OPT Behavioral Health Specialist Jobs
Behavioral Health Specialist roles on OPT typically fall under psychology, social work, or counseling degree fields, making them a strong match for STEM and non-STEM OPT students alike. Many employers in community health, hospital systems, and nonprofit organizations have sponsored these roles under both standard and STEM OPT extensions.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Community Health Care is a leading non-profit organization that offers quality health care to underserved patients in Pierce County. We provide comprehensive family practice care, including medical, dental, pharmacy, and behavioral health services in our seven clinics. We seek to continuously improve our commitment and service to our patients and community.
We want you to join us in our mission to provide the highest quality healthcare with compassionate and accessible service for all.
BENEFITS
We offer a competitive benefits package including Medical, Dental, Paid Vacation, Sick Leave, 12 Paid Holidays, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending Account, Continuing Education, Employee Assistant Program and more!
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
We are looking for Behavioral Health Specialist to join our clinics! The Behavioral Health Specialist plays a key role on the MSS Team, providing culturally responsive behavioral health screening, assessment, counseling, and case management to pregnant and parenting clients. This position blends strong clinical judgment with collaborative, team-based care to support clients’ emotional, social, and practical needs throughout the maternity cycle.
You will conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments, deliver brief counseling and crisis intervention, connect clients with essential community resources, and contribute to care planning alongside nurses, dietitians, and community health workers. The role also includes maintaining accurate clinical documentation, participating in interdisciplinary case reviews, and supporting team development through consultation, training, and onboarding of new staff. This position requires excellent assessment and intervention skills, strong communication, and the ability to remain calm and effective in fast paced or emergency situations. Plus, other duties as assigned.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s degree in counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy; or is currently credentialed and has active status in the State of Washington by the Department of Health as one of the following:
+ Licensed mental health counselor
+ Licensed independent clinical social worker
+ Licensed social worker
+ Licensed marriage and family therapist
+ Licensed psychologist
+ Associate mental health counselor
+ Associate independent clinical social worker
+ Associate social worker
+ Associate marriage and family therapist
- Current and valid Washington State Driver’s License and automobile insurance.
- Current CPR.
We encourage anyone with a relevant combination of education and experience to apply.
INTRODUCTION
Community Health Care is a leading non-profit organization that offers quality health care to underserved patients in Pierce County. We provide comprehensive family practice care, including medical, dental, pharmacy, and behavioral health services in our seven clinics. We seek to continuously improve our commitment and service to our patients and community.
We want you to join us in our mission to provide the highest quality healthcare with compassionate and accessible service for all.
BENEFITS
We offer a competitive benefits package including Medical, Dental, Paid Vacation, Sick Leave, 12 Paid Holidays, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending Account, Continuing Education, Employee Assistant Program and more!
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
We are looking for Behavioral Health Specialist to join our clinics! The Behavioral Health Specialist plays a key role on the MSS Team, providing culturally responsive behavioral health screening, assessment, counseling, and case management to pregnant and parenting clients. This position blends strong clinical judgment with collaborative, team-based care to support clients’ emotional, social, and practical needs throughout the maternity cycle.
You will conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments, deliver brief counseling and crisis intervention, connect clients with essential community resources, and contribute to care planning alongside nurses, dietitians, and community health workers. The role also includes maintaining accurate clinical documentation, participating in interdisciplinary case reviews, and supporting team development through consultation, training, and onboarding of new staff. This position requires excellent assessment and intervention skills, strong communication, and the ability to remain calm and effective in fast paced or emergency situations. Plus, other duties as assigned.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s degree in counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy; or is currently credentialed and has active status in the State of Washington by the Department of Health as one of the following:
+ Licensed mental health counselor
+ Licensed independent clinical social worker
+ Licensed social worker
+ Licensed marriage and family therapist
+ Licensed psychologist
+ Associate mental health counselor
+ Associate independent clinical social worker
+ Associate social worker
+ Associate marriage and family therapist
- Current and valid Washington State Driver’s License and automobile insurance.
- Current CPR.
We encourage anyone with a relevant combination of education and experience to apply.
See all 443+ OPT Behavioral Health Specialist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Behavioral Health Specialist
Lead with your licensure progress
Many Behavioral Health Specialist roles require state licensure, which takes time to obtain. Mention your eligibility timeline upfront. Employers are more likely to support OPT students who demonstrate a clear path toward full licensure within the authorization period.
Target employers with existing OPT or H-1B history
Hospital systems, federally qualified health centers, and large nonprofit behavioral health organizations have established HR processes for work authorization. These employers are far less likely to reject your application simply because you need OPT sponsorship.
Connect your degree field to the role explicitly
OPT work must be directly related to your degree. A psychology or social work graduate should spell out that connection in a cover letter. Vague applications raise questions about eligibility that specific framing resolves immediately.
Apply before your OPT start date when possible
Onboarding timelines for behavioral health roles often involve background checks and credentialing that take weeks. Starting your application process early gives employers time to complete verification before your authorized work start date arrives.
Ask about STEM OPT extension eligibility early
If your degree is in a qualifying STEM field such as applied psychology or health informatics, you may be eligible for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. Confirming this with your DSO before interviews gives you a stronger timeline to offer employers.
Frame your cultural competency as a clinical asset
Behavioral health employers increasingly prioritize multilingual and multicultural staff to serve diverse patient populations. International students bring this naturally. Positioning that background as a direct clinical benefit makes your application more competitive than most domestic candidates.
Behavioral Health Specialist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Behavioral Health Specialist on OPT?
Yes, as long as the role is directly related to your degree field. Graduates in psychology, social work, counseling, or health sciences typically meet this requirement. Your DSO can confirm the connection between your specific degree and the role if you are unsure before accepting an offer.
Do Behavioral Health Specialist employers typically sponsor OPT students?
Many do, particularly hospital networks, community mental health centers, and federally qualified health centers that already navigate work authorization for clinical staff. Smaller private practices are less predictable. Migrate Mate filters for employers who have a history of sponsoring international workers, which makes identifying receptive employers faster.
Does a Behavioral Health Specialist role qualify for STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not the job title. If your degree is in a STEM-designated field such as applied psychology, behavioral science, or health informatics, you may qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. The role itself does not determine STEM eligibility. Review the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List and confirm with your DSO.
How does state licensure interact with my OPT authorization period?
State licensure for behavioral health roles, such as Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Clinical Social Worker, often requires supervised hours that take one to two years to accumulate. You can begin accruing supervised hours on OPT, but you need to ensure your authorization remains valid throughout that period. Some employers will support an H-1B visa petition before your OPT expires to bridge the gap.
What degree fields support OPT authorization for this role?
The most common qualifying fields are psychology, clinical social work, counseling, public health, and human services. Your OPT work authorization requires that the job be directly related to the specific field on your degree, not just adjacent to it. If your degree is in a related area like sociology or education, confirm the connection with your DSO before applying.