OPT Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Jobs
Mental Health Nurse Practitioner jobs on OPT require active APRN licensure, which varies by state and can take weeks to obtain after graduation. Most positions fall under STEM OPT if your nursing program qualifies. Employers typically sponsor H-1B visa after OPT, given the persistent shortage of psychiatric NPs nationwide.
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Get Access To All JobsNOW RECRUITING EXPERTS IN COLLABORATION AND COMPASSION.
At Family Care Center, we are on a mission to transform lives by elevating behavioral health care. Our journey began in 2016 when two U.S. Army Veterans founded Family Care Center to help service members, Veterans and their families. We continue that tradition today, caring for people of all ages across a broad range of conditions with nearly 30 outpatient clinics in communities across Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Tennessee and Texas.
If you’d like to work for one of the nation's fastest-growing behavioral health providers while collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to make a positive impact on the well-being of your local community, we look forward to hearing from you.
Where behavioral health behaves differently.* WE FOCUS ON YOU, SO YOU CAN FOCUS ON YOUR PATIENTS: Our comprehensive support system enables you to build a robust and profitable caseload, while ensuring you have the autonomy, time and resources to deliver exceptional care.
- BALANCED LIFESTYLE AND OPTIMAL PATIENT CARE: Maintain a healthy work-life balance with no on-call, weekend or evening hours. Dedicate more time to your patients with top-notch administrative staff and feel supported in our beautiful, modern clinics.
- CLINICIAN-LED CARE: Family Care Center clinics are run by clinicians. That means we empower each of our providers with the autonomy to make the best decisions for them and their patients.
- UNPARALLELED GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES: Paths to grow your career and engage in research and continuing education, enriching your professional journey.
- ADVANCED TIME-SAVING TECHNOLOGY: Dedicate more time to your patients with AI-supported clinical documentation and a behavioral-health focused EHR.
- COLLABORATIVE TEAM: Join forces with a diverse clinical team comprised of licensed therapists, psychiatrists, psychiatric NPs/PAs, psychologists, TMS specialists and support staff to provide comprehensive care.
- IMPRESSIVE RETENTION RATES: Our compassionate, welcoming approach has helped us earn a higher-than-average provider retention rate of 88%.
- PROVEN OUTCOMES: Our track record of superior outcomes, as reported by our patients, demonstrates our dedication to delivering high-quality care.
- COMPREHENSIVE BENEFITS: We prioritize your overall well-being and financial security. Enjoy a full suite of competitive benefits, including medical, dental, fertility, retirement, wellness, profit sharing and more.
- Annual Compensation: $115,000-140,000 annually depending on experience. Opportunity for compensation rewards through our 5-star program $27,100 annually.
Position Overview:
The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) provides direct client care, including assessing, diagnosing, planning, and prescribing pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment of health problems, health promotion and preventive care within this specialized area of practice. The PMHNP is involved in practice activities with the goal of improving the quality of care in an outpatient setting.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Performs psychiatric diagnostic evaluations to determine diagnoses, treatment strategies, and care coordination needs for clients with mental health, substance use, or other psychiatric and medical needs.
- Provide all psychiatric and/or medical services within reasonable and expected medical standards, timelines, and in conformance with all requirements imposed by the applicable health licensing boards.
- Applies medical knowledge and skills to the process of diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of illnesses.
- Maintain timely, complete, accurate and legible medical records for all patients evaluated and treated by the Nurse Practitioner.
- Performs timely, concurrent, accurate clinical/billing documentation meeting professional standards in compliance with State and Federal regulations, clinical necessity, and appropriate coding standards.
- Performs pharmacologic treatment strategies, orders medications, monitors, and evaluates progress on psychiatric and/or other medications.
- Order, obtain and assess appropriate laboratory tests and diagnostics. Base clinical decisions on laboratory interpretation.
- This position works as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide clinical services and coordinate care to mental health patients.
- Assures timely access to care, demonstrates flexibility in scheduling to fully meet client needs, and meets applicable productivity standards.
- The PMHNP will assume client care responsibilities inclusive of psychiatric evaluation, professional diagnoses and prescribing and/or administering treatment.
- Collaborates with MD or DO for challenging or complex cases. Elevates to higher levels of care when necessary.
- Completes medication and health education to include but not limited to informed consent, benefits, risks, side effects, and alternative treatments for medications ordered, health/wellness management, metabolic risk reduction strategies.
- Competent and comfortable with conducting Telemedicine technology appointments- both for intake and follow up encounters.
