Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner Jobs for OPT Students
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 and O-1 visas for high-performing OPT employees.
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Get Access To All JobsCertified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP)
Location: McClure, Snyder County, PA, USA
Status: Full-Time or Part-Time
Compensation: Salary + Comprehensive Benefits Package (Full-Time)
Journey Health Systems and Deerfield Behavioral Heath are looking for a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner who is responsible for working with the Executive Director and/or Medical Director and the collaborating psychiatrist in the delivery of nursing care and overseeing all health concerns within the assigned programs.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
- Be a graduate of an Accredited Advance Practice Nursing Program,
- Certification from the ANCC as a Pennsylvania Mental Health Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified (PMHNP-BC)
- Have a current, unrestricted RN license in the state of Pennsylvania, including prescriptive authority
- Minimum of one year of prior experience required, experience with adult mental health, IDD populations strongly preferred.
Benefits:
- Excellent Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, Personal Days
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance
- Flexible Spending Account
- Long Term Disability
- Pet Insurance
- Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program (if you are eligible)
- Free Parking
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- And More!
Deerfield Behavioral Health, an affiliate of Journey Health System, provides positive changes in children's and adults' lives. Deerfield employs a full spectrum of clinical experts including Psychiatrists, Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners (CRNPs), Physician Assistants, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Professional Counselors and support staff.
We offer a unique blend of diagnostic, therapeutic, and contract behavioral health services, including: Outpatient mental health therapy for individuals, couples & families, Outpatient D&A Abuse treatments, Psychiatric medication management & therapy, Psychiatric contracting services with psychiatric hospitals, outpatient clinics, specialized residences, health centers & skilled nursing facilities.
Deerfield Behavioral Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.
Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP)
Location: McClure, Snyder County, PA, USA
Status: Full-Time or Part-Time
Compensation: Salary + Comprehensive Benefits Package (Full-Time)
Journey Health Systems and Deerfield Behavioral Heath are looking for a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner who is responsible for working with the Executive Director and/or Medical Director and the collaborating psychiatrist in the delivery of nursing care and overseeing all health concerns within the assigned programs.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
- Be a graduate of an Accredited Advance Practice Nursing Program,
- Certification from the ANCC as a Pennsylvania Mental Health Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified (PMHNP-BC)
- Have a current, unrestricted RN license in the state of Pennsylvania, including prescriptive authority
- Minimum of one year of prior experience required, experience with adult mental health, IDD populations strongly preferred.
Benefits:
- Excellent Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, Personal Days
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance
- Flexible Spending Account
- Long Term Disability
- Pet Insurance
- Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program (if you are eligible)
- Free Parking
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- And More!
Deerfield Behavioral Health, an affiliate of Journey Health System, provides positive changes in children's and adults' lives. Deerfield employs a full spectrum of clinical experts including Psychiatrists, Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners (CRNPs), Physician Assistants, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Professional Counselors and support staff.
We offer a unique blend of diagnostic, therapeutic, and contract behavioral health services, including: Outpatient mental health therapy for individuals, couples & families, Outpatient D&A Abuse treatments, Psychiatric medication management & therapy, Psychiatric contracting services with psychiatric hospitals, outpatient clinics, specialized residences, health centers & skilled nursing facilities.
Deerfield Behavioral Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.
How to Get Visa 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.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently 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.
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