OPT Early Childhood Education Jobs
Early childhood education jobs on OPT are available at preschools, Head Start programs, childcare centers, and K-3 schools. Most roles require a degree in early childhood education or child development. STEM OPT extension eligibility depends on whether your degree falls under a qualifying CIP code.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Adventist Healthcare - Lourie Center Clinic seeks to hire an experienced Early Childhood Behavioral Health Therapist who will embrace our mission to extend God’s care through the ministry of physical, mental, and spiritual healing. The Lourie Center for Children's Social & Emotional Wellness is a private, non-profit agency with a mission to improve the social and emotional health of young children and their families through prevention, early intervention, education, research and training.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a Early Childhood Behavioral Health Therapist You Will
- Initiates and implements complete, comprehensive psychosocial assessments
- Provides individual, group, and family therapies to clients and their families
- Participates in an interdisciplinary treatment team to propose and develop strategies and interventions that would promote excellent therapeutic outcomes
- Assesses and intervenes in cases of suspected/disclosed child/adult neglect/abuse issues
- Documents services provided and disseminates information/reports to community referral sources and agencies, i.e., DJJ, DSS, HHS, APS, CPS, LCC, etc
- Coordinates with the interdisciplinary team, referral sources, and community resources aftercare and supportive services to ensure a successful discharge planning process
- Promotes positive patient-family-community relations
- Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to diffuse psychotic and/or behavioral crises to ensure client, unit, and staff safety and stability
- Other duties as assigned
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s Degree in Social Work/Counseling or equivalent Master’s Degree in a recognized health field
- 1 year experience preferred
- LGSW/LMSW/LGPC/LGMFT in the State of Maryland
- Senior Licensure preferred
- Bilingual in Spanish strongly preferred
- Early Childhood Mental Health strongly preferred
- Play Therapy experience strongly preferred
WORK SCHEDULE
- Employment Type: Full-time
- Hours per Week: 40 hrs/week
- Typical Daily Schedule: 8:00 AM–4:30 PM Monday through Friday (One evening until 8pm)
- Shift Type: Day
- Weekend Requirements: None
- Holiday Requirements: Follow company holiday calendar
PAY RANGE
$60,486.56 - $100,360.00
If the salary range is listed as $0 or if the position is Per Diem (with a fixed rate), salary discussions will take place during the screening process.
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), this position is classified as: United States of America (Exempt)
WHAT WE OFFER
- Work life balance through nonrotating shifts
- Recognition and rewards for professional expertise
- Free Employee parking
- Medical, Prescription, Dental, and Vision coverage for employees and their eligible dependents effective on your date of hire
- Employer-paid Short & Long-Term Disability, Basic Life Insurance and AD&D, (short-term disability buy-up available)
- Paid Time Off
- Employer retirement contribution and match after 1-year of eligible employment with a 3-year vesting period
- Voluntary benefits include flexible spending accounts, legal plans, and life, pet, auto, home, long term care, and critical illness & accident insurance
- Subsidized childcare at participating childcare centers
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) support
As a faith-based organization, with over a century of caring for the communities in the Maryland area, Adventist HealthCare has earned a reputation for high-quality, compassionate care. Adventist HealthCare was the first and is the largest healthcare provider in Montgomery County. If you want to make a difference in someone’s life every day, consider a position with a team of professionals who are doing just that, making a difference. Join the Adventist HealthCare team today, apply now to be considered!
COVID-19 Vaccination
Adventist HealthCare strongly recommends all applicants to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before commencing employment. Applicants may be required to furnish proof of vaccination.
TOBACCO AND DRUG STATEMENT
Tobacco use is a well-recognized preventable cause of death in the United States and an important public health issue. In order to promote and maintain a healthy work environment, Adventist HealthCare will not hire applicants for employment who either state that they are nicotine users or who test positive for nicotine and drug use. While some jurisdictions, including Maryland, permit the use of marijuana for medical purposes, marijuana continues to be classified as an illegal drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act. As a result, medical marijuana use will not be accepted as a valid explanation for a positive drug test result. Adventist HealthCare will withdraw offers of employment to applicants who test positive for Cotinine (nicotine) and marijuana. Those testing positive are given the opportunity to re-apply in 90 days, if they can truthfully attest that they have not used any nicotine products in the past ninety (90) days and successfully pass follow-up testing. ("Nicotine products" include, but are not limited to: cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, e-cigarettes, vaping products, hookah, and nicotine replacement products (e.g., nicotine gum, nicotine patches, nicotine lozenges, etc.).