- Care coordination: Professional and timely communication/care coordination with client/families/involved agencies/ PCP/ and other specialty care providers to ensure timely and coordinated treatment planning and evaluation of patient progress.
- Remain in compliance with state laws and regulations for PMHNP, including meeting supervised hour requirements, CME, and completing appropriate assessments in timely manner with supervising physician.
Other Duties:
- Attend weekly mandatory supervisory meeting with physician or as deemed appropriate by supervising physician or Chief Medical Officer.
- Assists as required by supervisor with other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Masters or doctorate degree from an accredited nursing school, required.
- Completion of an accredited Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program, required.
- At least one year of experience as a PMHNP preferred.
- Current Licensed Practitioner with full and unrestricted licensure in the state of practice and active state DEA License required.
- BLS from the American Heart Association required.
Location: West Knoxville Clinic - 1400 Dowell Springs Blvd, Ste 330, Knoxville, TN 37909
Family Care Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.
NOW RECRUITING EXPERTS IN COLLABORATION AND COMPASSION.
At Family Care Center, we are on a mission to transform lives by elevating behavioral health care. Our journey began in 2016 when two U.S. Army Veterans founded Family Care Center to help service members, Veterans and their families. We continue that tradition today, caring for people of all ages across a broad range of conditions with nearly 30 outpatient clinics in communities across Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Tennessee and Texas.
If you’d like to work for one of the nation's fastest-growing behavioral health providers while collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to make a positive impact on the well-being of your local community, we look forward to hearing from you.
Where behavioral health behaves differently.* WE FOCUS ON YOU, SO YOU CAN FOCUS ON YOUR PATIENTS: Our comprehensive support system enables you to build a robust and profitable caseload, while ensuring you have the autonomy, time and resources to deliver exceptional care.
- BALANCED LIFESTYLE AND OPTIMAL PATIENT CARE: Maintain a healthy work-life balance with no on-call, weekend or evening hours. Dedicate more time to your patients with top-notch administrative staff and feel supported in our beautiful, modern clinics.
- CLINICIAN-LED CARE: Family Care Center clinics are run by clinicians. That means we empower each of our providers with the autonomy to make the best decisions for them and their patients.
- UNPARALLELED GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES: Paths to grow your career and engage in research and continuing education, enriching your professional journey.
- ADVANCED TIME-SAVING TECHNOLOGY: Dedicate more time to your patients with AI-supported clinical documentation and a behavioral-health focused EHR.
- COLLABORATIVE TEAM: Join forces with a diverse clinical team comprised of licensed therapists, psychiatrists, psychiatric NPs/PAs, psychologists, TMS specialists and support staff to provide comprehensive care.
- IMPRESSIVE RETENTION RATES: Our compassionate, welcoming approach has helped us earn a higher-than-average provider retention rate of 88%.
- PROVEN OUTCOMES: Our track record of superior outcomes, as reported by our patients, demonstrates our dedication to delivering high-quality care.
- COMPREHENSIVE BENEFITS: We prioritize your overall well-being and financial security. Enjoy a full suite of competitive benefits, including medical, dental, fertility, retirement, wellness, profit sharing and more.
- Annual Compensation: $115,000-140,000 annually depending on experience. Opportunity for compensation rewards through our 5-star program $27,100 annually.
Position Overview:
The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) provides direct client care, including assessing, diagnosing, planning, and prescribing pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment of health problems, health promotion and preventive care within this specialized area of practice. The PMHNP is involved in practice activities with the goal of improving the quality of care in an outpatient setting.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Performs psychiatric diagnostic evaluations to determine diagnoses, treatment strategies, and care coordination needs for clients with mental health, substance use, or other psychiatric and medical needs.
- Provide all psychiatric and/or medical services within reasonable and expected medical standards, timelines, and in conformance with all requirements imposed by the applicable health licensing boards.
- Applies medical knowledge and skills to the process of diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of illnesses.
- Maintain timely, complete, accurate and legible medical records for all patients evaluated and treated by the Nurse Practitioner.
- Performs timely, concurrent, accurate clinical/billing documentation meeting professional standards in compliance with State and Federal regulations, clinical necessity, and appropriate coding standards.
- Performs pharmacologic treatment strategies, orders medications, monitors, and evaluates progress on psychiatric and/or other medications.
- Order, obtain and assess appropriate laboratory tests and diagnostics. Base clinical decisions on laboratory interpretation.
- This position works as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide clinical services and coordinate care to mental health patients.
