OPT Licensed Clinical Social Worker Jobs
Licensed Clinical Social Worker jobs on OPT require active state licensure, which can take 3 to 24 months to obtain after your degree. Most LCSW roles qualify as specialty occupations under H-1B visa, making them strong candidates for visa sponsorship. STEM OPT extension does not apply to social work programs.
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Florida Atlantic University is seeking a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Westgate, FL.
The Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) provides therapy, crisis intervention, and case management while creating treatment plans based on patient assessments. The LCSW works with healthcare teams to deliver integrated care, ensure compliance with regulations, and maintain accurate records.
Summary of Responsibilities
- Provide individual, family, and group psychotherapy to patients of all ages.
- Conduct biosocial assessments and develop individualized treatment plans.
- Provide individual psychotherapy sessions on a weekly or biweekly basis.
- Develop and modify treatment plans based on clinical progress and changing patient’s needs.
- Educate patients and families on mental health conditions and coping strategies.
- Use evidence-based therapeutic modalities such as CBT and DBT, motivational interviewing and trauma informed care.
- Works with substance use and addiction populations on an outpatient basis, serving substance use/dependency, active addictions, court-ordered to attend local outpatient drug programs for individual and group therapy for those who have been arrested or are in current legal issues for DUIs, trafficking, DWI's or child custody cases related.
- Collaborate with medical providers, case managers, and other team members to support integrated care.
- Offer crisis intervention and risk assessments, including safety planning when necessary.
- Design and implement behavioral health programs aligned with the FQHC's mission, while monitoring outcomes and recommending enhancements based on patient and community needs.
- Assist patients in navigating social service systems, including housing, food security, and benefits access.
- Maintain timely, accurate, and confidential documentation in the electronic health record (EHR).
- Maintains patient scheduling level at 32 hours per week with average of 28 patients seen and 8 hours allocated for administrative time to assure note closure to be completed.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant federal, state, and local regulations, including HIPAA.
- Stay updated on trends, best practices, and behavioral health regulations to guide program improvements.
- Participate in audits, quality assurance reviews, care management meetings, and team discussions to uphold service standards.
- Support outreach to neighborhood schools/communities as directed.
- Participate in regular staff meetings, staff training programs, supervisory sessions, and accept the responsibility for aiding the development of positive team relationships as requested.
- Adhere to agency policy, procedures, and the professional code of ethics.
- Uphold ethical standards and best practices in line with NASW Code of Ethics and HIPAA regulations.
- Perform other ad hoc and job-related duties and projects as assigned.
FAU Benefits and Perks
If Benefits & Perks are important to you, then FAU is the place to be! Working at FAU has its perks! In addition to helping drive change and having a positive impact by supporting our students, staff, and faculty, FAU offers:
- Excellent benefit packages including Medical (PPO/HMO $50 per month single & $180 per month family), Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending plans, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and much more.
- State retirement options including tax-deferred annuities and Roth 403(b) plans.
- State employees Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
- Sick Leave Pool Program.
- Paid time off (eligible employees) including vacation and sick leave, 1 personal day, 9 paid holidays, and paid winter break (at President’s discretion).
- Paid Community Engagement Volunteer Service Day.
- Employee Educational Scholarship Program (EESP) for eligible Staff/Faculty - Tuition assistance after 6 months of full-time employment. For in-unit faculty, the EESP program may be extended to spouses and dependent children (eligibility rules apply).
Minimum Qualifications:
Master's degree in an appropriate area of specialization; or a bachelor's degree in an appropriate area of specialization and two years of appropriate experience required.
Salary:
$65,000.00 - $80,000.00 Annually.
College or Department:
College of Nursing.
Location:
Westgate
Work Days and Hours:
Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm.
