OPT Guidance Counselor Jobs
Guidance Counselor roles qualify for OPT when your degree is in counseling, psychology, social work, or a related field. Most positions are in K-12 schools, colleges, and community agencies. State licensure requirements vary, so confirm your eligibility timeline before applying.
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Get Access To All JobsPosition Type:
Student Support Services/Guidance Counselor
Date Posted:
4/23/2026
Location:
Alton Elementary
Guidance Counselor
Position Purpose
Under the general supervision of the Director of Pupil Services, to provide students, parents, administrators, and other teaching staff with information on career and or educational opportunities; administer and interpret career assessment tools; and assist students in developing educational and occupational goals and plans.
Essential Performance Responsibilities
- Assists students in evaluating students' aptitudes and abilities through the interpretation of individual standardized test scores and other pertinent data, and works with students in developing education and occupation plans consistent with such evaluation.
- Assists students in making course and subject selections, as well as with evaluating career interests and choices.
- Assists in the scheduling of classes.
- Obtains and disseminates information regarding occupational opportunities to students and to classes studying occupations.
- Assists students with admissions, scholarship and identifying employment opportunities.
- Coordinates with administrators and other teaching staff members to ascertain individual student's abilities and needs, including students with special needs, and to familiarize stakeholders with guidance services.
- Researches educational and career opportunities, and coordinates with teachers, college and university personnel, resource specialists, and business and community organizations for the purpose of providing information, and making recommendations.
- Assists with the registration and orientation students who are new to the school regarding procedures and educational opportunities.
- Assists with the school district's dropout prevention efforts.
- Serves as ready resource to students to provide counseling that will lead each student to increased personal growth, self-understanding, and maturity.
- Plans and coordinates field trips to institutions of higher learning, businesses and other organizations related to guidance responsibilities.
- Continues to acquire professional knowledge and learn of current developments in the educational field by attending seminars, workshops or professional meetings, or by conducting research, and by maintaining professional relationships with members of institutions of higher learning and the business community.
- Organizes and maintains a system for accurate and complete record-keeping and providing student information to prospective colleges and employers, as required by district procedures and applicable laws.
- Encourages parental involvement in students' education and ensures effective communication with students and parents.
- Assists in the orientation of new teachers, and provides in-service training in guidance.
Additional Duties
Performs other related tasks as assigned by the Principal and other central office administrators as designated by the Superintendent.
Note: The above description is illustrative of tasks and responsibilities. It is not meant to be all inclusive of every task or responsibility.
Equipment
Uses standard office equipment such as personal computers, printer, copy and fax machines, and telephone.
Travel Requirements
Travels to school district buildings and professional meetings as required.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Knowledge of pre/post high school program eligibility requirements.
- Knowledge of college/university admissions processes, scholarship programs and other educational opportunities.
- Knowledge of current developments in business and industry regarding career opportunities and employment.
- Knowledge of differentiated instruction based upon student learning styles.
- Knowledge of data information systems, data analysis and the formulation of action plans.
- Knowledge of applicable federal and state laws regarding education and students.
- Ability to use computer network system and software applications as needed.
- Ability to organize and coordinate work.
- Ability to communicate effectively with students and parents.
- Ability to engage in self-evaluation with regard to performance and professional growth.
- Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others contacted in the course of work.
Physical and Mental Demands, Work Hazards
Works in standard office and school building environments.
Note: Also see the Summary of Physical, Sensory and Environmental Requirements Needed to Perform Essential Job Duties for this position.
Qualifications Profile
- Certification/License:
- [State] State Certification as a Guidance Counselor (#__).
- Motor Vehicle Operator's License or ability to provide own transportation.
Education
- Bachelors from an accredited college or university in education discipline applicable to teaching assignment.
- Masters Degree preferred.
Experience
Successful prior teaching experience for the appropriate grade level preferred.
FLSA Status: Exempt
Position Type:
Student Support Services/Guidance Counselor
Date Posted:
4/23/2026
Location:
Alton Elementary
Guidance Counselor
Position Purpose
Under the general supervision of the Director of Pupil Services, to provide students, parents, administrators, and other teaching staff with information on career and or educational opportunities; administer and interpret career assessment tools; and assist students in developing educational and occupational goals and plans.
Essential Performance Responsibilities
- Assists students in evaluating students' aptitudes and abilities through the interpretation of individual standardized test scores and other pertinent data, and works with students in developing education and occupation plans consistent with such evaluation.
- Assists students in making course and subject selections, as well as with evaluating career interests and choices.
- Assists in the scheduling of classes.
- Obtains and disseminates information regarding occupational opportunities to students and to classes studying occupations.
- Assists students with admissions, scholarship and identifying employment opportunities.
- Coordinates with administrators and other teaching staff members to ascertain individual student's abilities and needs, including students with special needs, and to familiarize stakeholders with guidance services.
- Researches educational and career opportunities, and coordinates with teachers, college and university personnel, resource specialists, and business and community organizations for the purpose of providing information, and making recommendations.
- Assists with the registration and orientation students who are new to the school regarding procedures and educational opportunities.
- Assists with the school district's dropout prevention efforts.
- Serves as ready resource to students to provide counseling that will lead each student to increased personal growth, self-understanding, and maturity.
