that supports continuous improvement of client care.
- Completes required medical record documentation in a timely and comprehensive manner and in compliance with regulatory standards.
- Participates as a contributing member of an interdisciplinary team in coordination and delivery of patient care.
- Provides crisis intervention/management and de-escalation as needed.
Required Qualifications
- Master's Degree not required for CASAC-T, CASAC-P or CASAC OR Master's Degree in corresponding OASAS QHP license or permit.
- If hired on or after 10/05/2023 Completion of a clinical internship in chemical dependency or at least 1 year of work experience in chemical dependency or mental health program.
- CASAC OR CASAC-T, or CASAC-P permitted with the condition that full certification is obtained within 36 months OR OASAS QHP (LCSW, LMSW, LMHC, LCAT, LMFT or permit holder).
Preferred Qualifications
- Associates, Bachelors, or Master’s Degree in Human service field.
Education
BS (Required)
Physical Requirements
LICENSES / CERTIFICATIONS:
S - Sedentary Work - Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.
For disease specific care programs refer to the program specific requirements of the department for further specifications on experience and educational expectations, including continuing education requirements.
Any physical requirements reported by a prospective employee and/or employee’s physician or delegate will be considered for accommodations.
Pay Range
$27.25 - $36.00
City
Batavia
Postal Code
14020
The listed base pay range is a good faith representation of current potential base pay for a successful full time applicant. It may be modified in the future and eligible for additional pay components. Pay is determined by factors including experience, relevant qualifications, specialty, internal equity, location, and contracts.
Rochester Regional Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital or familial status, military or veteran status, citizenship or immigration status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Addiction Therapist
Know your licensure status before you apply
Most Addiction Therapist positions require a Licensed Professional Counselor, LCSW, or CADC credential. Verify which license your target state requires and whether your OPT timeline gives you enough supervised hours to reach licensure before authorization expires.
Target employers who already sponsor H-1B visas
Behavioral health hospitals, large nonprofit treatment networks, and federally qualified health centers have established immigration processes. Searching employers with prior H-1B sponsorship history signals they understand the process and are more likely to extend sponsorship after OPT.
Clarify your work authorization status upfront
Addiction Therapist hiring often involves credentialing departments that review work authorization documents. Mention your OPT EAD and authorized end date early so HR and clinical credentialing teams can confirm timelines before investing in the hiring process.
Pursue supervised clinical hours aggressively early on
Many states require 2,000 to 4,000 supervised post-graduate hours for full licensure. Starting OPT in a supervised counseling role immediately maximizes your hours accumulation before your authorization window closes or transitions to H-1B sponsorship.
Focus on settings familiar with international clinicians
Community mental health centers, Veterans Affairs facilities, and university counseling centers regularly hire international staff and understand OPT and H-1B requirements. These settings are more likely to have HR infrastructure ready to support your transition to long-term sponsorship.
Align your job search with your degree field
Your OPT must relate directly to your degree program. A counseling or social work degree supports Addiction Therapist roles clearly. If your degree is in psychology or a related field, confirm the role description explicitly matches your field to protect your authorization.
Addiction Therapist jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Addiction Therapist JobsSee all 6+ Addiction Therapist jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Addiction Therapist roles.
Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as an Addiction Therapist on OPT without a state license?
It depends on the state and the role. Many entry-level or associate-level positions allow you to work under supervision while accumulating hours toward licensure. However, roles requiring a fully independent license, such as Licensed Professional Counselor or LCSW, require you to hold that credential before practicing. Confirm your state's specific requirements before accepting an offer.
Does an Addiction Therapist role qualify for STEM OPT extension?
Most Addiction Therapist positions do not qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension because counseling and social work degree programs are not on the STEM Designated Degree Program list. If your degree is in a STEM-classified field such as applied psychology or behavioral neuroscience, review your degree's CIP code with your DSO to confirm eligibility before assuming an extension is available.
How do I find Addiction Therapist employers who sponsor OPT and H-1B visas?
Migrate Mate is built specifically to surface visa-sponsoring employers for OPT students, so it's the most efficient place to search for Addiction Therapist roles where sponsorship is a realistic option. Larger behavioral health networks, nonprofit treatment centers, and federally funded community health programs have established immigration support and are more likely to sponsor H-1B visas once your OPT period ends.
What happens to my OPT authorization if I switch from one Addiction Therapist role to another?
You can change employers on OPT as long as the new role is directly related to your degree program. Report the employment change to your DSO within 10 days so they can update your SEVIS record. A gap between positions is allowed, but gaps exceeding 90 days in aggregate can put your OPT status at risk, so minimize time between roles.
Will clinical supervision count as authorized OPT employment for an Addiction Therapist?
Yes, supervised clinical positions that directly relate to your degree field count as authorized OPT employment, even if you are not yet independently licensed. The role must be tied to your field of study and you must be actively employed, not simply completing unpaid volunteer hours. Confirm with your DSO that the position description aligns with your degree before starting.
See which Addiction Therapist employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.
Search Addiction Therapist Jobs