OPT Licensed Professional Counselor Jobs
Licensed Professional Counselor jobs on OPT require active state licensure, which typically takes 2 to 3 years of supervised post-graduation hours. Most employers sponsor H-1B visa or O-1 visas for licensed candidates. Your F-1 OPT authorization covers full-time counseling roles in clinical, school, or community settings.
Find OPT Licensed Professional Counselor JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 222+ Licensed Professional Counselor jobs
See all 222+ Licensed Professional Counselor Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Licensed Professional Counselor roles.
Get Access To All JobsLocation: Sunbury, PA
Job Category: Wellbeing Services
Schedule: Days
Work Type: Full time
Department: JM-Pediatric Primary Care Behavioral Health Division
Date posted: 07/30/2026
Job ID: R-02346
Job Summary
$7500 Signing Bonus, if eligible; Full Time; In-Person; Monday – Friday; Day 8am – 4:30pm; REQUIRES: Active Pennsylvania Professional Counselor (LPC) licensure; previous pediatric experience strongly preferred.
Job Duties
Assesses patient needs and abilities and develops treatment plans to facilitate improved patient functioning/symptom resolution. Provides individual, family, couple and group psychotherapy as deemed clinically appropriate. Participates with program planning with the psychiatry team and other applicable team members.
- Evaluates the ongoing biopsychosocial needs of patients, identifying needs and problems and determining a treatment plan.
- Provides psychotherapies and case management to assigned patients as well as input regarding the care of program patients.
- Engages as a primary therapist or co-therapist in group therapy to psychiatric patients and as the primary therapist in individual, family, and couple therapies.
- Obtains pertinent data in accordance with program and regulatory standards.
- Upholds agency policies and standards as well as ethical standards of appropriate discipline.
- Collaborates with outpatient and inpatient teams to provide triage evaluation and crisis intervention.
Work is typically performed in a clinical environment. Accountable for satisfying all job specific obligations and complying with all organization policies and procedures. The specific statements in this profile are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements considered necessary to successfully perform the job. Additional competencies and skills outlined in any department-specific orientation will be considered essential to the performance of the job related to that position.
Position Details
Caring for your health and well-being.
- Full benefits (health, dental and vision) starting on day one
- Three medical plan choices, including an expanded network for out-of-area employees and dependents
- Pre-tax savings plans with healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSA) and a health savings account (HSA) with employer contribution
- Company-paid life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability coverage
- 401(k) plan that includes automatic Geisinger contribution
- Generous paid time off (PTO) plan that allows you to accrue time quickly
- Up to $5,000 in tuition reimbursement per calendar year
- MyHealth Rewards wellness program to improve your health while earning a financial incentive
- Family-friendly support including adoption and fertility assistance, parental leave pay, military leave pay and a free Care.com membership with discounted backup care for your loved ones
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Referrals for childcare, eldercare, & pet care. Access free legal guidance, mental health visits, work-life support, digital self-help tools and more
- Voluntary benefits including accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity insurance, identity theft protection, universal life and pet and legal insurance
Education
Master's Degree-Social Sciences (Required)
Certification(s) and License(s)
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor - Default Issuing Body
About Geisinger
Founded more than 100 years ago by Abigail Geisinger, the system now includes ten hospital campuses, a 550,000-member health plan, two research centers and the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. With nearly 24,000 employees and more than 1,700 employed physicians, Geisinger boosts its hometown economies in Pennsylvania by billions of dollars annually. Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Equal Opportunity Employer
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Our Vision & Values
Everything we do is about making better health easier for our patients, our members, our students, our Geisinger family and our communities.
KINDNESS: We strive to treat everyone as we would hope to be treated ourselves.
EXCELLENCE: We treasure colleagues who humbly strive for excellence.
LEARNING: We share our knowledge with the best and brightest to better prepare the caregivers for tomorrow.
INNOVATION: We constantly seek new and better ways to care for our patients, our members, our community, and the nation.
SAFETY: We provide a safe environment for our patients and members and the Geisinger family.
Our Benefits
We offer healthcare benefits for full time and part time positions from day one, including vision, dental and prescription coverage.
Location: Sunbury, PA
Job Category: Wellbeing Services
Schedule: Days
Work Type: Full time
Department: JM-Pediatric Primary Care Behavioral Health Division
Date posted: 07/30/2026
Job ID: R-02346
Job Summary
$7500 Signing Bonus, if eligible; Full Time; In-Person; Monday – Friday; Day 8am – 4:30pm; REQUIRES: Active Pennsylvania Professional Counselor (LPC) licensure; previous pediatric experience strongly preferred.
Job Duties
Assesses patient needs and abilities and develops treatment plans to facilitate improved patient functioning/symptom resolution. Provides individual, family, couple and group psychotherapy as deemed clinically appropriate. Participates with program planning with the psychiatry team and other applicable team members.
- Evaluates the ongoing biopsychosocial needs of patients, identifying needs and problems and determining a treatment plan.
- Provides psychotherapies and case management to assigned patients as well as input regarding the care of program patients.
- Engages as a primary therapist or co-therapist in group therapy to psychiatric patients and as the primary therapist in individual, family, and couple therapies.
- Obtains pertinent data in accordance with program and regulatory standards.
- Upholds agency policies and standards as well as ethical standards of appropriate discipline.
- Collaborates with outpatient and inpatient teams to provide triage evaluation and crisis intervention.
