OPT Psychologist Jobs
Psychologist jobs on OPT require employers to support your F-1 work authorization, which typically means filing an H-1B visa petition before your OPT expires. Most roles in clinical, counseling, or research settings qualify as specialty occupations. STEM OPT extension is not available for this field, so your 12-month clock matters.
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Get Access To All JobsPay Range: USD $62,970.00 - USD $144,550.00 /Yr.
Overview:
Student Affairs at Auburn University is excited to begin the search for a Psychologist! This role provides counseling and psychological services for students with mental health issues and provides information regarding mental health services and programs.
Responsibilities:
- Provides psychological services to students that include, but are not limited to, individual therapy, group therapy, emergency/crisis intervention, psychological assessment, treatment planning, diagnosis, and consultation with multiple stakeholders.
- Documents, reports, and maintains confidential records and information from counseling-related services including individual therapy, group therapy, emergency/crisis intervention, consultations, and psychological assessments.
- Evaluates and develops comprehensive treatment plans for individuals to include (but not limited to) assessment, diagnosis, coordinating treatment with other professionals, and providing community referrals when indicated.
- Clinically supervises psychology interns and graduate practicum students. May clinically supervise unlicensed senior staff clinicians.
- Plans, develops, and presents outreach presentations, workshop programs, and educational seminars related to mental health issues and available services to students, staff, faculty, and other campus stakeholders.
Qualifications
Psychologist I
Ph.D. or Psy.D. in counseling or clinical psychology from an APA-accredited academic program and having completed a doctoral internship
OR
Master’s degree (or equivalent) from an APA-accredited academic program with all doctoral degree requirements completed except the dissertation. Completion of the dissertation and graduation from the doctoral program is required within 12 months of hire.
Psychologist II
Ph.D. or Psy.D. in counseling or clinical psychology from an APA-accredited academic program plus 2 years of experience providing psychological services post-licensure.
Psychologist III
Ph.D. or Psy.D. in counseling or clinical psychology from an APA-accredited academic program plus 6 years of experience providing psychological services post-licensure.
Certification or Licensure Requirements:
Must be licensed as a Psychologist in the state of Alabama within 2 years of hire.
Desired Qualifications:
- Completion of an APA-accredited Pre-Doctoral Internship
- Additional years of experience in providing counseling and psychological services to a college student population.
Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Why Work at Auburn:
- Life-Changing Impact: Our work changes lives through research, instruction, and outreach, making a lasting impact on our students, our communities, and the world.
- Culture of Excellence: We are committed to leveraging our strengths, resources, collaboration, and innovation as a top employer in higher education.
- We’re Here for You: Auburn offers generous benefits, educational opportunities, and a culture of support and work/life balance.
- Sweet Home Alabama: The Auburn/Opelika area offers southern charm, vibrant downtown scenes, top-ranked schools, and easy access to Atlanta, Birmingham, and the Gulf of Mexico beaches.
- A Place for Everyone: Auburn is committed to fostering an environment where all faculty, staff, and students are welcomed, valued, respected, and engaged.
- Ready to lead and shape the future of higher education? Apply today! War Eagle!
Equal Opportunity Compliance Statement: It is our policy to provide equal employment and education opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable law. Please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity Compliance's website to learn more.
Pay Range: USD $62,970.00 - USD $144,550.00 /Yr.
Overview:
Student Affairs at Auburn University is excited to begin the search for a Psychologist! This role provides counseling and psychological services for students with mental health issues and provides information regarding mental health services and programs.
Responsibilities:
- Provides psychological services to students that include, but are not limited to, individual therapy, group therapy, emergency/crisis intervention, psychological assessment, treatment planning, diagnosis, and consultation with multiple stakeholders.
- Documents, reports, and maintains confidential records and information from counseling-related services including individual therapy, group therapy, emergency/crisis intervention, consultations, and psychological assessments.
- Evaluates and develops comprehensive treatment plans for individuals to include (but not limited to) assessment, diagnosis, coordinating treatment with other professionals, and providing community referrals when indicated.
- Clinically supervises psychology interns and graduate practicum students. May clinically supervise unlicensed senior staff clinicians.
- Plans, develops, and presents outreach presentations, workshop programs, and educational seminars related to mental health issues and available services to students, staff, faculty, and other campus stakeholders.
Qualifications
Psychologist I
Ph.D. or Psy.D. in counseling or clinical psychology from an APA-accredited academic program and having completed a doctoral internship
OR
Master’s degree (or equivalent) from an APA-accredited academic program with all doctoral degree requirements completed except the dissertation. Completion of the dissertation and graduation from the doctoral program is required within 12 months of hire.
