OPT Psychiatric Social Worker Jobs
Psychiatric Social Worker jobs on OPT require active LCSW licensure or supervised hours toward it, making early license planning critical. Most roles fall under STEM-adjacent healthcare categories, and many hospitals and community mental health centers have sponsored H-1B visas for clinical social workers, giving OPT students a realistic path to long-term status.
Find OPT Psychiatric Social Worker JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 29+ Psychiatric Social Worker jobs
See all Psychiatric Social Worker Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Psychiatric Social Worker roles.
Get Access To All JobsLocation: West Covina, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Salary: $34.85–$44.00 per hour
SSG-APCTC Offers:
- Employer contribution of up to 7.5% of employees salary towards a 403(b) retirement plan
- Paid vacation, sick days, 11 paid holidays
- Subsidized medical, dental, vision insurance
- Flexible spending accounts for medical and child care expenses
- Life insurance
- Long-term disability
- Employee volunteer contribution of pre-taxed salary towards retirement plan, 403(b)
- Employee assistance program
- Mileage reimbursement
- Licensure supervision; we offer clinical supervision toward licensure hours.
Join Our Mission
Asian Pacific Counseling and Treatment Centers (APCTC) is a nonprofit community mental health organization dedicated to providing culturally responsive, high-quality behavioral health services to underserved communities throughout Los Angeles County. We believe everyone deserves access to compassionate mental health care, and we're looking for clinicians who share that commitment.
We are currently seeking a bilingual Spanish Psychiatric Social Worker I (ASW) or Associate Marriage & Family Therapist (AMFT) to join our West Covina Child & Youth Full-Service Partnership (FSP) Team.
If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact in children's lives while working alongside a collaborative multidisciplinary team, we'd love to hear from you.
As a member of our Child & Youth FSP team, you will provide comprehensive, community-based mental health services to children, youth, and families experiencing moderate to severe mental health challenges.
Responsibilities include:
- Provide individual, family, and group therapy
- Conduct intake assessments and develop treatment plans
- Provide crisis intervention and case management services
- Conduct outreach and engagement with clients and families
- Deliver services in the clinic, client homes, schools, and other community settings
- Participate in a rotating 24/7 on-call schedule supporting approximately five FSP clients
- Collaborate with community partners including schools, DCFS, Regional Centers, DPSS, Probation, healthcare providers, and other agencies
- Work closely with psychiatrists, therapists, case managers, substance use counselors, and parent partners as part of an interdisciplinary team
- Maintain timely, accurate, and compliant clinical documentation
What We're Looking For
Required Qualifications
- Master's degree in Social Work or Marriage & Family Therapy from an accredited university
- Current California BBS registration as an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) or Associate Marriage & Family Therapist (AMFT)
- Bilingual in English and Mandarin or Spanish
- Knowledge of DSM-5 diagnoses, treatment planning, and evidence-based clinical interventions
- Valid California driver's license, reliable transportation, and current automobile insurance
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working in community mental health
- Experience serving culturally diverse and underserved populations
- Familiarity with Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) documentation requirements
- Strong organizational, communication, and time-management skills
- Ability to work independently while thriving in a fast-paced team environment
Why Join APCTC?
At APCTC, you'll join a supportive team that values collaboration, cultural humility, professional growth, and work that truly changes lives. Our clinicians receive ongoing supervision, work alongside experienced multidisciplinary professionals, and have opportunities to develop their clinical skills while serving the community.
Compensation
- $34.85–$44.00 per hour
- Additional compensation available for BBS-registered staff
Work Location
West Covina, California
Apply Today
If you're ready to make a lasting impact in the lives of children, youth, and families, we'd love to hear from you.
Please submit your resume and cover letter to employment@apctc.org.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received and will remain open until the position is filled.
Pay: $34.85 - $44.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Referral program
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Do you have experience working with children and youth with moderate to significant behavioral health needs?
- Do you have experience providing field-based mental health services?
Experience:
- diagnosing: 1 year (Preferred)
Language:
- Spanish (Preferred)
- Mandarin (Preferred)
License/Certification:
- BBS registration as an ASW or AMFT (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- West Covina, CA 91790 (Preferred)
Willingness to travel:
- 50% (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
Location: West Covina, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Salary: $34.85–$44.00 per hour
SSG-APCTC Offers:
- Employer contribution of up to 7.5% of employees salary towards a 403(b) retirement plan
- Paid vacation, sick days, 11 paid holidays
- Subsidized medical, dental, vision insurance
- Flexible spending accounts for medical and child care expenses
- Life insurance
- Long-term disability
- Employee volunteer contribution of pre-taxed salary towards retirement plan, 403(b)
- Employee assistance program
- Mileage reimbursement
- Licensure supervision; we offer clinical supervision toward licensure hours.
Join Our Mission
Asian Pacific Counseling and Treatment Centers (APCTC) is a nonprofit community mental health organization dedicated to providing culturally responsive, high-quality behavioral health services to underserved communities throughout Los Angeles County. We believe everyone deserves access to compassionate mental health care, and we're looking for clinicians who share that commitment.
We are currently seeking a bilingual Spanish Psychiatric Social Worker I (ASW) or Associate Marriage & Family Therapist (AMFT) to join our West Covina Child & Youth Full-Service Partnership (FSP) Team.
If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact in children's lives while working alongside a collaborative multidisciplinary team, we'd love to hear from you.
As a member of our Child & Youth FSP team, you will provide comprehensive, community-based mental health services to children, youth, and families experiencing moderate to severe mental health challenges.
