OPT Clinical Counselor Jobs
Clinical Counselor roles on OPT require active licensure or supervised hours under a licensed supervisor, which affects how employers structure your position. Most F-1 OPT students work toward LMHC, LPC, or LCSW credentials during this period. STEM OPT extension is not available for this SOC code, so your 12-month window is firm.
See All OPT Clinical Counselor JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 48+ Clinical Counselor jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 48+ Clinical Counselor Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Clinical Counselor roles.
Get Access To All JobsJOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Psychosocial Assessment: Performs psychosocial assessments taking into consideration family, social, and medical history. Maintains current knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses. Report suspicions of abuse and neglect to legally mandated authorities for investigations. Completes documentation with accuracy and clarity.
Resource Support: Collaboration with the health care team in the development of a treatment plan and assisting in the identification of appropriate resources to support the interventions. Collaboration with patient/family/caregivers to identify appropriate resources to support the needed interventions. Maintain fluent knowledge of internal and external resources. Provide real time accurate information to patient/family/caregiver for resources for which they are eligible. Provide condition-specific and related medical, financial, educational, and social supportive resource information. Evaluates effectiveness of clinical interventions and make changes as needed.
Psychosocial Interventions: Provide psychosocial services as identified in the patient's comprehensive plan of care. Provides supportive counseling with the goal of improving emotional coping and adherence to the treatment plan. Education of the patient/family/caregiver and members of the health care team about treatment options. Provide self-management support to high risk/complex patients/families to increase their skills and confidence to manage their chronic care conditions at home. Provide groups and programs for special populations as needed. Provide anticipatory guidance and planning to reduce or eliminate psychosocial barriers to discharge. Coordinate and facilitate family centered care team meetings. Provide crisis assessment and interventions to patients/families/caregivers with the goal of restoring equilibrium. Collaborate with referral sources and health care team members.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Working for system improvement, promoting patient/family/caregiver well-being. Identify and advocate for the needs of the patient/families/caregivers within the healthcare system and community. Act as a liaison between the patient/family/caregiver within the medical team and outside agencies. Act as the mediator as needed within the medical team on behalf of the patient/family/caregiver. Empower the patient/family/caregiver to problem-solve by exploring options of care when available and alternative plans, when necessary, to achieve desired outcomes. Facilitate communication and coordination between members of the health care team while involving the patient/family/caregiver in the decision making process in order to minimize fragmentation of services.
Collaboration: Partner with the patient, family, healthcare team in the safe transition of care to the next, most appropriate level. Educates health care professionals and or students on the psychosocial aspects of patient care and the role and function of social work. Promotes a positive work environment. Participates in professional growth opportunities. Attend divisional, team, institution meetings/conferences, and in-service programs to develop skills.
JOB QUALIFICATIONS
Master's degree in Clinical Counseling or Social Work
2+ years of work experience in a related job discipline
LPCC or LISW License in the state of Ohio
May require clinical license, certification or training
Location: Primary Location Location E
Schedule: Full time
Shift: Day (United States of America)
Department: Psych Intake Response Ctr
Employee Status: Regular
FTE: 0.8
Weekly Hours: 32
About us
At Cincinnati Children’s, we come to work with one goal: to make children’s health better. We believe in a holistic team approach, both in caring for patients and their families, and in advancing science and discovery. We strive to do better and find energy and inspiration in our shared purpose. If you want to be the best you can be, you can do it at Cincinnati Children’s.
Cincinnati Children's is:
- Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 10 best Children's Hospitals in the nation for more than 15 years
- Consistently among the top 3 Children's Hospitals for National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding
- Recognized as one of America’s Best Large Employers (2025), America’s Best Employers for New Grads (2025)
- One of the nation's America’s Most Innovative Companies as noted by Fortune
- Consistently certified as great place to work
- A Leading Disability Employer as noted by the National Organization on Disability
- Magnet® designated for the fourth consecutive time by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
We Embrace Innovation—Together. We believe in empowering our teams with the tools that help us work smarter and care better. That’s why we support the responsible use of artificial intelligence. By encouraging innovation, we’re creating space for new ideas, better outcomes, and a stronger future—for all of us.
Comprehensive job description provided upon request.
Cincinnati Children’s is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an environment of dignity and respect for all our employees, patients, and families. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, genetic information, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. EEO/Veteran/Disability
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Psychosocial Assessment: Performs psychosocial assessments taking into consideration family, social, and medical history. Maintains current knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses. Report suspicions of abuse and neglect to legally mandated authorities for investigations. Completes documentation with accuracy and clarity.
Resource Support: Collaboration with the health care team in the development of a treatment plan and assisting in the identification of appropriate resources to support the interventions. Collaboration with patient/family/caregivers to identify appropriate resources to support the needed interventions. Maintain fluent knowledge of internal and external resources. Provide real time accurate information to patient/family/caregiver for resources for which they are eligible. Provide condition-specific and related medical, financial, educational, and social supportive resource information. Evaluates effectiveness of clinical interventions and make changes as needed.
Psychosocial Interventions: Provide psychosocial services as identified in the patient's comprehensive plan of care. Provides supportive counseling with the goal of improving emotional coping and adherence to the treatment plan. Education of the patient/family/caregiver and members of the health care team about treatment options. Provide self-management support to high risk/complex patients/families to increase their skills and confidence to manage their chronic care conditions at home. Provide groups and programs for special populations as needed. Provide anticipatory guidance and planning to reduce or eliminate psychosocial barriers to discharge. Coordinate and facilitate family centered care team meetings. Provide crisis assessment and interventions to patients/families/caregivers with the goal of restoring equilibrium. Collaborate with referral sources and health care team members.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Working for system improvement, promoting patient/family/caregiver well-being. Identify and advocate for the needs of the patient/families/caregivers within the healthcare system and community. Act as a liaison between the patient/family/caregiver within the medical team and outside agencies. Act as the mediator as needed within the medical team on behalf of the patient/family/caregiver. Empower the patient/family/caregiver to problem-solve by exploring options of care when available and alternative plans, when necessary, to achieve desired outcomes. Facilitate communication and coordination between members of the health care team while involving the patient/family/caregiver in the decision making process in order to minimize fragmentation of services.
