OPT Clinical Social Work Jobs
Clinical Social Work OPT jobs are a strong fit for F-1 students with a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, since most licensed positions require graduate-level training. Your 12-month OPT window, or 36 months with a STEM extension, gives you time to pursue licensure hours while gaining supervised clinical experience.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Are you passionate about the patient experience? At HCA Healthcare, we are committed to caring for patients with purpose and integrity. We care like family! Jump-start your career as a(an) Supervisor Social Services today with St. David's Medical Center.
JOB SUMMARY AND QUALIFICATIONS
As the Social Work Supervisor, you will serve as assistant to the Director of Case Management in the supervision and evaluation of social work staff, the planning and implementation of social work policies and procedures and maintenance of on-call staff schedule. You will provide direct social work services to a defined population and coordinate coverage of patient social, emotional, and environmental needs in other areas of the hospital as needed.
- You will assist in the hiring, training, and orientation of full-time and PRN staff as well as provide supervision and evaluation of Social Work staff
- You will perform complex discharge planning facilitation for designated patient population
- You will provide patient/family counseling, discharge planning, community resource/long range planning and crisis intervention by referral
- You will evaluate psychosocial needs of patients/families
- You will coordinate reporting and standards of practice review for Social Work services
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Minimum four years of active social work experience, including one year in a health care facility
- Master’s Degree in Social Work
- Licensure by the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners at the LMSW level
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) - preferred
BENEFITS
St. David's Medical Center offers a total rewards package that supports the health, life, career and retirement of our colleagues. The available plans and programs include:
- Comprehensive benefits for medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, behavioral health and telemedicine services
- Wellbeing support, including free counseling and referral services
- Time away from work programs for paid time off, paid family leave, long- and short-term disability coverage and leaves of absence
- Savings and retirement resources, including a 401(k) Plan with a 100% match on 3% to 9% of pay (based on years of service), Employee Stock Purchase Plan, flexible spending accounts, preferred banking partnerships, retirement readiness tools, rollover support and financial wellbeing counseling
- Education support through tuition assistance, student loan assistance, certification support, dependent scholarships and a partnership with Galen College of Nursing
- Additional benefits for fertility and family building, adoption assistance, life insurance, supplemental health protection plans, auto and home insurance, legal counseling, identity theft protection and consumer discounts
Learn more about Employee Benefits
Note: Eligibility for benefits may vary by location.
St. David’s Medical Center, part of St. David’s HealthCare, is a comprehensive medical facility with three locations: St. David’s Medical Center, Heart Hospital of Austin, and St. David’s Georgetown Hospital. Located in Central Austin, St. David’s Medical Center features a 371-bed acute care hospital and a 64-bed rehabilitation hospital, offering a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services.
The hospital provides a full spectrum of women's services, including a renowned Level IV maternity unit, maternal-fetal medicine, and a high-risk maternal and neonatal transport team. It also boasts the region’s largest Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and offers outpatient breast imaging services through Solis Mammography, which is situated on-site. Additionally, the facility includes a 24-hour emergency department and a comprehensive stroke center.
St. David’s Medical Center specializes in treating high-acuity surgical patients, offering complex procedures such as spine surgeries, total joint replacements, advanced surgical oncology, bariatric surgery, and general surgery. It is also home to the esteemed Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute. The hospital has earned accreditation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) as a Magnet® hospital, the highest and most prestigious distinction a healthcare organization can achieve for nursing practice and quality patient care.
HCA Healthcare has been recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by the Ethisphere Institute more than ten times. In recent years, HCA Healthcare spent an estimated $3.7 billion in cost for the delivery of charitable care, uninsured discounts, and other uncompensated expenses.
"The great hospitals will always put the patient and the patient's family first, and the really great institutions will provide care with warmth, compassion, and dignity for the individual." - Dr. Thomas Frist, Sr. HCA Healthcare Co-Founder
If you are looking for an opportunity that provides satisfaction and personal growth, we encourage you to apply for our Supervisor Social Services opening. We promptly review all applications. Highly qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews. Unlock the possibilities and apply today!
We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
INTRODUCTION
Are you passionate about the patient experience? At HCA Healthcare, we are committed to caring for patients with purpose and integrity. We care like family! Jump-start your career as a(an) Supervisor Social Services today with St. David's Medical Center.
JOB SUMMARY AND QUALIFICATIONS
As the Social Work Supervisor, you will serve as assistant to the Director of Case Management in the supervision and evaluation of social work staff, the planning and implementation of social work policies and procedures and maintenance of on-call staff schedule. You will provide direct social work services to a defined population and coordinate coverage of patient social, emotional, and environmental needs in other areas of the hospital as needed.
- You will assist in the hiring, training, and orientation of full-time and PRN staff as well as provide supervision and evaluation of Social Work staff
- You will perform complex discharge planning facilitation for designated patient population
- You will provide patient/family counseling, discharge planning, community resource/long range planning and crisis intervention by referral
- You will evaluate psychosocial needs of patients/families
- You will coordinate reporting and standards of practice review for Social Work services
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Minimum four years of active social work experience, including one year in a health care facility
- Master’s Degree in Social Work
- Licensure by the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners at the LMSW level
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) - preferred
BENEFITS
St. David's Medical Center offers a total rewards package that supports the health, life, career and retirement of our colleagues. The available plans and programs include:
- Comprehensive benefits for medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, behavioral health and telemedicine services
- Wellbeing support, including free counseling and referral services
- Time away from work programs for paid time off, paid family leave, long- and short-term disability coverage and leaves of absence
- Savings and retirement resources, including a 401(k) Plan with a 100% match on 3% to 9% of pay (based on years of service), Employee Stock Purchase Plan, flexible spending accounts, preferred banking partnerships, retirement readiness tools, rollover support and financial wellbeing counseling
- Education support through tuition assistance, student loan assistance, certification support, dependent scholarships and a partnership with Galen College of Nursing
- Additional benefits for fertility and family building, adoption assistance, life insurance, supplemental health protection plans, auto and home insurance, legal counseling, identity theft protection and consumer discounts
Learn more about Employee Benefits
Note: Eligibility for benefits may vary by location.