Application Deadline:
2026-10-05
Special Instructions to Applicant:
APPLICATION DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:
Resume
Cover letter
OFFICIAL SEALED TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED:
Final candidate will be required to have official, sealed transcripts and original NACES evaluation, if applicable, sent from their educational institution to Human Resources prior to the start of employment.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENINGS REQUIRED:
Selected candidates must successfully complete and pass all employment screenings prior to the start of employment. Employment screenings may include a criminal background check (level I and level II), motor vehicle check, credit check, reference checks, alcohol, and drug screening check.
REQUEST FOR ACCOMMODATIONS:
Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations may contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX at 561-297-3004 or send an email at accommodate@fau.edu. To contact Human Resources, please call 561-297-3057. For communication assistance call 7-1-1.
Position Summary:
Florida Atlantic University is seeking a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Westgate, FL.
The Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) provides therapy, crisis intervention, and case management while creating treatment plans based on patient assessments. The LCSW works with healthcare teams to deliver integrated care, ensure compliance with regulations, and maintain accurate records.
Summary of Responsibilities
- Provide individual, family, and group psychotherapy to patients of all ages.
- Conduct biosocial assessments and develop individualized treatment plans.
- Provide individual psychotherapy sessions on a weekly or biweekly basis.
- Develop and modify treatment plans based on clinical progress and changing patient’s needs.
- Educate patients and families on mental health conditions and coping strategies.
- Use evidence-based therapeutic modalities such as CBT and DBT, motivational interviewing and trauma informed care.
- Works with substance use and addiction populations on an outpatient basis, serving substance use/dependency, active addictions, court-ordered to attend local outpatient drug programs for individual and group therapy for those who have been arrested or are in current legal issues for DUIs, trafficking, DWI's or child custody cases related.
- Collaborate with medical providers, case managers, and other team members to support integrated care.
- Offer crisis intervention and risk assessments, including safety planning when necessary.
- Design and implement behavioral health programs aligned with the FQHC's mission, while monitoring outcomes and recommending enhancements based on patient and community needs.
- Assist patients in navigating social service systems, including housing, food security, and benefits access.
- Maintain timely, accurate, and confidential documentation in the electronic health record (EHR).
- Maintains patient scheduling level at 32 hours per week with average of 28 patients seen and 8 hours allocated for administrative time to assure note closure to be completed.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant federal, state, and local regulations, including HIPAA.
- Stay updated on trends, best practices, and behavioral health regulations to guide program improvements.
- Participate in audits, quality assurance reviews, care management meetings, and team discussions to uphold service standards.
- Support outreach to neighborhood schools/communities as directed.
- Participate in regular staff meetings, staff training programs, supervisory sessions, and accept the responsibility for aiding the development of positive team relationships as requested.
- Adhere to agency policy, procedures, and the professional code of ethics.
- Uphold ethical standards and best practices in line with NASW Code of Ethics and HIPAA regulations.
- Perform other ad hoc and job-related duties and projects as assigned.
FAU Benefits and Perks
If Benefits & Perks are important to you, then FAU is the place to be! Working at FAU has its perks! In addition to helping drive change and having a positive impact by supporting our students, staff, and faculty, FAU offers:
- Excellent benefit packages including Medical (PPO/HMO $50 per month single & $180 per month family), Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending plans, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and much more.
- State retirement options including tax-deferred annuities and Roth 403(b) plans.
- State employees Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
- Sick Leave Pool Program.
- Paid time off (eligible employees) including vacation and sick leave, 1 personal day, 9 paid holidays, and paid winter break (at President’s discretion).
- Paid Community Engagement Volunteer Service Day.
- Employee Educational Scholarship Program (EESP) for eligible Staff/Faculty - Tuition assistance after 6 months of full-time employment. For in-unit faculty, the EESP program may be extended to spouses and dependent children (eligibility rules apply).
Minimum Qualifications:
Master's degree in an appropriate area of specialization; or a bachelor's degree in an appropriate area of specialization and two years of appropriate experience required.
Salary:
$65,000.00 - $80,000.00 Annually.
College or Department:
College of Nursing.
Location:
Westgate
Work Days and Hours:
Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm.
