Behavioral Health Technician Jobs for OPT Students
Behavioral Health Technician jobs on OPT are available at hospitals, residential treatment centers, and community mental health organizations. Most roles require direct patient care experience and, for STEM OPT extensions, a relevant degree in psychology, social work, or a related behavioral science field. CPR certification is commonly required before your start date.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Title: Behavioral Health Technician I
Location: Columbia, Missouri
Department: Addiction Treatment
Employment Type: Full-Time (Overnights)
Job Summary:
Would you like to start a fulfilling career helping people overcome addiction? Become a Substance Use Disorder Technician with Burrell in Columbia, MO! You can find a bright future filled with growth and satisfaction while saving lives! As a SUD Tech, you will share your kindness and dedication in a secure, comfortable, and supportive environment for those going through detox. Contribute to clients' recoveries by demonstrating great communication, problem-solving, and client-focused care.
Position Perks & Benefits:
- Competitive wages
- Paid time off - 29 days per year including vacation & holiday pay
- Ongoing, comprehensive, and supportive training
- Room for career advancement - promotion opportunities available
- Friendly, encouraging, and supportive workplace culture
- Mileage reimbursement - company pays for work-related travels
Key Responsibilities:
- Assess, admit, supervise, monitor, transfer, and discharge social setting detox clients.
- Ensure monitoring of vital signs, signs and symptoms of withdrawal, and possess knowledge to determine need for medical assistance for all social setting detox clients.
- Provide a safe, therapeutic and supportive environment for clients participating in ADA/Social Setting Detox.
- Provide general monitoring of clients, treating each with respect and dignity at all times, and modeling appropriate behaviors.
- Foster adaptive behavior in clients by encouraging positive social interaction and role-modeling a problem solving approach to issues of concern.
- Responsible for conducting and recording medical protocols, as requested.
- Assist ADA/Social Setting Detox clients with daily living skills such as laundry, chores, and personal hygiene.
- Responsible for maintaining facility cleanliness by completing designated facility tasks.
- Dispense medications to ADA/Social Setting Detox clients (per physician’s orders) as requested and training permits.
- Prepare paperwork and obtain specimens for random drug testing urinalyses for ADA/Social Setting Detox clients.
- Provide client education classes regarding drug education and life skills as requested and training permits.
- Observe, record and communicate clients’ behaviors, strengths, progress, areas of difficulty and needs in a timely manner, utilizing established mechanisms and program formats.
- Provide transportation of clients to/from program activities, as needed.
- If stationed at Youth Facility: Provide for safety during all outdoor experiences, including backpacking and camping excursions for adolescent clients.
Education and/or Experience Qualifications:
- Must be at least 21 years old
- High School Diploma or Equivalent
- Prior experience in Human Services or related fields advantageous
Brightli is on a Mission:
A mission to improve client care, lessen the financial toll on community mental health centers by pooling resources, expand our presence in advocacy to broaden access to mental health and substance use care in our communities, and innovate the behavioral health industry to cater better to our clients' varying preferences.
As a behavioral and community mental health provider, we prioritize fostering a culture of belonging and connection within our workforce. We encourage applications from individuals with varied backgrounds and experiences, as we believe that a rich tapestry of perspectives strengthens our mission. If you are passionate about empowering local communities and creating an environment where everyone feels valued and supported, we invite you to join our mission-driven organization dedicated to cultivating an authentic workplace.
We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
Burrell Behavioral Health is a Smoke and Tobacco Free Workplace.
Job Title: Behavioral Health Technician I
Location: Columbia, Missouri
Department: Addiction Treatment
Employment Type: Full-Time (Overnights)
Job Summary:
Would you like to start a fulfilling career helping people overcome addiction? Become a Substance Use Disorder Technician with Burrell in Columbia, MO! You can find a bright future filled with growth and satisfaction while saving lives! As a SUD Tech, you will share your kindness and dedication in a secure, comfortable, and supportive environment for those going through detox. Contribute to clients' recoveries by demonstrating great communication, problem-solving, and client-focused care.
Position Perks & Benefits:
- Competitive wages
- Paid time off - 29 days per year including vacation & holiday pay
- Ongoing, comprehensive, and supportive training
- Room for career advancement - promotion opportunities available
- Friendly, encouraging, and supportive workplace culture
- Mileage reimbursement - company pays for work-related travels
Key Responsibilities:
- Assess, admit, supervise, monitor, transfer, and discharge social setting detox clients.
- Ensure monitoring of vital signs, signs and symptoms of withdrawal, and possess knowledge to determine need for medical assistance for all social setting detox clients.
- Provide a safe, therapeutic and supportive environment for clients participating in ADA/Social Setting Detox.
- Provide general monitoring of clients, treating each with respect and dignity at all times, and modeling appropriate behaviors.
- Foster adaptive behavior in clients by encouraging positive social interaction and role-modeling a problem solving approach to issues of concern.
- Responsible for conducting and recording medical protocols, as requested.
