OPT Learning Specialist Jobs
Learning Specialist jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in education, instructional design, psychology, or a related field. Most roles qualify as specialty occupations under OPT work authorization. STEM OPT extension eligibility depends on your specific degree classification, so verify your CIP code with your DSO before applying.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Medical Student Academic Advisor and Learning Specialist in the Office of Student Success provides longitudinal, developmentally structured academic advising and learning support for medical students across all four years of the curriculum. This role is responsible for providing individualized academic coaching, conducting learning assessments and implementing evidence-based strategies to help students improve performance, including preparation for NBME assessments and USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK.
This position supports academic performance optimization, learning strategy development, and structured intervention, including early identification, proactive outreach, and contribution to the individualized remediation plans for students at academic risk.
The position contributes to student success outcomes and supports a data-driven, continuous quality improvement approach aligned with accreditation expectations, including those of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. The role collaborates across the Office of Student Success, Office of Student Affairs, and Department of Medical Education to ensure coordinated, equitable, and high-impact academic support services.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Higher Education, Counseling, Learning Sciences, Psychology, Cognitive Science, Instructional Design, or related field with at least 2 years of relevant experience OR Master’s degree in the fields noted above.
- Relevant experience must include academic advising, coaching, learning specialist/support, learning strategy instruction, or academic support with adult or graduate learners.
- Demonstrated knowledge of learning theory, metacognition, and assessment design relevant to student learning.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze student performance data and implement targeted academic interventions or learning strategies.
- Ability to work independently and while managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
- Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills that promote trust, including ability to support students in high-stress academic environments.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to proactively engage students, build rapport, and initiate meaningful interactions in both structured and informal settings.
- Knowledge of de-escalation techniques and promotion of emotional regulation.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in medical education or other high-stakes graduate/professional programs.
- Experience with medical student academic advising at a Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) accredited medical school.
- Experience coaching, advising, and/or leading others.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND PERCENT OF TIME:
Longitudinal Academic Advising & Learning Development 35%
- Develop and support longitudinal, developmentally appropriate programming intended for early academic engagement and to promote successful transition across all phases of the curriculum.
- Provide generalized and individual coaching sessions with students on learning strategies, time management, and test-taking based on analysis of student performance data and learning behaviors.
- Guide students on academic goal setting, performance improvement, interpretation of item-type errors and applying clinical reasoning frameworks.
- Collaborate with key partnerships on navigating curricular transitions (pre-clinical to clinical).
- Help students design and implement personalized learning plans.
- Assist in interpreting NBME-style performance data, including item analysis and content domain deficiencies, to guide targeted academic interventions.
- Develop and deliver workshops and small group sessions in effective learning, metacognition, and cognitive resilience.
- Collaborate with student advisors, course/module directors and other faculty to ensure consistency of academic support strategies.
Academic Risk Identification/Intervention and Remediation 35%
- Collaborate with curriculum leadership to identify students at academic risk using performance data.
- Implement and conduct proactive outreach for students flagged by early-alert or assessments.
- Assist in the development and implementation of structured academic remediation and improvement plans for students experiencing academic difficulty, including measurable benchmarks and follow-up assessments.
- Collaborate with the fellow Academic Support Team and participate in discussions regarding student remediation and progression, using available assessment data to support identification of students who may be at academic risk.
- While maintaining confidentiality and FERPA, appropriately refer students to various BSOM and WSU support systems (including disability services and mental health resources).
Data Maintenance & Reporting 20%
- Track advising utilization, student outcomes, and intervention effectiveness.
- Assist in reviewing student outcomes and intervention effectiveness.
- Contribute to reports and summaries for stakeholders.
- Maintain confidential records of student encounters and progress.
- Conduct CQI (continuous quality improvement) on intervention and outcomes to promote effectiveness of interventions.
- Collaborate with OSAA to monitor student progress through required milestones.
- Facilitate compilation of academic advising metrics for LCME accreditation, internal audit, and leadership reporting.
Curricular and Institutional Collaboration 5%
- Collaborate with course and clerkship directors to align academic support with curriculum and identify systemic barriers to student performance and recommend interventions.
- Partner with Student Affairs and Student Success teams to ensure coordinated support.
- Contribute to academic success programming across the student lifecycle.
Other duties 5%
- Other duties as assigned within Office of Student Success.
INTRODUCTION
The Medical Student Academic Advisor and Learning Specialist in the Office of Student Success provides longitudinal, developmentally structured academic advising and learning support for medical students across all four years of the curriculum. This role is responsible for providing individualized academic coaching, conducting learning assessments and implementing evidence-based strategies to help students improve performance, including preparation for NBME assessments and USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK.
This position supports academic performance optimization, learning strategy development, and structured intervention, including early identification, proactive outreach, and contribution to the individualized remediation plans for students at academic risk.
The position contributes to student success outcomes and supports a data-driven, continuous quality improvement approach aligned with accreditation expectations, including those of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. The role collaborates across the Office of Student Success, Office of Student Affairs, and Department of Medical Education to ensure coordinated, equitable, and high-impact academic support services.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Higher Education, Counseling, Learning Sciences, Psychology, Cognitive Science, Instructional Design, or related field with at least 2 years of relevant experience OR Master’s degree in the fields noted above.
- Relevant experience must include academic advising, coaching, learning specialist/support, learning strategy instruction, or academic support with adult or graduate learners.
- Demonstrated knowledge of learning theory, metacognition, and assessment design relevant to student learning.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze student performance data and implement targeted academic interventions or learning strategies.
- Ability to work independently and while managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
- Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills that promote trust, including ability to support students in high-stress academic environments.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to proactively engage students, build rapport, and initiate meaningful interactions in both structured and informal settings.