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Adventist HealthCare is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We are committed to attracting, engaging, and developing the best people to cultivate our mission-centric culture. Our goal is to have a welcoming, equitable, and safe place to work and grow for all employees, no matter their background. AHC does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy and related medical conditions, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Adventist HealthCare will make reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities, in accordance with applicable law. Adventist HealthCare is a religious organization as defined under applicable law; however, it will endeavor to provide reasonable accommodations for applicants’ religious beliefs. Applicants who wish to request accommodations for disabilities or religious belief should contact the Support Center HR Office.
INTRODUCTION
Adventist Healthcare - Lourie Center Clinic seeks to hire an experienced Early Childhood Behavioral Health Therapist who will embrace our mission to extend God’s care through the ministry of physical, mental, and spiritual healing. The Lourie Center for Children's Social & Emotional Wellness is a private, non-profit agency with a mission to improve the social and emotional health of young children and their families through prevention, early intervention, education, research and training.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a Early Childhood Behavioral Health Therapist You Will
- Initiates and implements complete, comprehensive psychosocial assessments
- Provides individual, group, and family therapies to clients and their families
- Participates in an interdisciplinary treatment team to propose and develop strategies and interventions that would promote excellent therapeutic outcomes
- Assesses and intervenes in cases of suspected/disclosed child/adult neglect/abuse issues
- Documents services provided and disseminates information/reports to community referral sources and agencies, i.e., DJJ, DSS, HHS, APS, CPS, LCC, etc
- Coordinates with the interdisciplinary team, referral sources, and community resources aftercare and supportive services to ensure a successful discharge planning process
- Promotes positive patient-family-community relations
- Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to diffuse psychotic and/or behavioral crises to ensure client, unit, and staff safety and stability
- Other duties as assigned
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s Degree in Social Work/Counseling or equivalent Master’s Degree in a recognized health field
- 1 year experience preferred
- LGSW/LMSW/LGPC/LGMFT in the State of Maryland
- Senior Licensure preferred
- Bilingual in Spanish strongly preferred
- Early Childhood Mental Health strongly preferred
- Play Therapy experience strongly preferred
WORK SCHEDULE
- Employment Type: Full-time
- Hours per Week: 40 hrs/week
- Typical Daily Schedule: 8:00 AM–4:30 PM Monday through Friday (One evening until 8pm)
- Shift Type: Day
- Weekend Requirements: None
- Holiday Requirements: Follow company holiday calendar
PAY RANGE
$60,486.56 - $100,360.00
If the salary range is listed as $0 or if the position is Per Diem (with a fixed rate), salary discussions will take place during the screening process.
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), this position is classified as: United States of America (Exempt)
WHAT WE OFFER
- Work life balance through nonrotating shifts
- Recognition and rewards for professional expertise
- Free Employee parking
- Medical, Prescription, Dental, and Vision coverage for employees and their eligible dependents effective on your date of hire
- Employer-paid Short & Long-Term Disability, Basic Life Insurance and AD&D, (short-term disability buy-up available)
- Paid Time Off
- Employer retirement contribution and match after 1-year of eligible employment with a 3-year vesting period
- Voluntary benefits include flexible spending accounts, legal plans, and life, pet, auto, home, long term care, and critical illness & accident insurance
- Subsidized childcare at participating childcare centers
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) support
As a faith-based organization, with over a century of caring for the communities in the Maryland area, Adventist HealthCare has earned a reputation for high-quality, compassionate care. Adventist HealthCare was the first and is the largest healthcare provider in Montgomery County. If you want to make a difference in someone’s life every day, consider a position with a team of professionals who are doing just that, making a difference. Join the Adventist HealthCare team today, apply now to be considered!
COVID-19 Vaccination
Adventist HealthCare strongly recommends all applicants to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before commencing employment. Applicants may be required to furnish proof of vaccination.
