OPT Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner Jobs
Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner jobs on OPT require active state licensure and DEA registration, which can take months to secure after graduation. Most CRNP roles qualify as STEM-adjacent under the healthcare sciences track, and many hospital systems and federally qualified health centers sponsor H-1B visa and O-1 visas for high-performing OPT employees.
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CoxHealth South: 3801 S National Ave, Springfield, Missouri, United States of America, 65807
Department:
1248 Post Acute Care SGF
Scheduled Weekly Hours:
40
Hours:
7AM - 7 PM
Work Shift:
Day Shift (United States of America)
CoxHealth is a leading healthcare system serving 25 counties across southwest Missouri and northern Arkansas. The organization includes six hospitals, 5 ERs, and over 80 clinics. CoxHealth has earned the following honors for workplace excellence:
- Named one of Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to work five times.
- Named one of America’s Greatest Workplaces, Greatest Workplaces in Healthcare (2025, 2026), Greatest Workplaces for Women (2023, 2024), and Greatest Workplaces for Diversity (2024) by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group.
- Acknowledged by Forbes as one of the Best Employers for New Grads.
- Healthcare Innovation's Top Companies to Work for in Healthcare (2025).
Benefits
- Medical, Vision, Dental, Retirement with Employer Match and more (20+ hrs/week)
- For a comprehensive list of benefits, please click here: Benefits | CoxHealth
Job Description:
The Nurse Practitioner works in collaboration with a physician for assistance in clinical decision-making, case management and evaluation of performance. The Nurse Practitioner provides advanced nursing care and treatment to patients and performs physical examinations; orders diagnostic tests, develops treatment plans and prescribes drugs or other therapies. The Nurse Practitioner may also plan, direct, or coordinate medicine and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations.
Education:
Masters of Science in Nursing
Experience:
Required: No Prior Experience Required
Preferred: 1-2 years
Skills:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Able to work independently and collaboratively in teams
- Proficient computer skills
Licensure/Certification/Registration:
Required: MO Nurse Practitioner license
Successful completion of all department specific credentialing within first 90 days of employment
Facility:
CoxHealth South: 3801 S National Ave, Springfield, Missouri, United States of America, 65807
Department:
1248 Post Acute Care SGF
Scheduled Weekly Hours:
40
Hours:
7AM - 7 PM
Work Shift:
Day Shift (United States of America)
CoxHealth is a leading healthcare system serving 25 counties across southwest Missouri and northern Arkansas. The organization includes six hospitals, 5 ERs, and over 80 clinics. CoxHealth has earned the following honors for workplace excellence:
- Named one of Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to work five times.
- Named one of America’s Greatest Workplaces, Greatest Workplaces in Healthcare (2025, 2026), Greatest Workplaces for Women (2023, 2024), and Greatest Workplaces for Diversity (2024) by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group.
- Acknowledged by Forbes as one of the Best Employers for New Grads.
- Healthcare Innovation's Top Companies to Work for in Healthcare (2025).
Benefits
- Medical, Vision, Dental, Retirement with Employer Match and more (20+ hrs/week)
- For a comprehensive list of benefits, please click here: Benefits | CoxHealth
Job Description:
The Nurse Practitioner works in collaboration with a physician for assistance in clinical decision-making, case management and evaluation of performance. The Nurse Practitioner provides advanced nursing care and treatment to patients and performs physical examinations; orders diagnostic tests, develops treatment plans and prescribes drugs or other therapies. The Nurse Practitioner may also plan, direct, or coordinate medicine and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations.
Education:
Masters of Science in Nursing
Experience:
Required: No Prior Experience Required
Preferred: 1-2 years
Skills:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Able to work independently and collaboratively in teams
- Proficient computer skills
Licensure/Certification/Registration:
Required: MO Nurse Practitioner license
Successful completion of all department specific credentialing within first 90 days of employment
See all 167+ OPT Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner
Secure your state license before OPT starts
State CRNP licensure can take two to four months after passing ANCC or AANP boards. Apply immediately after graduation so your license is active when your OPT employment authorization begins, avoiding gaps that could affect your status.
Target federally qualified health centers and VA facilities
FQHCs and VA medical centers have established immigration compliance teams and regularly sponsor international practitioners on H-1B visas. They also offer National Health Service Corps loan repayment, which can offset the cost of pursuing a specialty certification.
Confirm your specialty qualifies as a specialty occupation
Psychiatric, acute care, and neonatal NP roles have a clear degree-to-practice link that satisfies USCIS specialty occupation standards. General practice roles can be less clear-cut, so confirm the job description explicitly requires an MSN or DNP before accepting.
Get your DEA registration and NPI number early
Employers treat DEA registration and an active NPI as hiring prerequisites, not onboarding tasks. Apply for both during your final semester. Missing either credential delays your start date and compresses your usable OPT employment window significantly.
Document your clinical hours for future visa petitions
Keep detailed records of patient volume, procedures performed, and specialty areas during OPT employment. USCIS officers reviewing H-1B or O-1 petitions for NPs scrutinize clinical experience closely, and contemporaneous records are far stronger evidence than reconstructed summaries.
Ask about sponsorship timelines during the first interview
H-1B cap registration opens in March for an October start. If your OPT ends before October, you need an employer willing to file a cap-exempt petition or bridge the gap with a grace period plan. Ask directly how they have handled this for past international hires.
Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner on OPT?
Yes, CRNP roles qualify for OPT work authorization as long as the position is directly related to your degree field, typically nursing, advanced practice nursing, or a clinical health sciences program. You must hold an active state CRNP license before starting work. OPT does not authorize you to practice without the required state credential, so licensure timing is critical.
Do CRNP jobs qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension?
Most CRNP positions do not qualify for STEM OPT because nursing degrees are not on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program list. However, if your degree was in a qualifying field such as clinical informatics, health informatics, or biological sciences, and the CRNP role fits that degree, you may be eligible. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO before assuming eligibility.
Which employers sponsor H-1B visas for nurse practitioners?
Hospital systems, academic medical centers, federally qualified health centers, and Veterans Affairs facilities are the most consistent H-1B sponsors for NPs. Large systems such as those affiliated with major university hospitals tend to have in-house immigration counsel and established sponsorship workflows. You can browse CRNP roles at sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate, which surfaces OPT-friendly and visa-sponsoring positions specifically.
How does the H-1B cap affect CRNP OPT holders?
The H-1B cap means only 85,000 new petitions are approved each fiscal year through a lottery, with results in March and employment starting October 1. If your OPT expires before October 1 of your lottery year, you will have a gap in work authorization unless your employer files a cap-exempt petition or you qualify for a different status. Planning the transition at least 12 months in advance gives you the most options.
Can I change CRNP employers during OPT?
Yes, but you must report the change to your DSO within 10 days and update your SEVIS record. Your new role must still be directly related to your degree field. There is no gap period allowed between jobs if you are on standard OPT. Before switching, verify your new employer understands OPT reporting requirements and is willing to complete the necessary verification steps promptly.