OPT School Social Worker Jobs
School Social Worker jobs are available to F-1 OPT students with a degree in social work, counseling, or a related field. Most positions require state licensure, which can take time to obtain, so starting the licensure process early alongside your OPT application is essential for a smooth transition into the role.
See All OPT School Social Worker JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 34+ School Social Worker jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 34+ School Social Worker Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new School Social Worker roles.
Get Access To All JobsFayette County Public Schools, KY
JOB DESCRIPTION
– School Social Worker
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description.
School Social Worker
Job Class Code: 0270
Position Type: Salary
Job Type: Certified
Pay Grade: Salary calculations are based on verified education and related experience levels
Reports To: Superintendent’s Designee
Supervises: N/A
Work Calendar Name: Elementary counselors, PGES coaches, social workers, technology resource teachers, mental health specialists
Days in work calendar: 199
JOB SUMMARY
To provide social work services for students and their families needed to reduce or eliminate physical or emotional barriers to academic success and to contribute to the children's positive growth.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
- Focuses efforts on Early Entry Extended-Day Primary age children.
- Assesses the child's physical, social, and emotional needs.
- Provides family assessments as needed.
- Provides individual or group counseling for children.
- Involves parents/guardians in the intervention plan for the child.
- Offers services to the family as needed to work successfully with the child.
- Collaborates with teachers, other school personnel, and agencies to secure needed services for students.
- Maintains appropriate records.
- Submits monthly reports of social work services.
- May provide parent education and/or support groups.
- Makes home, community, and agency visits as needed.
- Assists in coordination of parent training and disbursement of Title I Outreach Library materials.
- Demonstrates the ability to communicate in more than one language or the willingness to learn to communicate in more than one language at the novice level of proficiency.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Maintains regular attendance.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience:
Master’s Degree in Social Work
Licenses or Certifications:
School Social Work Certification
Special Requirements:
N/A
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Work is performed while standing, sitting and/or walking.
- Requires the ability to communicate effectively using speech, vision and hearing.
- Requires the use of hands for simple grasping and fine manipulations.
- Requires bending, squatting, crawling, climbing, reaching.
- Requires the ability to lift, carry, push or pull light weights.
The Fayette County Board of Education is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Superintendent shall adhere to a policy of equal employment opportunity in all personnel matters. No person shall be subjected to discrimination in regard to employment, retention, promotion, demotion, transfer or dismissal because of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation or gender identity), genetic information, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, age or disabling condition or limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.
Please see the salary schedule here.
A Salary Estimator is available here.
Fayette County Public Schools, KY
JOB DESCRIPTION
– School Social Worker
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description.
School Social Worker
Job Class Code: 0270
Position Type: Salary
Job Type: Certified
Pay Grade: Salary calculations are based on verified education and related experience levels
Reports To: Superintendent’s Designee
Supervises: N/A
Work Calendar Name: Elementary counselors, PGES coaches, social workers, technology resource teachers, mental health specialists
Days in work calendar: 199
JOB SUMMARY
To provide social work services for students and their families needed to reduce or eliminate physical or emotional barriers to academic success and to contribute to the children's positive growth.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
- Focuses efforts on Early Entry Extended-Day Primary age children.
- Assesses the child's physical, social, and emotional needs.
- Provides family assessments as needed.
- Provides individual or group counseling for children.
- Involves parents/guardians in the intervention plan for the child.
- Offers services to the family as needed to work successfully with the child.
- Collaborates with teachers, other school personnel, and agencies to secure needed services for students.
- Maintains appropriate records.
- Submits monthly reports of social work services.
- May provide parent education and/or support groups.
- Makes home, community, and agency visits as needed.
- Assists in coordination of parent training and disbursement of Title I Outreach Library materials.
- Demonstrates the ability to communicate in more than one language or the willingness to learn to communicate in more than one language at the novice level of proficiency.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Maintains regular attendance.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience:
Master’s Degree in Social Work
Licenses or Certifications:
School Social Work Certification
Special Requirements:
N/A
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Work is performed while standing, sitting and/or walking.
- Requires the ability to communicate effectively using speech, vision and hearing.
- Requires the use of hands for simple grasping and fine manipulations.
- Requires bending, squatting, crawling, climbing, reaching.
- Requires the ability to lift, carry, push or pull light weights.
The Fayette County Board of Education is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Superintendent shall adhere to a policy of equal employment opportunity in all personnel matters. No person shall be subjected to discrimination in regard to employment, retention, promotion, demotion, transfer or dismissal because of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation or gender identity), genetic information, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, age or disabling condition or limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.
Please see the salary schedule here.
A Salary Estimator is available here.
See all 34+ OPT School Social Worker Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT School Social Worker Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in School Social Worker
Target public school districts over private schools
Public school districts are government entities with established HR processes and experience hiring international staff. They're more likely to have navigated OPT authorization before and may be more open to sponsoring H-1B visas down the line.
Start your state licensure process immediately
Most states require a Licensed School Social Worker credential before you can be hired. Licensure applications take weeks to months. Filing before your OPT start date ensures you're ready to accept an offer without delays holding up your work authorization clock.
Highlight your CSWE-accredited degree explicitly
Employers reviewing OPT candidates want confirmation your degree meets specialty occupation standards. Stating your degree is from a CSWE-accredited program signals professional credibility and helps HR confirm your background aligns with the role's educational requirements.
Frame your bilingual skills as a direct service asset
School districts serving multilingual student populations actively prioritize bilingual social workers. If you speak a language common among students in the district, lead with that. It repositions your international background from a complexity to a competitive advantage worth sponsoring.
Contact district HR departments directly about OPT hiring
Many school districts don't advertise whether they accept OPT candidates on job postings. A brief, professional email to the HR coordinator asking about their process for F-1 students can open a conversation before you formally apply and saves time on unresponsive listings.
Apply early in the school hiring cycle
School districts recruit heavily between January and April for fall positions. Applying outside this window significantly reduces your options. Aligning your OPT start date with the spring hiring cycle gives you the best chance of securing a full-year contract before the school year begins.
School Social Worker OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a School Social Worker role qualify as a specialty occupation for OPT?
Yes. School social work qualifies as a specialty occupation because the role typically requires at minimum a master's degree in social work (MSW) from an accredited program. USCIS recognizes positions requiring a specific degree in a directly related field as specialty occupations, which supports OPT eligibility and future H-1B sponsorship.
Can I work as a School Social Worker on STEM OPT extension?
Social work degrees are not on the STEM designated degree program list, so a standard MSW does not qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. You would be limited to the initial 12-month OPT period. If you hold a dual degree that includes a STEM-designated program, consult your DSO about whether the STEM extension applies to your specific situation.
Where can I find School Social Worker jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters job listings by sponsorship and work authorization compatibility. Browsing School Social Worker roles on Migrate Mate surfaces positions where employers are open to OPT candidates, saving you time screening out listings that won't consider international students.
Do I need state licensure before I can start working on OPT as a school social worker?
In most states, yes. School districts require candidates to hold or be eligible for a state school social work license or certification before they can be hired. The requirements and timelines vary by state, but most involve submitting transcripts, passing an exam, and completing a background check. Starting this process before your OPT authorization begins is strongly advisable.
Will school districts sponsor H-1B visas after my OPT period ends?
Some public school districts do sponsor H-1B visas, particularly larger urban districts with dedicated HR teams experienced in immigration paperwork. Nonprofit and government employer status can also make certain districts cap-exempt, meaning they can file H-1B petitions year-round without competing in the annual lottery. It's worth asking about this directly during the interview process.