TOBACCO AND DRUG STATEMENT
Tobacco use is a well-recognized preventable cause of death in the United States and an important public health issue. In order to promote and maintain a healthy work environment, Adventist HealthCare will not hire applicants for employment who either state that they are nicotine users or who test positive for nicotine and drug use. While some jurisdictions, including Maryland, permit the use of marijuana for medical purposes, marijuana continues to be classified as an illegal drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act. As a result, medical marijuana use will not be accepted as a valid explanation for a positive drug test result. Adventist HealthCare will withdraw offers of employment to applicants who test positive for Cotinine (nicotine) and marijuana. Those testing positive are given the opportunity to re-apply in 90 days, if they can truthfully attest that they have not used any nicotine products in the past ninety (90) days and successfully pass follow-up testing. ("Nicotine products" include, but are not limited to: cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, e-cigarettes, vaping products, hookah, and nicotine replacement products (e.g., nicotine gum, nicotine patches, nicotine lozenges, etc.).
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Adventist HealthCare is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We are committed to attracting, engaging, and developing the best people to cultivate our mission-centric culture. Our goal is to have a welcoming, equitable, and safe place to work and grow for all employees, no matter their background. AHC does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy and related medical conditions, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Adventist HealthCare will make reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities, in accordance with applicable law. Adventist HealthCare is a religious organization as defined under applicable law; however, it will endeavor to provide reasonable accommodations for applicants’ religious beliefs. Applicants who wish to request accommodations for disabilities or religious belief should contact the Support Center HR Office.
See all 73+ OPT Early Childhood Education Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Early Childhood Education
Target public school districts early
Public school districts often have HR departments familiar with work authorization. Apply 3 to 4 months before the school year starts, when hiring decisions are made and there is still time to process your OPT documentation.
Clarify your STEM OPT eligibility upfront
Early childhood education and child development degrees sometimes qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO before job searching so you can honestly represent your authorization timeline to employers.
Address work authorization proactively in applications
Many childcare employers are unfamiliar with OPT. Include a brief, clear sentence in your cover letter explaining that you are authorized to work for any employer and that no sponsorship is currently required during your OPT period.
Focus on employers with established HR infrastructure
Larger childcare chains, university-affiliated lab schools, and nonprofit Head Start grantees are more likely to have HR teams that understand employment verification and EAD documentation than small independent centers.
Get your state teaching license or CDA credential now
Many states require a Child Development Associate credential or state teaching license for lead teacher roles. Obtaining credentials before you apply removes a hiring barrier and signals long-term commitment to employers considering OPT students.
Plan your H-1B or O-1 pathway before OPT ends
Early childhood education roles can qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship if the position requires a relevant bachelor's degree. Research which employers have sponsored visas before and discuss long-term options with any employer before your OPT authorization expires.
Early Childhood Education OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a lead teacher or classroom teacher on OPT?
Yes. Lead teacher and classroom teacher roles at preschools, Head Start programs, and elementary schools are eligible OPT employment as long as the work is directly related to your degree in early childhood education or child development. Your EAD card serves as proof of work authorization. Make sure the job description aligns with your field of study, which your DSO can help you confirm.
Does an early childhood education degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your specific CIP code. Some early childhood education programs are classified under STEM-eligible codes, such as those emphasizing child development science or educational psychology. Others are not. Check with your DSO and confirm your program's CIP code on your I-20 before assuming STEM OPT eligibility. If your degree qualifies, you can apply for an additional 24 months of work authorization beyond your initial 12-month OPT period.
How do I find early childhood education employers who are open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT and visa-sponsoring employers, making it a practical starting point for early childhood education job searches. Beyond that, target larger organizations such as Head Start grantees, university lab schools, and nonprofit childcare networks, which tend to have HR teams more familiar with EAD documentation and work authorization than small independent centers.
Will I need state licensure or a CDA credential to work on OPT in this field?
State licensure and credential requirements vary. Many states require a Child Development Associate credential, a state-issued teaching license, or both for lead teacher roles in licensed childcare facilities. These requirements apply to all workers regardless of immigration status, so you should research your state's specific rules and pursue any required credentials before or shortly after starting your job search.
Can an early childhood education employer sponsor me for an H-1B after OPT?
Yes, early childhood education roles can qualify for H-1B sponsorship if the position genuinely requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific field such as early childhood education or child development. Public school districts and larger nonprofit organizations are the most common sponsors in this field. Confirm H-1B eligibility with an immigration attorney before committing to an employer, and have the conversation with your employer well before your OPT period ends.