OPT Early Childhood Special Education Teacher Jobs
Early Childhood Special Education Teacher jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in special education, early childhood education, or a related field. Most roles qualify for the full 12-month OPT period, and STEM OPT extension may apply if your degree falls under an eligible CIP code. State teaching licensure requirements vary and can affect your timeline.
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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.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as an Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
Verify your state license eligibility before applying
Most states require a teaching license to work as an Early Childhood Special Education Teacher. Research your state's specific requirements early, since some states have reciprocity agreements that can simplify the process if you already hold a license elsewhere.
Target school districts with a history of OPT hiring
Public school districts and early intervention programs in high-need areas are more accustomed to hiring international educators. Urban districts with teacher shortages are often more open to navigating OPT work authorization than smaller, less resourced districts.
Confirm your role qualifies under your authorized field of study
Your OPT work must be directly related to your degree. A degree in special education or early childhood education clearly supports this role, but if your degree is adjacent, document the connection explicitly before your start date to avoid authorization issues.
Check whether your degree qualifies for STEM OPT extension
Some special education programs fall under STEM-eligible CIP codes. If yours does, you may qualify for a 24-month extension beyond standard OPT. Confirm your CIP code with your Designated School Official before assuming you qualify.
Be transparent about your OPT timeline during interviews
School districts plan hiring in advance and need to know your work authorization window. Clearly communicate your OPT start date, end date, and whether an H-1B visa or other sponsorship may be needed after your authorized period ends.
Understand how the academic calendar affects your OPT timing
Most teaching roles start in August or September. If your OPT authorization begins mid-year, you may need to negotiate a delayed start or find a district with a mid-year vacancy. Plan your application timeline around the school hiring cycle.
Early Childhood Special Education Teacher OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as an Early Childhood Special Education Teacher on OPT?
Yes, as long as your degree is in special education, early childhood education, or a closely related field, and the role is directly related to that degree. You must also hold any state licensure the position requires. Working outside your authorized field of study violates OPT terms, so document the connection between your degree and your job responsibilities before starting.
Does this role qualify for the STEM OPT 24-month extension?
It depends on the CIP code assigned to your specific degree program, not the job title itself. Some special education and early childhood education programs are classified under STEM-eligible codes, while others are not. Check with your Designated School Official to confirm your program's CIP code before assuming you qualify for the extension.
How do state teaching license requirements affect OPT students in this field?
Most states require a valid teaching license to work as an Early Childhood Special Education Teacher in a public school. Licensing requirements vary by state and can take weeks or months to complete. Start the application process as early as possible, and confirm whether your state offers an emergency or provisional license that could allow you to begin working while your full license is pending.
Where can I find Early Childhood Special Education Teacher jobs that are open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate is designed specifically for F-1 OPT and visa-sponsored job seekers, so the roles listed there are filtered for candidates who need work authorization support. Browsing Migrate Mate lets you focus on employers who are already familiar with OPT hiring rather than sorting through listings from employers who may not be open to it.
Can employers in this field sponsor an H-1B visa after my OPT ends?
Public school districts can sponsor H-1B visas, and as government entities they are cap-exempt, meaning they are not subject to the annual H-1B lottery. This is a meaningful advantage over private-sector employers. That said, not every district has experience with H-1B sponsorship, so it is worth asking about their immigration support policies before accepting an offer.