- Knowledge of de-escalation techniques and promotion of emotional regulation.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in medical education or other high-stakes graduate/professional programs.
- Experience with medical student academic advising at a Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) accredited medical school.
- Experience coaching, advising, and/or leading others.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND PERCENT OF TIME:
Longitudinal Academic Advising & Learning Development 35%
- Develop and support longitudinal, developmentally appropriate programming intended for early academic engagement and to promote successful transition across all phases of the curriculum.
- Provide generalized and individual coaching sessions with students on learning strategies, time management, and test-taking based on analysis of student performance data and learning behaviors.
- Guide students on academic goal setting, performance improvement, interpretation of item-type errors and applying clinical reasoning frameworks.
- Collaborate with key partnerships on navigating curricular transitions (pre-clinical to clinical).
- Help students design and implement personalized learning plans.
- Assist in interpreting NBME-style performance data, including item analysis and content domain deficiencies, to guide targeted academic interventions.
- Develop and deliver workshops and small group sessions in effective learning, metacognition, and cognitive resilience.
- Collaborate with student advisors, course/module directors and other faculty to ensure consistency of academic support strategies.
Academic Risk Identification/Intervention and Remediation 35%
- Collaborate with curriculum leadership to identify students at academic risk using performance data.
- Implement and conduct proactive outreach for students flagged by early-alert or assessments.
- Assist in the development and implementation of structured academic remediation and improvement plans for students experiencing academic difficulty, including measurable benchmarks and follow-up assessments.
- Collaborate with the fellow Academic Support Team and participate in discussions regarding student remediation and progression, using available assessment data to support identification of students who may be at academic risk.
- While maintaining confidentiality and FERPA, appropriately refer students to various BSOM and WSU support systems (including disability services and mental health resources).
Data Maintenance & Reporting 20%
- Track advising utilization, student outcomes, and intervention effectiveness.
- Assist in reviewing student outcomes and intervention effectiveness.
- Contribute to reports and summaries for stakeholders.
- Maintain confidential records of student encounters and progress.
- Conduct CQI (continuous quality improvement) on intervention and outcomes to promote effectiveness of interventions.
- Collaborate with OSAA to monitor student progress through required milestones.
- Facilitate compilation of academic advising metrics for LCME accreditation, internal audit, and leadership reporting.
Curricular and Institutional Collaboration 5%
- Collaborate with course and clerkship directors to align academic support with curriculum and identify systemic barriers to student performance and recommend interventions.
- Partner with Student Affairs and Student Success teams to ensure coordinated support.
- Contribute to academic success programming across the student lifecycle.
Other duties 5%
- Other duties as assigned within Office of Student Success.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Learning Specialist
Verify your role qualifies as a specialty occupation
Learning Specialist positions typically require a degree in education, instructional design, or psychology. Confirm the job description explicitly states a degree requirement in a specific field, not just any bachelor's degree, before accepting an offer.
Check your STEM OPT eligibility early
Instructional design and educational technology degrees may qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. Ask your DSO to verify your CIP code before applying so you know your full authorization window upfront when negotiating timelines with employers.
Target employers with existing OPT hiring history
Large school districts, edtech companies, universities, and corporate L&D departments hire Learning Specialists regularly and are more familiar with OPT work authorization. Smaller tutoring centers may hesitate due to unfamiliarity with the process.
Address OPT timing transparently with hiring managers
Be upfront about your OPT end date and STEM extension eligibility. Framing it as a known, manageable timeline with a clear H-1B visa sponsorship path reassures employers more than leaving authorization details vague during interviews.
Highlight curriculum design and LMS experience specifically
Employers filing H-1B or E-3 visa petitions need to justify the specialty occupation requirement. Roles involving Canvas, Moodle, or structured instructional design methodologies like ADDIE are easier to document as requiring specialized degree-level knowledge.
Use Migrate Mate to find OPT-friendly Learning Specialist roles
Migrate Mate filters jobs by visa sponsorship willingness, so you spend time on employers already open to OPT candidates rather than guessing which organizations will engage with your work authorization situation.
Learning Specialist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Learning Specialist jobs qualify for OPT work authorization?
Most Learning Specialist roles qualify because they require a degree in a specific field such as education, instructional design, or psychology, meeting the specialty occupation standard. The key is confirming the job posting states a field-specific degree requirement rather than accepting any bachelor's degree. Review the offer letter with your DSO before accepting.
Can I get a STEM OPT extension as a Learning Specialist?
It depends on your degree's CIP code, not your job title. Degrees in instructional design, educational technology, or learning sciences often carry STEM-designated CIP codes that qualify for the 24-month extension. Degrees in general education or psychology typically do not. Your DSO can confirm your eligibility by reviewing your degree's official CIP classification before you apply.
Which types of employers are most likely to sponsor Learning Specialists?
Corporate learning and development departments at large companies, edtech firms, universities, and hospital systems are the most common sponsors. These organizations have dedicated HR teams familiar with OPT and H-1B processes. K-12 school districts vary considerably by state and district size. Browse Migrate Mate to identify which employers are actively open to sponsoring OPT candidates in this field.
What happens to my OPT status if my Learning Specialist contract ends early?
You have a 60-day grace period from your last day of authorized employment to find a new qualifying position, transfer to a different visa status, or depart the United States. Unemployment during OPT also counts against a 90-day aggregate unemployment limit, so beginning your job search immediately matters. Notify your DSO as soon as your employment situation changes.
Does working as a freelance Learning Specialist count toward OPT employment?
Yes, self-employment is permitted on OPT as long as the work falls within your degree field and you can document it as a legitimate business providing services consistent with your specialty occupation. You must report the self-employment to your DSO and maintain records of your work. Purely informal tutoring without a structured business arrangement is harder to document and may not satisfy OPT employment requirements.