Responsibilities include:
- Provide individual, family, and group therapy
- Conduct intake assessments and develop treatment plans
- Provide crisis intervention and case management services
- Conduct outreach and engagement with clients and families
- Deliver services in the clinic, client homes, schools, and other community settings
- Participate in a rotating 24/7 on-call schedule supporting approximately five FSP clients
- Collaborate with community partners including schools, DCFS, Regional Centers, DPSS, Probation, healthcare providers, and other agencies
- Work closely with psychiatrists, therapists, case managers, substance use counselors, and parent partners as part of an interdisciplinary team
- Maintain timely, accurate, and compliant clinical documentation
What We're Looking For
Required Qualifications
- Master's degree in Social Work or Marriage & Family Therapy from an accredited university
- Current California BBS registration as an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) or Associate Marriage & Family Therapist (AMFT)
- Bilingual in English and Mandarin or Spanish
- Knowledge of DSM-5 diagnoses, treatment planning, and evidence-based clinical interventions
- Valid California driver's license, reliable transportation, and current automobile insurance
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working in community mental health
- Experience serving culturally diverse and underserved populations
- Familiarity with Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) documentation requirements
- Strong organizational, communication, and time-management skills
- Ability to work independently while thriving in a fast-paced team environment
Why Join APCTC?
At APCTC, you'll join a supportive team that values collaboration, cultural humility, professional growth, and work that truly changes lives. Our clinicians receive ongoing supervision, work alongside experienced multidisciplinary professionals, and have opportunities to develop their clinical skills while serving the community.
Compensation
- $34.85–$44.00 per hour
- Additional compensation available for BBS-registered staff
Work Location
West Covina, California
Apply Today
If you're ready to make a lasting impact in the lives of children, youth, and families, we'd love to hear from you.
Please submit your resume and cover letter to employment@apctc.org.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received and will remain open until the position is filled.
Pay: $34.85 - $44.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Referral program
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Do you have experience working with children and youth with moderate to significant behavioral health needs?
- Do you have experience providing field-based mental health services?
Experience:
- diagnosing: 1 year (Preferred)
Language:
- Spanish (Preferred)
- Mandarin (Preferred)
License/Certification:
- BBS registration as an ASW or AMFT (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- West Covina, CA 91790 (Preferred)
Willingness to travel:
- 50% (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
See all OPT Psychiatric Social Worker Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Psychiatric Social Worker Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Psychiatric Social Worker
Target employers with H-1B sponsorship history
Hospitals, federally qualified health centers, and VA facilities have the strongest track record of sponsoring clinical social workers. Search OPT-friendly Psychiatric Social Worker roles on Migrate Mate to filter for employers already familiar with the sponsorship process.
Get your supervised hours documented from day one
Most states require 2,000 to 3,000 post-master's supervised hours for LCSW licensure. Start tracking hours immediately on OPT. Delays in documentation can stall both licensure and H-1B petitions that depend on your licensed status.
Prioritize nonprofit and government mental health employers
Nonprofit community mental health centers and government agencies are often more willing to sponsor visas than private practices. They also qualify for H-1B cap exemptions, meaning they can file year-round without waiting for the annual lottery window.
Confirm state licensure requirements before accepting a role
Psychiatric Social Worker licensing requirements vary significantly by state. Some states allow supervised practice under an LMSW before full licensure. Verify your target state's rules early so your OPT employment authorization aligns with what the role legally requires.
Raise sponsorship directly during the offer stage
Many mental health employers are unfamiliar with OPT timelines but open to sponsoring once informed. Bring up H-1B sponsorship during offer negotiations, not after. Framing it as a retention tool rather than a burden increases the likelihood of a positive response.
Use your OPT period to build specialized clinical credentials
Certifications in trauma-informed care, dialectical behavior therapy, or crisis intervention make you a stronger H-1B sponsorship candidate. Employers are more motivated to navigate immigration paperwork for candidates with specialized skills that are difficult to replace quickly.
Psychiatric Social Worker OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Psychiatric Social Worker on OPT without full LCSW licensure?
Yes, in most states. Many entry-level Psychiatric Social Worker roles accept candidates with an MSW degree working toward licensure under supervision. Your OPT employment authorization covers supervised clinical positions, but the job title and supervision structure must comply with your state's social work licensing board requirements. Confirm this before accepting any offer.
Do Psychiatric Social Worker jobs qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension?
Social work degrees are generally not on the STEM Designated Degree Program list, so most Psychiatric Social Worker roles do not qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. You'll typically have a 12-month OPT period to work and secure H-1B sponsorship. Planning your job search and sponsorship conversations early in your OPT window is essential.
Where can I find Psychiatric Social Worker jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters for employers willing to work with OPT work authorization. Browsing Psychiatric Social Worker listings on Migrate Mate lets you focus on roles at organizations with sponsorship history rather than applying broadly and finding out late in the process that a company won't sponsor.
Which types of employers are most likely to sponsor H-1B visas for Psychiatric Social Workers?
Hospital systems, federally qualified health centers, VA medical centers, and large nonprofit behavioral health organizations have the strongest sponsorship track records for clinical social workers. Cap-exempt employers like nonprofit hospitals and universities can file H-1B petitions year-round, which removes the lottery risk and makes them especially valuable targets during your OPT period.
What happens to my OPT status if my supervised hours are delayed or my licensure is postponed?
Your OPT authorization is tied to your employment being directly related to your degree, not to holding a specific license. A delay in licensure does not automatically invalidate your OPT, but you must remain in a role that is consistent with your MSW degree. If your employer requires licensure as a condition of continued employment, a delay could affect your job status, which would then affect your OPT.