- Assures timely access to care, demonstrates flexibility in scheduling to fully meet client needs, and meets applicable productivity standards.
- The PMHNP will assume client care responsibilities inclusive of psychiatric evaluation, professional diagnoses and prescribing and/or administering treatment.
- Collaborates with MD or DO for challenging or complex cases. Elevates to higher levels of care when necessary.
- Completes medication and health education to include but not limited to informed consent, benefits, risks, side effects, and alternative treatments for medications ordered, health/wellness management, metabolic risk reduction strategies.
- Competent and comfortable with conducting Telemedicine technology appointments- both for intake and follow up encounters.
- Care coordination: Professional and timely communication/care coordination with client/families/involved agencies/ PCP/ and other specialty care providers to ensure timely and coordinated treatment planning and evaluation of patient progress.
- Remain in compliance with state laws and regulations for PMHNP, including meeting supervised hour requirements, CME, and completing appropriate assessments in timely manner with supervising physician.
Other Duties:
- Attend weekly mandatory supervisory meeting with physician or as deemed appropriate by supervising physician or Chief Medical Officer.
- Assists as required by supervisor with other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Masters or doctorate degree from an accredited nursing school, required.
- Completion of an accredited Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program, required.
- At least one year of experience as a PMHNP preferred.
- Current Licensed Practitioner with full and unrestricted licensure in the state of practice and active state DEA License required.
- BLS from the American Heart Association required.
Location: West Knoxville Clinic - 1400 Dowell Springs Blvd, Ste 330, Knoxville, TN 37909
Family Care Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.
See all 134+ OPT Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Verify your STEM OPT eligibility early
Psychiatric nursing programs with a STEM-designated CIP code qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Confirm your program's classification with your DSO before graduation so you can plan your job search around a full three-year OPT window.
Obtain your APRN license before your start date
State licensing boards require a separate application after passing the PMHNP-BC or ANCC exam. Some states take six to ten weeks to process. Start the application immediately after passing your boards to avoid gaps in your OPT employment authorization.
Target health systems with H-1B sponsorship history
Large hospital networks and federally qualified health centers regularly sponsor psychiatric NPs on H-1B visas. Focus your applications on employers with established immigration support teams, as they are more likely to navigate the sponsorship process efficiently on your behalf.
Understand the specialty occupation standard for NPs
Mental Health NP roles qualify as specialty occupations under H-1B rules because they require a graduate nursing degree and APRN licensure. Framing your role's clinical and diagnostic responsibilities clearly in your resume strengthens the employer's petition case.
Document your clinical hours and supervisory relationships
Some employers require supervised practice periods for new APRNs, which still counts as valid OPT employment. Keep written records of your supervising physician or collaborating provider arrangement, as USCIS may request this documentation during OPT or H-1B adjudication.
Negotiate a sponsorship commitment before accepting an offer
Ask employers directly about their H-1B sponsorship policy during the offer stage, not after you start. Behavioral health settings with ongoing shortages are often willing to commit in writing, giving you security before your OPT authorization period expires.
Mental Health Nurse Practitioner OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner on OPT without a Social Security Number?
You can begin the job search and sign an offer letter without an SSN, but you cannot start working until you have one. Apply for your SSN as soon as you have a confirmed employment start date and a job offer letter. Processing takes one to two weeks at most Social Security Administration offices.
Does a Mental Health NP role qualify for STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your specific degree program's CIP code. Some psychiatric and advanced practice nursing programs carry STEM-designated classifications, which qualify you for the 24-month extension on top of your initial 12 months. Check with your DSO and confirm the CIP code for your degree before assuming eligibility.
How do I find Mental Health Nurse Practitioner employers who sponsor OPT and H-1B?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters jobs by visa sponsorship willingness. Searching on Migrate Mate lets you focus on Mental Health NP roles at employers who have sponsored international workers before, saving significant time compared to applying broadly and asking about sponsorship after the fact.
Can I work as a Mental Health NP in multiple states on a single OPT authorization?
Yes. Your OPT work authorization is federal and not tied to a specific state. However, APRN licensure is state-specific, so you need a valid license in every state where you practice clinically. If you move or take a telehealth role covering multiple states, verify licensure requirements for each jurisdiction before starting work there.
What happens to my OPT if my employer's H-1B petition is denied?
If your H-1B petition is denied and your OPT is still valid, you can continue working for that employer or seek a new position. If your OPT has already expired, you enter unlawful status unless you have another valid authorization. File H-1B petitions as early as your OPT timeline allows to maximize overlap and reduce risk.