St. David’s Medical Center, part of St. David’s HealthCare, is a comprehensive medical facility with three locations: St. David’s Medical Center, Heart Hospital of Austin, and St. David’s Georgetown Hospital. Located in Central Austin, St. David’s Medical Center features a 371-bed acute care hospital and a 64-bed rehabilitation hospital, offering a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services.
The hospital provides a full spectrum of women's services, including a renowned Level IV maternity unit, maternal-fetal medicine, and a high-risk maternal and neonatal transport team. It also boasts the region’s largest Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and offers outpatient breast imaging services through Solis Mammography, which is situated on-site. Additionally, the facility includes a 24-hour emergency department and a comprehensive stroke center.
St. David’s Medical Center specializes in treating high-acuity surgical patients, offering complex procedures such as spine surgeries, total joint replacements, advanced surgical oncology, bariatric surgery, and general surgery. It is also home to the esteemed Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute. The hospital has earned accreditation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) as a Magnet® hospital, the highest and most prestigious distinction a healthcare organization can achieve for nursing practice and quality patient care.
HCA Healthcare has been recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by the Ethisphere Institute more than ten times. In recent years, HCA Healthcare spent an estimated $3.7 billion in cost for the delivery of charitable care, uninsured discounts, and other uncompensated expenses.
"The great hospitals will always put the patient and the patient's family first, and the really great institutions will provide care with warmth, compassion, and dignity for the individual." - Dr. Thomas Frist, Sr. HCA Healthcare Co-Founder
If you are looking for an opportunity that provides satisfaction and personal growth, we encourage you to apply for our Supervisor Social Services opening. We promptly review all applications. Highly qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews. Unlock the possibilities and apply today!
We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
See all 162+ OPT Clinical Social Work Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Clinical Social Work Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Clinical Social Work
Understand your licensure timeline
Most states require 2–3 years of post-degree supervised hours for full clinical licensure. Be upfront with employers that you're working toward LCSW eligibility, many clinical settings hire pre-licensed MSW graduates under supervision.
Target employers who sponsor international staff
Hospitals, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), and large nonprofit behavioral health agencies are more likely to sponsor H-1B visas than small private practices. Focus your search on organizations with structured HR departments and international hiring history.
Apply before your OPT start date
Clinical hiring moves slowly due to credentialing and background checks. Start applying three to four months before your OPT authorization begins so your start date aligns with onboarding timelines and you don't lose authorized work weeks.
Highlight field placement hours strategically
Your supervised field practicum counts as direct clinical experience. Quantify your caseload, modalities used, and population served. Employers evaluating OPT candidates want evidence you can function independently under clinical supervision from day one.
Ask about H-1B sponsorship before accepting an offer
Social Work qualifies as a specialty occupation, but not every employer has sponsored H-1B petitions before. Ask directly during final interview stages whether the organization has previously sponsored work visas and if HR can support the process.
Document all supervised hours from day one
Supervision logs are required for licensure applications in every state. Keeping meticulous records from your first OPT day protects your path to LCSW or LICSW status, which strengthens your long-term sponsorship case with employers.
Clinical Social Work OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does Clinical Social Work qualify as a specialty occupation for OPT and H-1B purposes?
Yes. Licensed Clinical Social Work positions require a Master of Social Work degree in a specific field, which meets the specialty occupation standard. USCIS has consistently approved H-1B petitions for clinical social workers at hospitals, mental health agencies, and healthcare systems. Your role description should clearly state the MSW requirement to support any future sponsorship petition.
Can I work as a clinical social worker on OPT before I'm fully licensed?
Yes, in most states you can work as a pre-licensed or associate-level clinical social worker under supervision while accruing the hours needed for full licensure. Your OPT employment authorization is tied to your degree field, not your licensure status. Confirm the specific supervision and provisional license requirements in the state where you plan to work, as rules vary meaningfully by state.
What types of employers are most likely to sponsor clinical social workers for H-1B visas?
Large healthcare systems, VA medical centers, federally qualified health centers, university counseling centers, and established nonprofit behavioral health organizations are the most consistent sponsors. These employers have dedicated HR infrastructure and ongoing demand for licensed clinicians. You can browse Clinical Social Work jobs at OPT-friendly employers on Migrate Mate, which filters for roles open to international candidates.
Does a STEM OPT extension apply to Clinical Social Work degrees?
No. Master of Social Work programs are not classified under STEM-designated CIP codes, so graduates are not eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Clinical social workers have a standard 12-month post-completion OPT period. This makes it especially important to secure an employer willing to file an H-1B petition before your OPT authorization expires.
How should I address my OPT status when applying for clinical social work positions?
Be transparent but strategic. On applications, indicate that you are authorized to work in the U.S. for a defined period and will require sponsorship in the future. In interviews, frame your OPT timeline positively by noting that you're available to start immediately and that your MSW qualifies your role for H-1B sponsorship. Avoid raising visa status before an employer expresses serious interest.