Application Deadline:
2026-10-05
Special Instructions to Applicant:
APPLICATION DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:
Resume
Cover letter
OFFICIAL SEALED TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED:
Final candidate will be required to have official, sealed transcripts and original NACES evaluation, if applicable, sent from their educational institution to Human Resources prior to the start of employment.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENINGS REQUIRED:
Selected candidates must successfully complete and pass all employment screenings prior to the start of employment. Employment screenings may include a criminal background check (level I and level II), motor vehicle check, credit check, reference checks, alcohol, and drug screening check.
REQUEST FOR ACCOMMODATIONS:
Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations may contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX at 561-297-3004 or send an email at accommodate@fau.edu. To contact Human Resources, please call 561-297-3057. For communication assistance call 7-1-1.
See all 65+ OPT Licensed Clinical Social Worker Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Licensed Clinical Social Worker Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Target employers with H-1B sponsorship history
Hospitals, federally qualified health centers, and large behavioral health networks file H-1B visa petitions regularly. Search OFLC disclosure data to confirm which employers have sponsored social workers before approaching them about OPT or future sponsorship.
Prioritize roles at cap-exempt employers
Nonprofit hospitals, universities, and government-affiliated health clinics are H-1B cap-exempt. These employers can sponsor you year-round, skipping the lottery entirely, which matters most when your OPT authorization window is running short.
Get your state license before your OPT end date
Many LCSW positions require full licensure before your first day. Start the licensing process immediately after graduation. Delays in background checks or supervised hours documentation can cost months you cannot afford on a tight OPT timeline.
Understand how supervised hours interact with OPT
Post-master's supervised clinical hours required for LCSW licensure count as qualifying OPT employment when tied to a social work role. Document your supervision arrangement carefully and confirm it meets your DSO's authorized employment requirements.
Frame your international background as a clinical asset
Cross-cultural competency is a documented gap in the U.S. behavioral health workforce. Employers serving immigrant, refugee, or multilingual communities will see your background as a direct clinical qualification, not a visa complication to manage around.
Ask about sponsorship intent early in the interview process
Raise sponsorship during the offer negotiation stage, not after accepting. Ask specifically whether the organization has sponsored H-1B or green card petitions for social workers before. Vague answers at that stage usually mean no structured process exists.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Licensed Clinical Social Worker jobs qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes. LCSW roles qualify as specialty occupations because they require a master's degree in social work from an accredited program. Your OPT authorization must be tied to employment directly related to your degree field. Clinical social work, therapy, and case management roles at the licensed level all meet that standard.
Can I work as an LCSW on OPT if I haven't received my state license yet?
It depends on the employer and state. Some employers will hire you under a licensed master social worker (LMSW) or associate license while you accumulate supervised hours toward full LCSW licensure. Others require the LCSW credential before your start date. Clarify licensure requirements with each employer before applying, and start your state licensing application the moment you graduate.
Does the STEM OPT 24-month extension apply to social work degrees?
No. Social work is not a STEM-designated field under the Department of Homeland Security's STEM OPT list. MSW graduates receive the standard 12-month OPT authorization. This makes timing your H-1B sponsorship petition especially important since you don't have the extended runway that STEM graduates have.
Which types of employers are most likely to sponsor an LCSW for an H-1B or green card?
Nonprofit hospitals, federally qualified health centers, university counseling centers, and VA medical facilities sponsor social workers most consistently. These organizations are often H-1B cap-exempt, meaning they can file petitions any time of year. Migrate Mate's job board filters for sponsorship-friendly employers so you can focus your applications where sponsorship is actually available.
Can supervised clinical hours completed during OPT count toward LCSW licensure requirements?
Yes, in most states. Hours completed under an approved supervisor in a qualifying social work role count toward licensure regardless of your immigration status. Confirm with your state licensing board that your employment setting and supervisor credentials meet their specific requirements. Keep detailed records of every supervision session throughout your OPT period.