OPT Behavioral Health Technician Jobs
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.
Find OPT Behavioral Health Technician JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 7,116+ Behavioral Health Technician jobs
See all 7,116+ Behavioral Health Technician Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Behavioral Health Technician roles.
Get Access To All JobsDepartment:
36612 High Point Medical Center - Behavioral Health
Status:
Part time
Benefits Eligible:
No
Hours Per Week:
0
Schedule Details/Additional Information:
This is a PRN position so schedule is variable
Pay Range:
$30.70 - $46.05
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:
Masters of Social Work, Counseling, or Marriage and Family Therapy Required
LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION, and/or REGISTRATION:
Licensed in Social Work or Counseling
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Patient Assessment
- Completes and documents an accurate clinical assessment which concludes with the identification of key findings that support the need for treatment and the level of care placement.
- Quickly assesses patient's needs, verbally confirms these, and clearly communicates benefits of appropriate treatment program.
- Determines the severity of the patient's psychosocial stressors and level of functioning by utilizing GAF Scales.
- Responds quickly and with empathy to all assessments or requests for program/treatment information.
- Determines when to consult with a physician/psychiatrist re: the assessment findings and disposition.
Patient Family Focus
- Involves family members by providing education regarding treatment and aftercare support including intervention assistance through appropriate referrals.
- Works with family members in ways that help them recognize their own dynamics of co-dependency and denial which contribute to enabling/exacerbating the patient's drinking/using behaviors/psychiatric symptoms.
- Obtains a family history from a family member which corroborates the patient's substance abuse history/psychiatric symptoms and identifies the family member's own recovery needs.
Patient Admissions
- Facilitates each admission by obtaining the physician's authorization according to the physician assignment procedure. Completes all pre-admission financial/insurance verifications in accordance with Hospital Admitting Department policies and procedures.
- Determines financial viability for treatment with the assistance of the admissions personnel. Maintains knowledge of hospital payment policies and practice to include third party payor reimbursement practices, Medicaid, and Medicare reimbursement requirements.
Communication
Consistently provides direction and information to patients, physicians, families, visitors and staff in a concise, informative, positive and courteous manner.
Customer Focus
- Ensures excellent customer service to patients including excellent communication, treating them in a caring manner, being timely regarding treatment and being professional in their care.
- Consistently demonstrates behaviors that meet or exceed hospital's standards when interacting with customers. Establishes and maintains a therapeutic relationship with patients/family members.
Teamwork
- Promotes a positive work environment with co-workers and other customers.
- Attends and participates in required department and hospital meetings and in-services.
- Makes efficacious referrals to community resources for ongoing treatment of patients and family members.
Professionalism
- Upholds a professional working relationship at all times and adheres to department rules.
- Practices teamwork and adheres to Standards of Behavior.
SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS:
- Excellent decision making skills
- Good judgement
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to quickly assess patient's needs and verbally confirm these
- Capable of communicating clearly the benefits of appropriate treatment programs required.
- Knowledge of developmental stages of people from age six years to greater than 65 years preferred.
- Broad knowledge base of DSM IV diagnoses and treatment modalities required.
- Computer skills preferred.
Our Commitment to You:
Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including:
Compensation
- Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training
- Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job
- Incentive pay for select positions
- Opportunity for annual increases based on performance
Benefits and more
- Paid Time Off programs
- Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
- Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
- Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave
- Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
- Educational Assistance Program
Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview.
About Advocate Health
Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.
Provides assessments for patients suffering from chemical dependency and/or psychiatric illness. Document patients' clinical needs and interventions. Participates in the Interdisciplinary Team. Provides individual/family or group counseling, assessment, intervention, and documentation of the clinical needs of Behavioral Health patients. Coordinates hospital discharges and patient aftercare plans.
Department:
36612 High Point Medical Center - Behavioral Health
Status:
Part time
Benefits Eligible:
No
Hours Per Week:
0
Schedule Details/Additional Information:
This is a PRN position so schedule is variable
Pay Range:
$30.70 - $46.05
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:
Masters of Social Work, Counseling, or Marriage and Family Therapy Required
LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION, and/or REGISTRATION:
Licensed in Social Work or Counseling
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Patient Assessment
- Completes and documents an accurate clinical assessment which concludes with the identification of key findings that support the need for treatment and the level of care placement.
- Quickly assesses patient's needs, verbally confirms these, and clearly communicates benefits of appropriate treatment program.
- Determines the severity of the patient's psychosocial stressors and level of functioning by utilizing GAF Scales.
- Responds quickly and with empathy to all assessments or requests for program/treatment information.
- Determines when to consult with a physician/psychiatrist re: the assessment findings and disposition.
Patient Family Focus
- Involves family members by providing education regarding treatment and aftercare support including intervention assistance through appropriate referrals.
- Works with family members in ways that help them recognize their own dynamics of co-dependency and denial which contribute to enabling/exacerbating the patient's drinking/using behaviors/psychiatric symptoms.
- Obtains a family history from a family member which corroborates the patient's substance abuse history/psychiatric symptoms and identifies the family member's own recovery needs.
Patient Admissions
- Facilitates each admission by obtaining the physician's authorization according to the physician assignment procedure. Completes all pre-admission financial/insurance verifications in accordance with Hospital Admitting Department policies and procedures.
- Determines financial viability for treatment with the assistance of the admissions personnel. Maintains knowledge of hospital payment policies and practice to include third party payor reimbursement practices, Medicaid, and Medicare reimbursement requirements.
Communication
Consistently provides direction and information to patients, physicians, families, visitors and staff in a concise, informative, positive and courteous manner.
Customer Focus
- Ensures excellent customer service to patients including excellent communication, treating them in a caring manner, being timely regarding treatment and being professional in their care.
- Consistently demonstrates behaviors that meet or exceed hospital's standards when interacting with customers. Establishes and maintains a therapeutic relationship with patients/family members.
Teamwork
- Promotes a positive work environment with co-workers and other customers.
- Attends and participates in required department and hospital meetings and in-services.
- Makes efficacious referrals to community resources for ongoing treatment of patients and family members.
Professionalism
- Upholds a professional working relationship at all times and adheres to department rules.
- Practices teamwork and adheres to Standards of Behavior.
SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS:
- Excellent decision making skills
- Good judgement
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to quickly assess patient's needs and verbally confirm these
- Capable of communicating clearly the benefits of appropriate treatment programs required.
- Knowledge of developmental stages of people from age six years to greater than 65 years preferred.
- Broad knowledge base of DSM IV diagnoses and treatment modalities required.
- Computer skills preferred.
Our Commitment to You:
Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including:
Compensation
- Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training
- Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job
- Incentive pay for select positions
- Opportunity for annual increases based on performance
Benefits and more
- Paid Time Off programs
- Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
- Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
- Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave
- Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
- Educational Assistance Program
Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview.
About Advocate Health
Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.
Provides assessments for patients suffering from chemical dependency and/or psychiatric illness. Document patients' clinical needs and interventions. Participates in the Interdisciplinary Team. Provides individual/family or group counseling, assessment, intervention, and documentation of the clinical needs of Behavioral Health patients. Coordinates hospital discharges and patient aftercare plans.
See all 7,116+ OPT Behavioral Health Technician Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Behavioral Health Technician Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT 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.
Behavioral Health Technician OPT: Frequently 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.