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.
Find OPT Guidance Counselor JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 9+ Guidance Counselor jobs
See all Guidance Counselor Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Guidance Counselor roles.
Get Access To All JobsPAY GRADE: Certified Salary Schedule
FLSA STATUS: Exempt
POSITION OBJECTIVE:
The job of Guidance Counselor is done for the purpose/s of aligning and working with the District’s mission to support the academic achievement and social/emotional growth of all students as they prepare for the global economy.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: (These duties are a representative sample; position assignments may vary.)
Academic Development
- Develops and monitors student Education and Career Action Plans (ECAP) (4 year plans)
- Provides students with academic, organizational, study and test-taking skills support
- Supports students in acquiring knowledge, skills to monitor own academic progress and goals
- Assists students in course selection
- Participates in registration and scheduling processes for developing student class schedules (including 8th grade registration/orientation)
- Makes recommendations to colleges regarding admissions and scholarships
- Supports students’ decision making skills for life-long learning
- Education in understanding of self, including strengths and weaknesses
- Active participation in Intervention Planning Teams, 504 and IEP processes
- Coordinate with parents to assist in academic/career/social issues
- Participates in appropriate transition planning
Personal and Social Development
- Identifies and embeds extra-curricular activity goals and documenting participation in appropriate activities and organizations in students’ ECAP
- Supports the development of students’ interpersonal relationships, decision making, goal setting, and understanding of safety and survival skills
- Participation in crisis intervention to individuals/family/school
- Appropriately support students’ awareness of multicultural/diversity awareness
- Provides opportunities for peer facilitation
- Consultation/collaboration with appropriate support service agencies for student referrals
- Education in understanding self and others
- Supports the development of students’ peer relationships and effective social skills
- Support the development of communication, problem solving, decision making, conflict resolution, coping strategies, and study skills
- Supports with District approved substance abuse education
College and Career Development
- Supports students’ development of post-secondary planning and application processes
- Assists students in the identification of potential career interests and career planning
- Facilitate career awareness and the connections between the word of work and educational achievements and growth
- Support students in developing strategies to achieve future goals
Support for District Goals and School Reform Initiatives
- Demonstrates a commitment to professional growth by participating in Professional Development opportunities
- Actively participates in consultation, collaboration and teaming
- Implements Counseling Services programs to support student achievement
- Participation in school-wide achievement data analysis for purposes of school planning
- Participates in data gathering and analysis to support and evaluate student success
- Assists with various testing programs and services (Advanced Placement, PSAT, AzMERIT, Terra Nova, etc.)
- Attends and participates in staff meetings and extra-curricular/school-related activities and committees
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE (positions in this class typically require):
- Master’s degree
- Guidance Counselor Certificate K-12 from the Arizona Department of Education
- Previous experience as a classroom teacher OR any equivalent combination of experience and education from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved
LICENSING REQUIREMENTS (positions in this class typically require):
- None
KNOWLEDGE (position requirements at entry):
- Knowledge of applicable federal and state statutes and District rules, policies, and procedures
- Knowledge of appropriate personal and vocational counseling strategies
SKILLS (position requirements at entry):
- Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relations with co-workers, students, parents, the general public and others having business with the school district
- Skill in operating a personal computer utilizing a variety of software applications
Physical Requirements:
Positions in this class typically require: stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, finger dexterity, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.
Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
Incumbents may be subjected to moving mechanical parts, odors, chemicals, extreme temperatures, inadequate lighting, workspace restrictions, and intense noises.
NOTE:
The above job description is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the business needs of the department.
PAY GRADE: Certified Salary Schedule
FLSA STATUS: Exempt
POSITION OBJECTIVE:
The job of Guidance Counselor is done for the purpose/s of aligning and working with the District’s mission to support the academic achievement and social/emotional growth of all students as they prepare for the global economy.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: (These duties are a representative sample; position assignments may vary.)
Academic Development
- Develops and monitors student Education and Career Action Plans (ECAP) (4 year plans)
- Provides students with academic, organizational, study and test-taking skills support
- Supports students in acquiring knowledge, skills to monitor own academic progress and goals
- Assists students in course selection
- Participates in registration and scheduling processes for developing student class schedules (including 8th grade registration/orientation)
- Makes recommendations to colleges regarding admissions and scholarships
- Supports students’ decision making skills for life-long learning
- Education in understanding of self, including strengths and weaknesses
- Active participation in Intervention Planning Teams, 504 and IEP processes
- Coordinate with parents to assist in academic/career/social issues
- Participates in appropriate transition planning
Personal and Social Development
- Identifies and embeds extra-curricular activity goals and documenting participation in appropriate activities and organizations in students’ ECAP
- Supports the development of students’ interpersonal relationships, decision making, goal setting, and understanding of safety and survival skills
- Participation in crisis intervention to individuals/family/school
- Appropriately support students’ awareness of multicultural/diversity awareness
- Provides opportunities for peer facilitation
- Consultation/collaboration with appropriate support service agencies for student referrals
- Education in understanding self and others
- Supports the development of students’ peer relationships and effective social skills
- Support the development of communication, problem solving, decision making, conflict resolution, coping strategies, and study skills
- Supports with District approved substance abuse education
College and Career Development
- Supports students’ development of post-secondary planning and application processes
- Assists students in the identification of potential career interests and career planning
- Facilitate career awareness and the connections between the word of work and educational achievements and growth
- Support students in developing strategies to achieve future goals
Support for District Goals and School Reform Initiatives
- Demonstrates a commitment to professional growth by participating in Professional Development opportunities
- Actively participates in consultation, collaboration and teaming
- Implements Counseling Services programs to support student achievement
- Participation in school-wide achievement data analysis for purposes of school planning
- Participates in data gathering and analysis to support and evaluate student success
- Assists with various testing programs and services (Advanced Placement, PSAT, AzMERIT, Terra Nova, etc.)
- Attends and participates in staff meetings and extra-curricular/school-related activities and committees
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE (positions in this class typically require):
- Master’s degree
- Guidance Counselor Certificate K-12 from the Arizona Department of Education
- Previous experience as a classroom teacher OR any equivalent combination of experience and education from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved
LICENSING REQUIREMENTS (positions in this class typically require):
- None
KNOWLEDGE (position requirements at entry):
- Knowledge of applicable federal and state statutes and District rules, policies, and procedures
- Knowledge of appropriate personal and vocational counseling strategies
SKILLS (position requirements at entry):
- Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relations with co-workers, students, parents, the general public and others having business with the school district
- Skill in operating a personal computer utilizing a variety of software applications
Physical Requirements:
Positions in this class typically require: stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, finger dexterity, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.
Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
Incumbents may be subjected to moving mechanical parts, odors, chemicals, extreme temperatures, inadequate lighting, workspace restrictions, and intense noises.
NOTE:
The above job description is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the business needs of the department.
See all OPT Guidance Counselor Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Guidance Counselor Jobs.
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.