Psychologist II
Ph.D. or Psy.D. in counseling or clinical psychology from an APA-accredited academic program plus 2 years of experience providing psychological services post-licensure.
Psychologist III
Ph.D. or Psy.D. in counseling or clinical psychology from an APA-accredited academic program plus 6 years of experience providing psychological services post-licensure.
Certification or Licensure Requirements:
Must be licensed as a Psychologist in the state of Alabama within 2 years of hire.
Desired Qualifications:
- Completion of an APA-accredited Pre-Doctoral Internship
- Additional years of experience in providing counseling and psychological services to a college student population.
Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Why Work at Auburn:
- Life-Changing Impact: Our work changes lives through research, instruction, and outreach, making a lasting impact on our students, our communities, and the world.
- Culture of Excellence: We are committed to leveraging our strengths, resources, collaboration, and innovation as a top employer in higher education.
- We’re Here for You: Auburn offers generous benefits, educational opportunities, and a culture of support and work/life balance.
- Sweet Home Alabama: The Auburn/Opelika area offers southern charm, vibrant downtown scenes, top-ranked schools, and easy access to Atlanta, Birmingham, and the Gulf of Mexico beaches.
- A Place for Everyone: Auburn is committed to fostering an environment where all faculty, staff, and students are welcomed, valued, respected, and engaged.
- Ready to lead and shape the future of higher education? Apply today! War Eagle!
Equal Opportunity Compliance Statement: It is our policy to provide equal employment and education opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable law. Please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity Compliance's website to learn more.
See all 681+ OPT Psychologist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Psychologist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Psychologist
Target licensed clinical and research settings
Hospitals, university counseling centers, and VA medical facilities routinely hire psychologists and have HR infrastructure to support OPT. These employers are more familiar with work authorization timelines than small private practices.
Apply before your final semester ends
Psychology roles often require credentialing, background checks, and onboarding that take 6 to 10 weeks. Starting your job search 6 months before OPT expires gives you time to clear those steps before your authorization begins.
Confirm licensure requirements by state early
Many psychologist roles require a state license before you can practice independently. Confirm whether the employer will hire you under supervision while you complete licensure, since some states require 1 to 2 years of post-degree supervised hours.
Ask directly about H-1B sponsorship in interviews
Psychology positions in healthcare and higher education frequently sponsor H-1B visas. Ask during the offer stage whether the employer has sponsored before and which immigration law firm they work with, so you understand the timeline.
Frame your specialty clearly on your resume
Employers need to establish that your role is a specialty occupation for OPT and future H-1B purposes. Clearly listing your doctoral specialization, assessment tools you use, and clinical populations served helps establish the degree requirement for your position.
Understand your OPT end date before accepting offers
A 12-month OPT period means the H-1B cap-subject filing window in April must fall within your authorized period. Calculate your exact end date before accepting any offer so you and your employer can plan the H-1B petition accordingly.
Psychologist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do psychologist jobs qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes. Psychologist positions qualify as specialty occupations under OPT because they require at minimum a master's degree, and most clinical roles require a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) in psychology. Your employment must directly relate to your degree field, which is straightforward for most clinical, counseling, and research psychology roles.
Is a STEM OPT extension available for psychology graduates?
No. Psychology is not classified under a STEM-designated CIP code, so F-1 students in psychology programs are not eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. You have a standard 12-month OPT period. This makes early job searching and H-1B sponsorship planning especially important given the April filing deadline.
How do I find psychologist jobs where employers will sponsor an H-1B?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for OPT and visa sponsorship-friendly employers, making it straightforward to identify psychologist roles at organizations with a history of H-1B filings. Hospitals, academic medical centers, and university counseling departments are among the most consistent sponsors in this field.
Can I work as a psychologist on OPT without a state license?
It depends on the role and state. Many employers will hire unlicensed doctoral graduates under clinical supervision while licensure is completed, particularly in hospital and university settings. However, independent practice requires full licensure. Confirm with each employer whether they hire candidates in a supervised pre-licensure capacity and whether OPT's 12-month duration covers that period.
What happens to my OPT authorization if my psychologist job ends?
F-1 OPT students can be unemployed for a cumulative maximum of 90 days during the standard 12-month OPT period. If your psychologist role ends, you need to report the change to your DSO and actively seek new employment. Exceeding 90 days of unemployment puts your F-1 status at risk, so maintaining job search momentum is critical.