- Assist ADA/Social Setting Detox clients with daily living skills such as laundry, chores, and personal hygiene.
- Responsible for maintaining facility cleanliness by completing designated facility tasks.
- Dispense medications to ADA/Social Setting Detox clients (per physician’s orders) as requested and training permits.
- Prepare paperwork and obtain specimens for random drug testing urinalyses for ADA/Social Setting Detox clients.
- Provide client education classes regarding drug education and life skills as requested and training permits.
- Observe, record and communicate clients’ behaviors, strengths, progress, areas of difficulty and needs in a timely manner, utilizing established mechanisms and program formats.
- Provide transportation of clients to/from program activities, as needed.
- If stationed at Youth Facility: Provide for safety during all outdoor experiences, including backpacking and camping excursions for adolescent clients.
Education and/or Experience Qualifications:
- Must be at least 21 years old
- High School Diploma or Equivalent
- Prior experience in Human Services or related fields advantageous
Brightli is on a Mission:
A mission to improve client care, lessen the financial toll on community mental health centers by pooling resources, expand our presence in advocacy to broaden access to mental health and substance use care in our communities, and innovate the behavioral health industry to cater better to our clients' varying preferences.
As a behavioral and community mental health provider, we prioritize fostering a culture of belonging and connection within our workforce. We encourage applications from individuals with varied backgrounds and experiences, as we believe that a rich tapestry of perspectives strengthens our mission. If you are passionate about empowering local communities and creating an environment where everyone feels valued and supported, we invite you to join our mission-driven organization dedicated to cultivating an authentic workplace.
We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
Burrell Behavioral Health is a Smoke and Tobacco Free Workplace.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Behavioral Health Technician
Confirm your degree field qualifies for STEM OPT
Behavioral Health Technician roles may qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension if your degree is in psychology, neuroscience, or a related CIP-coded field. Verify your degree's CIP code with your DSO before applying to roles requiring longer authorization.
Target employers with existing OPT or H-1B sponsorship history
Large hospital networks, behavioral health systems, and government-contracted mental health agencies are more likely to have HR teams familiar with OPT work authorization. Smaller private practices often lack the infrastructure to support international student employees on OPT.
Get your CPR and first aid certifications before you apply
Most Behavioral Health Technician postings require current CPR and Basic Life Support certification before the hire date. Completing these before interviews removes a common hiring barrier and signals you're ready to start without delays tied to your OPT timeline.
Be upfront about your OPT end date early in the process
Employers in behavioral health plan staffing around patient continuity of care. Disclosing your OPT expiration date early helps hiring managers determine whether they can sponsor a visa extension before a care disruption occurs, making you a lower-risk hire overall.
Highlight clinical hours and any relevant fieldwork in your application
Behavioral health employers prioritize documented hands-on experience over academic credentials alone. Quantify your practicum hours, crisis intervention training, or any supervised clinical work. Concrete numbers give hiring managers confidence that you can contribute from day one.
Apply to roles where your degree field directly matches the job
Your OPT employment must be directly related to your field of study. A psychology or social work degree maps cleanly to Behavioral Health Technician roles. Document that connection clearly in your cover letter to satisfy both your DSO and your employer's HR team.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Behavioral Health Technician on F-1 OPT?
Yes, if the role is directly related to your field of study. Degrees in psychology, social work, counseling, neuroscience, or a related behavioral science field satisfy the OPT employment requirement for Behavioral Health Technician positions. Your DSO will need to verify that connection before you begin work, so document how your coursework aligns with the clinical responsibilities of the role.
Do Behavioral Health Technician jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree's CIP code, not the job title itself. If your degree in psychology or neuroscience carries a qualifying STEM CIP code, you may be eligible for the 24-month extension. Many behavioral science degrees do qualify, but not all. Check your I-20 and confirm your CIP code with your DSO before counting on an extension.
Will employers in behavioral health sponsor my visa after OPT ends?
Large hospital systems, behavioral health networks, and government-contracted mental health agencies are the most likely sponsors. Smaller outpatient clinics and private practices rarely have the HR infrastructure for visa sponsorship. When browsing Behavioral Health Technician opportunities, Migrate Mate filters for employers with a documented sponsorship history, which saves time and focuses your search on realistic options.
What documentation do I need to start a Behavioral Health Technician job on OPT?
You'll need your EAD card, a valid passport, your I-20 with the OPT authorization page, and your I-94 record. Most behavioral health employers also require CPR and Basic Life Support certification, a background check, and a drug screening before your start date. Have all documents ready before your offer is finalized so nothing delays your authorization paperwork with HR.
How do I find Behavioral Health Technician jobs that accept OPT students?
Standard job boards don't filter for OPT-friendly employers, which means you often can't tell whether a posting will reject you based on work authorization until late in the process. Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and surfaces Behavioral Health Technician roles at employers who have sponsored international workers before, so you're not guessing about eligibility before you apply.
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