Collaboration: Partner with the patient, family, healthcare team in the safe transition of care to the next, most appropriate level. Educates health care professionals and or students on the psychosocial aspects of patient care and the role and function of social work. Promotes a positive work environment. Participates in professional growth opportunities. Attend divisional, team, institution meetings/conferences, and in-service programs to develop skills.
JOB QUALIFICATIONS
Master's degree in Clinical Counseling or Social Work
2+ years of work experience in a related job discipline
LPCC or LISW License in the state of Ohio
May require clinical license, certification or training
Location: Primary Location Location E
Schedule: Full time
Shift: Day (United States of America)
Department: Psych Intake Response Ctr
Employee Status: Regular
FTE: 0.8
Weekly Hours: 32
About us
At Cincinnati Children’s, we come to work with one goal: to make children’s health better. We believe in a holistic team approach, both in caring for patients and their families, and in advancing science and discovery. We strive to do better and find energy and inspiration in our shared purpose. If you want to be the best you can be, you can do it at Cincinnati Children’s.
Cincinnati Children's is:
- Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 10 best Children's Hospitals in the nation for more than 15 years
- Consistently among the top 3 Children's Hospitals for National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding
- Recognized as one of America’s Best Large Employers (2025), America’s Best Employers for New Grads (2025)
- One of the nation's America’s Most Innovative Companies as noted by Fortune
- Consistently certified as great place to work
- A Leading Disability Employer as noted by the National Organization on Disability
- Magnet® designated for the fourth consecutive time by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
We Embrace Innovation—Together. We believe in empowering our teams with the tools that help us work smarter and care better. That’s why we support the responsible use of artificial intelligence. By encouraging innovation, we’re creating space for new ideas, better outcomes, and a stronger future—for all of us.
Comprehensive job description provided upon request.
Cincinnati Children’s is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an environment of dignity and respect for all our employees, patients, and families. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, genetic information, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. EEO/Veteran/Disability
See all 48+ OPT Clinical Counselor Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Clinical Counselor Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Clinical Counselor
Lead with your supervised hours status
Employers in clinical settings want to know exactly where you are in your licensure process. State upfront how many supervised hours you have completed and how many remain. This removes ambiguity and positions you as a serious candidate.
Target community mental health centers early
Community mental health centers and nonprofits have more experience supervising pre-licensed clinicians and often have established OPT hiring pipelines. They are more likely to provide the structured supervision your licensure requires and to consider H-1B visa sponsorship afterward.
Confirm your OPT dates are on your resume
Include your OPT authorization period and EAD card expiration date on your resume or cover letter. Clinical employers run background and credentialing checks early, so surfacing your work authorization timeline upfront prevents delays in the hiring process.
Clarify the H-1B specialty occupation fit in interviews
Clinical Counselor roles typically qualify as H-1B specialty occupations because they require a master's degree in a specific field. Raise this proactively with employers so they understand sponsorship is legally straightforward, not a complex or unusual request.
Check state licensure requirements before applying
Licensure rules vary significantly by state and affect what clinical tasks you can perform under OPT. Some states restrict pre-licensed clinicians from billing insurance independently. Understanding your state's scope-of-practice rules helps you target roles where you can actually function.
Ask about supervision structure during the interview
Clinical positions with built-in licensed supervision are far more valuable during OPT than independent contractor roles. Ask directly whether a licensed supervisor is on staff and whether the role counts toward your licensure hours before accepting any offer.
Clinical Counselor OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Clinical Counselor role qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes, Clinical Counselor positions qualify for OPT as long as the role is directly related to your field of study, typically counseling, psychology, social work, or a related mental health discipline. Your employer does not need to file anything with USCIS during your OPT period. You work on the strength of your EAD card and your valid F-1 status.
Can I work as a Clinical Counselor on OPT without a full license?
Yes, but the scope of what you can do depends on your state. Most states allow pre-licensed counselors to provide clinical services under the supervision of a fully licensed professional. Your OPT authorization covers the work itself, but state licensing boards govern what services you can deliver. Confirm your state's supervised practice rules before accepting a role.
Is the STEM OPT extension available for Clinical Counselor jobs?
No. Clinical Counselor positions fall under SOC codes that are not on the STEM Designated Degree Program list maintained by the Department of Homeland Security. Your OPT window is 12 months. If you want to continue working in the U.S. after OPT ends, you will need an employer to sponsor you for an H-1B or another visa category before your authorization expires.
How do I find Clinical Counselor employers who are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT and visa-sponsored job seekers, so you can browse Clinical Counselor openings from employers who have indicated sponsorship willingness. Community mental health centers, hospital systems, and university counseling centers are among the most active hirers of OPT candidates in this field, both for the position itself and for subsequent H-1B sponsorship.
Does a Clinical Counselor job qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B sponsorship after OPT?
Generally yes. USCIS has consistently recognized clinical counseling as a specialty occupation because the role normally requires at minimum a master's degree in counseling, psychology, or social work. That degree-to-job-duties connection is exactly what the specialty occupation standard requires. Your employer will need to document the degree requirement clearly in the H-1B petition, which most clinical settings can do without difficulty.