- Plans and coordinates field trips to institutions of higher learning, businesses and other organizations related to guidance responsibilities.
- Continues to acquire professional knowledge and learn of current developments in the educational field by attending seminars, workshops or professional meetings, or by conducting research, and by maintaining professional relationships with members of institutions of higher learning and the business community.
- Organizes and maintains a system for accurate and complete record-keeping and providing student information to prospective colleges and employers, as required by district procedures and applicable laws.
- Encourages parental involvement in students' education and ensures effective communication with students and parents.
- Assists in the orientation of new teachers, and provides in-service training in guidance.
Additional Duties
Performs other related tasks as assigned by the Principal and other central office administrators as designated by the Superintendent.
Note: The above description is illustrative of tasks and responsibilities. It is not meant to be all inclusive of every task or responsibility.
Equipment
Uses standard office equipment such as personal computers, printer, copy and fax machines, and telephone.
Travel Requirements
Travels to school district buildings and professional meetings as required.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Knowledge of pre/post high school program eligibility requirements.
- Knowledge of college/university admissions processes, scholarship programs and other educational opportunities.
- Knowledge of current developments in business and industry regarding career opportunities and employment.
- Knowledge of differentiated instruction based upon student learning styles.
- Knowledge of data information systems, data analysis and the formulation of action plans.
- Knowledge of applicable federal and state laws regarding education and students.
- Ability to use computer network system and software applications as needed.
- Ability to organize and coordinate work.
- Ability to communicate effectively with students and parents.
- Ability to engage in self-evaluation with regard to performance and professional growth.
- Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others contacted in the course of work.
Physical and Mental Demands, Work Hazards
Works in standard office and school building environments.
Note: Also see the Summary of Physical, Sensory and Environmental Requirements Needed to Perform Essential Job Duties for this position.
Qualifications Profile
- Certification/License:
- [State] State Certification as a Guidance Counselor (#__).
- Motor Vehicle Operator's License or ability to provide own transportation.
Education
- Bachelors from an accredited college or university in education discipline applicable to teaching assignment.
- Masters Degree preferred.
Experience
Successful prior teaching experience for the appropriate grade level preferred.
FLSA Status: Exempt
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Guidance Counselor
Lead with your licensure status upfront
Many school districts require state licensure or eligibility for licensure. Make clear in your cover letter whether you hold a license, are license-eligible, or are completing supervised hours required for licensure. Ambiguity here costs you interviews.
Target employers already familiar with OPT
Universities, large school districts, and nonprofit counseling agencies are more likely to have hired international staff before. Smaller private practices may be unfamiliar with OPT authorization and hesitant. Focus your applications where the employer already understands work authorization.
Clarify your OPT end date and STEM extension eligibility
Guidance Counselor roles typically fall under non-STEM OPT, giving you 12 months. If your degree is in a STEM-adjacent field like educational psychology, confirm with your DSO whether a 24-month extension applies before communicating timelines to employers.
Align your degree field with the job title explicitly
Your OPT must be directly related to your degree. A counseling role with a social work degree is straightforward. A psychology degree for a school counselor role may need brief explanation. Address the connection clearly so employers and your DSO see alignment.
Start your job search early relative to your OPT start date
School and university hiring cycles often run months ahead of start dates. If your OPT begins in May, district hiring may close in February. Map your OPT authorization window against typical hiring timelines for your target institution type.
Prepare a one-page OPT explainer for skeptical employers
Many school administrators have not hired on OPT before. A brief document explaining that OPT requires no employer sponsorship, no petition, and no government approval reduces friction and positions you as someone who makes the process easy for them.
Guidance Counselor OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Guidance Counselor jobs qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes, as long as your degree is directly related to the role. Degrees in school counseling, clinical mental health counseling, psychology, social work, and related fields typically satisfy the OPT relatedness requirement for Guidance Counselor positions. Your DSO can confirm the connection between your specific degree and the job before you accept an offer.
Is Guidance Counselor work eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension?
Most Guidance Counselor roles are not STEM-eligible because counseling and social work degree programs are not on the STEM Designated Degree Program list. If your degree is in educational psychology or a quantitative field, check your program's CIP code with your DSO. For most counseling graduates, the standard 12-month OPT period applies.
Do I need a state license to work as a Guidance Counselor on OPT?
It depends on the employer and state. K-12 school counselors often need a school counseling credential or state certification, which is separate from clinical licensure. Some employers hire license-eligible candidates while they complete supervised hours. Confirm the specific requirement with each employer before applying, since your OPT timeline may affect how many supervised hours you can accumulate.
Will employers in schools and universities sponsor me after my OPT expires?
School districts and universities vary widely. Public K-12 schools rarely sponsor H-1B visas due to budget constraints and unfamiliarity with the process. Universities and colleges are more likely to sponsor because they are often cap-exempt H-1B employers, meaning they can file anytime without lottery risk. Prioritize institutions with cap-exempt status if long-term sponsorship matters to your plans.
Where can I find Guidance Counselor jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters job listings to show roles where employers are open to OPT work authorization. Browsing Migrate Mate saves time you would otherwise spend screening out employers unfamiliar with OPT, letting you focus on applications that actually match your authorization status and timeline.