Work is typically performed in a clinical environment. Accountable for satisfying all job specific obligations and complying with all organization policies and procedures. The specific statements in this profile are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements considered necessary to successfully perform the job. Additional competencies and skills outlined in any department-specific orientation will be considered essential to the performance of the job related to that position.
Position Details
Caring for your health and well-being.
- Full benefits (health, dental and vision) starting on day one
- Three medical plan choices, including an expanded network for out-of-area employees and dependents
- Pre-tax savings plans with healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSA) and a health savings account (HSA) with employer contribution
- Company-paid life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability coverage
- 401(k) plan that includes automatic Geisinger contribution
- Generous paid time off (PTO) plan that allows you to accrue time quickly
- Up to $5,000 in tuition reimbursement per calendar year
- MyHealth Rewards wellness program to improve your health while earning a financial incentive
- Family-friendly support including adoption and fertility assistance, parental leave pay, military leave pay and a free Care.com membership with discounted backup care for your loved ones
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Referrals for childcare, eldercare, & pet care. Access free legal guidance, mental health visits, work-life support, digital self-help tools and more
- Voluntary benefits including accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity insurance, identity theft protection, universal life and pet and legal insurance
Education
Master's Degree-Social Sciences (Required)
Certification(s) and License(s)
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor - Default Issuing Body
About Geisinger
Founded more than 100 years ago by Abigail Geisinger, the system now includes ten hospital campuses, a 550,000-member health plan, two research centers and the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. With nearly 24,000 employees and more than 1,700 employed physicians, Geisinger boosts its hometown economies in Pennsylvania by billions of dollars annually. Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Equal Opportunity Employer
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Our Vision & Values
Everything we do is about making better health easier for our patients, our members, our students, our Geisinger family and our communities.
KINDNESS: We strive to treat everyone as we would hope to be treated ourselves.
EXCELLENCE: We treasure colleagues who humbly strive for excellence.
LEARNING: We share our knowledge with the best and brightest to better prepare the caregivers for tomorrow.
INNOVATION: We constantly seek new and better ways to care for our patients, our members, our community, and the nation.
SAFETY: We provide a safe environment for our patients and members and the Geisinger family.
Our Benefits
We offer healthcare benefits for full time and part time positions from day one, including vision, dental and prescription coverage.
See all 222+ OPT Licensed Professional Counselor Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Licensed Professional Counselor Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Licensed Professional Counselor
Prioritize licensure before your OPT clock runs out
Many states require 2,000 to 4,000 supervised hours for LPC licensure. Start your provisional or associate license application immediately after graduation so you're fully licensed before employers need to begin visa sponsorship conversations.
Target employers with a track record of sponsoring counselors
Large hospital systems, university counseling centers, and federally funded community mental health centers have established HR processes for work authorization. Smaller private practices rarely have immigration infrastructure in place to support sponsorship.
Frame your STEM degree advantage if applicable
If your counseling program is STEM-designated, you qualify for 36 months of OPT instead of 12. Confirm your program's CIP code with your DSO and lead with this in employer conversations. It significantly reduces urgency around the sponsorship timeline.
Address your work authorization proactively during interviews
Don't wait for employers to raise the visa question. State your OPT authorization period clearly, mention H-1B visa eligibility, and explain what sponsorship actually requires from them. Informed employers are far more likely to engage seriously with the process.
Research state licensure reciprocity before targeting roles
LPC licenses don't transfer automatically across state lines. If you're considering relocating for a sponsored role, confirm the new state accepts reciprocity or endorsement from your licensing state. Relicensing delays can complicate visa petition timelines significantly.
Connect with professional associations that support international counselors
Organizations like the American Counseling Association maintain active professional networks. Many employer contacts at counseling centers and health systems come through these channels, where your credentials and OPT status are already understood in context by hiring managers.
Licensed Professional Counselor OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Licensed Professional Counselor on F-1 OPT?
Yes, F-1 OPT authorizes full-time employment in roles directly related to your degree field. For counseling graduates, this includes clinical counselor, mental health counselor, and therapist positions. Your work must be in a counseling-related capacity, not a general administrative or unrelated support role, to remain compliant with OPT employment requirements.
Do Licensed Professional Counselor jobs typically offer H-1B visa sponsorship?
Sponsorship availability varies significantly by employer type. Large healthcare systems, university counseling centers, Veterans Affairs facilities, and federally qualified health centers sponsor H-1B visas more regularly than private practices. The H-1B specialty occupation standard is generally met for LPC roles requiring a master's degree in counseling or a closely related field.
How does state licensure affect my OPT employment options as a counselor?
Most employers require at minimum a provisional or associate license before hiring. Without it, you can't legally provide counseling services in most states. Since OPT is time-limited, prioritizing your supervised hours and licensure application immediately after graduation is critical. Some states offer temporary licenses for new graduates that allow you to begin accruing hours while your application is pending.
Where can I find Licensed Professional Counselor jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate lists counseling and mental health roles from employers familiar with sponsoring international candidates on OPT. Filtering by role type and sponsorship history helps you avoid applying to positions where OPT authorization will be an immediate barrier. Start your search on Migrate Mate to focus your time on employers already equipped to hire you.
Does a STEM OPT extension apply to Licensed Professional Counselor programs?
It depends on your specific program's CIP code classification. Most traditional counseling programs are not STEM-designated, which means standard 12-month OPT applies. However, some counseling programs with a research or quantitative focus have received STEM designation. Confirm your program's status with your designated school official before relying on a 36-month OPT timeline in your job search planning.