OPT Clinical Social Worker Jobs
Clinical Social Worker jobs are open to F-1 OPT students with a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, as most licensed positions require graduate-level training. STEM OPT extensions do not apply here, so your standard 12-month OPT window is what employers work within. State licensure requirements vary and can affect your timeline.
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LCSW/LMSW Oncology Norwalk Hospital
Summary
The Cancer Center Social Worker for the oncology service line at Norwalk Hospital provides comprehensive assessment and services to oncology patients and their families in the ambulatory care setting. The Cancer Center Social Worker practices as an expert in psychosocial oncology and works in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team to aid patients and families in the adjustment to living with a chronic and life-threatening illness. The scope of the position includes clinical assessment, counseling, care coordination, education, and advocacy.
Responsibilities:
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Completes psychosocial assessments with patients. Develops and implements individualized treatment plans that enhance the overall functioning and coping of the patient and family through a counseling relationship.
-
Provides interventions to meet the bio-psychosocial needs of patients and their families throughout the disease and treatment continuum in the form of both supportive counseling and concrete service assistance in an effort to maximize patient/family/caregiver illness adjustment and minimize psychosocial distress.
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Enables patients and families to understand and access supportive services provided by the cancer center and/or other agencies to assist throughout the treatment continuum. Provides referrals to concrete services such as financial assistance, legal aid, transportation, nutritional needs and housing.
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Participates in family and case conferences on patients and their family behalf, as needed.
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Assists in the development and implementation of support and educational programming for cancer patients and their families.
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Attends tumor boards meetings, staff meetings, and other continuing educational meetings when appropriate.
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Performs other duties as assigned.
Education Skills Experience:
- Experience in oncology and/or healthcare setting, case management.
- Master Level Social Work degree from an accredited school.
- Current Connecticut Licensed Master Social Worker (*Licensed Clinical Social Worker preferred). If LMSW, must obtain LCSW within 24 months of date of hire.
- Minimum of three years experience.
- Obtain Oncology Social Work Certification (OSW-C) within 2 years of hire date.
Company: Norwalk Hospital Association
Org Unit: 392
Department: Cancer Center
Exempt: Yes
Salary Range: $33.21 - $61.68 Hourly
Description
LCSW/LMSW Oncology Norwalk Hospital
Summary
The Cancer Center Social Worker for the oncology service line at Norwalk Hospital provides comprehensive assessment and services to oncology patients and their families in the ambulatory care setting. The Cancer Center Social Worker practices as an expert in psychosocial oncology and works in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team to aid patients and families in the adjustment to living with a chronic and life-threatening illness. The scope of the position includes clinical assessment, counseling, care coordination, education, and advocacy.
Responsibilities:
-
Completes psychosocial assessments with patients. Develops and implements individualized treatment plans that enhance the overall functioning and coping of the patient and family through a counseling relationship.
-
Provides interventions to meet the bio-psychosocial needs of patients and their families throughout the disease and treatment continuum in the form of both supportive counseling and concrete service assistance in an effort to maximize patient/family/caregiver illness adjustment and minimize psychosocial distress.
-
Enables patients and families to understand and access supportive services provided by the cancer center and/or other agencies to assist throughout the treatment continuum. Provides referrals to concrete services such as financial assistance, legal aid, transportation, nutritional needs and housing.
-
Participates in family and case conferences on patients and their family behalf, as needed.
-
Assists in the development and implementation of support and educational programming for cancer patients and their families.
-
Attends tumor boards meetings, staff meetings, and other continuing educational meetings when appropriate.
-
Performs other duties as assigned.
Education Skills Experience:
- Experience in oncology and/or healthcare setting, case management.
- Master Level Social Work degree from an accredited school.
- Current Connecticut Licensed Master Social Worker (*Licensed Clinical Social Worker preferred). If LMSW, must obtain LCSW within 24 months of date of hire.
- Minimum of three years experience.
- Obtain Oncology Social Work Certification (OSW-C) within 2 years of hire date.
Company: Norwalk Hospital Association
Org Unit: 392
Department: Cancer Center
Exempt: Yes
Salary Range: $33.21 - $61.68 Hourly
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Clinical Social Worker
Know your licensure status before applying
Most Clinical Social Worker roles require an LCSW or LMSW license, which varies by state. Clarify your current licensure eligibility upfront so employers understand where you stand and can plan your supervision requirements accordingly.
Target employers familiar with OPT supervision models
Hospitals, community mental health centers, and nonprofit agencies frequently hire MSW graduates under clinical supervision. These settings are more accustomed to supporting early-career clinicians, making them more receptive to OPT work authorization arrangements.
Address your OPT timeline in your cover letter
Proactively mention your OPT authorization period and your plan for H-1B visa sponsorship or licensure progression. Employers are more likely to invest in supervision if they understand your long-term commitment to staying in the role.
Prioritize roles that offer H-1B or O-1 sponsorship
Large healthcare systems and federally funded agencies are more likely to sponsor work visas after OPT ends. Look for job postings that explicitly mention visa sponsorship, and ask about it directly during initial recruiter conversations.
Highlight field placements as clinical experience
MSW field practicums are directly relevant clinical experience. Frame your supervised hours, client populations, and therapeutic modalities clearly on your resume so employers see you as practice-ready from day one, not just a new graduate.
Understand how OPT timing interacts with licensure supervision
Many states require one to three years of supervised post-degree hours before full licensure. Map your required supervision hours against your OPT window so you and your employer can plan realistically for what licensure stage you will reach.
Clinical Social Worker OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Clinical Social Worker on F-1 OPT?
Yes, F-1 OPT authorizes you to work in roles directly related to your MSW degree, and Clinical Social Worker positions qualify. Your work must align with your field of study, which is straightforward for MSW graduates entering clinical, case management, or therapy roles. You have 12 months of OPT authorization, and Social Work is not a STEM-designated field, so a STEM extension is not available.
Does a Clinical Social Worker role qualify as a STEM OPT job?
No. Social Work is not included on the STEM Designated Degree Program List, so MSW graduates are not eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. You have a single 12-month OPT period. If you want to remain in the U.S. after OPT ends, you will need an employer to sponsor an H-1B or another visa, so it is worth prioritizing employers who have sponsored visas before.
How do state licensure requirements affect my OPT job search?
Each state sets its own requirements for LMSW and LCSW licensure, including supervised hours, exams, and timelines. Some states allow you to begin accumulating supervised hours under a provisional or associate license before you are fully licensed. When applying, confirm whether the role accepts candidates at your current licensure stage and whether the employer provides qualified supervisors, as this directly affects how you progress within your OPT window.
What types of employers are most likely to hire OPT students for Clinical Social Worker roles?
Hospitals, federally qualified health centers, VA medical centers, nonprofit community mental health agencies, and school districts regularly hire MSW graduates at the pre-licensure stage. These employers are accustomed to the supervision model that early-career clinical social workers require. You can browse Clinical Social Worker positions filtered for OPT-friendly employers on Migrate Mate, which focuses specifically on international students and work authorization.
What happens to my clinical position if my H-1B petition is not selected in the lottery?
If you are not selected in the H-1B lottery, your OPT authorization ends on its expiration date and you would need to stop working. Some employers may explore alternatives like the O-1A for workers with extraordinary ability, though this is uncommon in social work. Planning early, filing in the first available lottery cycle, and having an honest conversation with your employer about contingency plans gives you the best chance of maintaining continuity.