Rehabilitation Psychologist Jobs for OPT Students
Rehabilitation Psychologist jobs on OPT require employers who can support your work authorization, which typically means 12 months of post-completion OPT with a STEM extension possible if your psychology program qualifies. Most roles are in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and VA facilities, where structured hiring processes make OPT sponsorship more common.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Summary:
The mission of Upstate Medical University is to improve the health of the communities we serve through education, biomedical research, and health care. As an academic medical center and the only level 1 trauma center for our region, Upstate is at the forefront of expert care and training future health care professionals. Rehabilitation Psychologists are valued members of multi-disciplinary teams providing evaluation and treatment services for people facing illness or injury resulting in disabilities. This Clinical Rehab Psychologist will support the outpatient brain injury and concussion programs as well as the PM&R inpatient rehabilitation unit. Services include psychological and neuropsychological evaluation, individual psychotherapy, family support and education and team consultation. Psychologists also participate in administrative, educational, and research activities associated with the PM&R department, including our developing fellowship programs, and collaborate with related departments across the organization.
Minimum Qualifications:
PhD or PsyD in Psychology and NYS license or eligible required. Excellent written/oral skills and experience in rehabilitation and/or brain injury preferred. If not currently licensed, must receive license within 1 year of appointment.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience in rehabilitation and/or brain injury preferred.
Work Days:
Monday - Friday, days
Message to Applicants:
Recruitment Office: Human Resources
Executive Order:
Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor's Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.
We are an 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, protected veteran status or disability or other protected classes under State and Federal law.
Job Summary:
The mission of Upstate Medical University is to improve the health of the communities we serve through education, biomedical research, and health care. As an academic medical center and the only level 1 trauma center for our region, Upstate is at the forefront of expert care and training future health care professionals. Rehabilitation Psychologists are valued members of multi-disciplinary teams providing evaluation and treatment services for people facing illness or injury resulting in disabilities. This Clinical Rehab Psychologist will support the outpatient brain injury and concussion programs as well as the PM&R inpatient rehabilitation unit. Services include psychological and neuropsychological evaluation, individual psychotherapy, family support and education and team consultation. Psychologists also participate in administrative, educational, and research activities associated with the PM&R department, including our developing fellowship programs, and collaborate with related departments across the organization.
Minimum Qualifications:
PhD or PsyD in Psychology and NYS license or eligible required. Excellent written/oral skills and experience in rehabilitation and/or brain injury preferred. If not currently licensed, must receive license within 1 year of appointment.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience in rehabilitation and/or brain injury preferred.
Work Days:
Monday - Friday, days
Message to Applicants:
Recruitment Office: Human Resources
Executive Order:
Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor's Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.
We are an 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, protected veteran status or disability or other protected classes under State and Federal law.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Rehabilitation Psychologist
Target institutions with structured hiring pipelines
Large hospital systems, VA medical centers, and university-affiliated rehabilitation facilities hire on predictable cycles and have HR teams familiar with OPT authorization. Smaller private practices rarely have the infrastructure to support international work authorization paperwork.
Clarify your OPT timeline upfront
Rehabilitation psychology roles often involve credentialing and licensing timelines that can take months. Make clear early in the process exactly how long your OPT authorization lasts so employers can plan around your work authorization window without surprises later.
Highlight your supervised hours as a differentiator
Employers know licensure requires thousands of supervised practice hours. Framing your OPT period as the supervised experience stage reassures hiring managers that bringing you on serves a clear professional purpose, which reduces hesitation around work authorization complexity.
Check whether your program qualifies for STEM OPT extension
Some applied psychology programs with a strong quantitative or research methods component qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO before interviewing so you can accurately tell employers how long you can legally work.
Research state licensure requirements before applying
Rehabilitation Psychologist licensure requirements vary by state. Applying only in states where your foreign credentials and supervised hours will be accepted saves time and prevents offers from falling through during background and credential verification processes.
Connect with supervisors who understand international candidates
Clinical supervisors who have previously worked with international trainees understand OPT reporting obligations and SEVIS requirements. Seeking out these supervisors during your application process significantly reduces friction once you receive and accept an offer.
Rehabilitation Psychologist jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Rehabilitation Psychologist on OPT without being fully licensed?
Yes, in most states you can work under supervised practice while pursuing licensure, and OPT authorizes this type of employment. Your EAD card covers the position as long as it is directly related to your degree field. Confirm with your DSO that the supervision arrangement and job title align with your program of study before accepting an offer.
Do Rehabilitation Psychologist employers typically sponsor H-1B visas after OPT ends?
Hospital systems, VA facilities, and university medical centers are among the more common H-1B sponsors in psychology because they have dedicated HR and legal resources. Smaller outpatient clinics and private practices rarely sponsor. Filtering by employer type when browsing Migrate Mate helps identify organizations with a history of supporting international employees through visa transitions.
Does a rehabilitation psychology degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your program's CIP code. Clinical and counseling psychology programs are generally not STEM-designated, but programs in applied behavioral science, quantitative psychology, or neuropsychology sometimes qualify. Check your I-20 CIP code against the STEM OPT designated degree list maintained by ICE and confirm with your DSO before assuming you qualify for the 24-month extension.
What counts as a directly related job for OPT purposes in rehabilitation psychology?
USCIS requires that your OPT employment be directly related to your major area of study. For rehabilitation psychology graduates, qualifying roles include neuropsychological assessment, cognitive rehabilitation, vocational rehabilitation counseling, and behavioral health positions within physical medicine departments. Roles that are primarily administrative or unrelated to psychological assessment and intervention would not meet the standard.
How should I handle the 90-day unemployment limit on OPT as a rehabilitation psychology job seeker?
The 90-day limit applies cumulatively across your entire OPT period, not per job. Rehabilitation psychology hiring often moves slowly due to credentialing, background checks, and state licensing board requirements, so start your search well before your program end date. Reporting employment accurately and promptly to your DSO is required, and even volunteer or unpaid clinical work in your field may count toward authorized practical training.
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