OPT Social Worker Jobs
Social Worker jobs on OPT are available across hospitals, nonprofits, schools, and government agencies. Most roles qualify as specialty occupations under STEM-adjacent or social sciences fields, supporting OPT authorization. Clinical positions often require state licensure, so confirm your DSO has approved your employer and role before starting.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Are you an internal caregiver, student, or contingent worker/agency worker at UMass Memorial Health? CLICK HERE to apply through your Workday account.
Exemption Status:
Exempt
Hiring Range:
$62,004.80 - $111,633.60 (based on a full time schedule of 40 hours per week). Please note that the final offer will vary based on scheduled hours. Compensation for part-time or reduced schedules will be prorated based on scheduled weekly hours, experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity considerations.
Schedule Details:
Monday through Friday
Scheduled Hours:
8-4:30p
Shift:
1 - Day Shift, 8 Hours (United States of America)
Hours:
40
Cost Center:
10030 - 4400 Social Services
This position may have a signing bonus available; a member of the Recruitment Team will confirm eligibility during the interview process.
EVERYONE IS A CAREGIVER
At UMass Memorial Health, everyone is a caregiver – regardless of their title or responsibilities. Exceptional patient care, academic excellence, and leading-edge research make UMass Memorial the premier health system of Central Massachusetts, and a place where we can help you build the career you deserve. We are more than 20,000 employees, working together as one health system in a relentless pursuit of healing for our patients, community, and each other. And everyone, in their own unique way, plays an important part, every day.
Responsibilities
- Provides assessment of patients/families and their adaptation to patient’s illness.
- Provides counseling as needed and ensures maximum patient participation in plans for discharge and recovery.
- Identifies system or discharge problems and develops discharge plans and presents options to patients.
- Assessment of all potential cases of abuse: child, elderly, disabled, and/or domestic violence.
I. Major Responsibilities:
-
Provides clinical service to patients and their families through individual, family, or group work, such as biopsychosocial assessment, crises intervention, treatment planning, and counseling relative to medical conditions.
-
Identifies clinical resources and makes referrals when necessary.
-
Collaborates with physicians, care coordinators, discharge planners, and other health care professionals to identify barriers to discharge or treatment and help resolve these issues with patients, families, or external sources.
-
Advocates for patients and families as they negotiate the health care system so that effective care, treatment, and planning may occur.
-
Documents all information obtained in evaluation, assessment, consultation, referral, and disposition to comply with regulatory requirements, as well as ensuring best possible patient outcome.
-
Utilizes the language of the current DSM-IV-TR to establish comprehensive diagnostic evaluations and subsequent planning and treatment.
Standard Staffing Level Responsibilities:
-
Complies with established departmental policies, procedures, and objectives.
-
Attends a variety of meetings, conferences, seminars as required or directed.
-
Demonstrates use of Quality Improvement in daily operations.
-
Complies with all health and safety regulations and requirements.
-
Respects diverse views and approaches, demonstrates Standards of Respect, and contributes to creating and maintaining an environment of professionalism, tolerance, civility, and acceptance toward all employees, patients, and visitors.
-
Maintains regular, reliable, and predictable attendance.
-
Performs other similar and related duties as required or directed.
All responsibilities are essential job functions.
POSITION QUALIFICATIONS
License/Certification/Education:
Required:
-
Master’s Degree in Social Work.
-
Current Massachusetts Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensure.
Experience/Skills:
Required:
-
Demonstrated ability in psychosocial assessment, knowledge of community resources, crisis intervention skills, ability in discharge planning, and ability to work with a multidisciplinary team.
-
Data compilation and analysis skills.
-
Excellent written and communication skills.
-
Basic computer skills.
Preferred:
- One to three years of Social Work experience.
Unless certification, licensure, or registration is required, an equivalent combination of education and experience which provides proficiency in the areas of responsibility listed in this description may be substituted for the above requirements.
Department-specific competencies and their measurements will be developed and maintained in the individual departments. The competencies will be maintained and attached to the departmental job description. Responsible managers will review competencies with position incumbents.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Position requires work indoors most often in an office environment. However, work may also include monitoring patients’ movements and activities resulting in the need for rapid physical response to unsafe patient movements. This includes standing, walking, running, reaching, bending, lifting, and stooping.
Position in Ambulatory Oncology
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
We’re striving to make respect a part of everything we do at UMass Memorial Health – for our patients, our community, and each other. Our six Standards of Respect are: Acknowledge, Listen, Communicate, Be Responsive, Be a Team Player, and Be Kind. If you share these Standards of Respect, we hope you will join our team and help us make respect our standard for everyone, every day.
As an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, UMass Memorial Health recognizes the power of a diverse community and encourages applications from individuals with varied experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity and expression, protected veteran status, or other status protected by law.
If you are unable to submit an application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at talentacquisition@umassmemorial.org. We will make every effort to respond to your request for disability assistance as soon as possible.
INTRODUCTION
Are you an internal caregiver, student, or contingent worker/agency worker at UMass Memorial Health? CLICK HERE to apply through your Workday account.
Exemption Status:
Exempt
Hiring Range:
$62,004.80 - $111,633.60 (based on a full time schedule of 40 hours per week). Please note that the final offer will vary based on scheduled hours. Compensation for part-time or reduced schedules will be prorated based on scheduled weekly hours, experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity considerations.
Schedule Details:
Monday through Friday
Scheduled Hours:
8-4:30p
Shift:
1 - Day Shift, 8 Hours (United States of America)
Hours:
40
Cost Center:
10030 - 4400 Social Services
This position may have a signing bonus available; a member of the Recruitment Team will confirm eligibility during the interview process.
EVERYONE IS A CAREGIVER
At UMass Memorial Health, everyone is a caregiver – regardless of their title or responsibilities. Exceptional patient care, academic excellence, and leading-edge research make UMass Memorial the premier health system of Central Massachusetts, and a place where we can help you build the career you deserve. We are more than 20,000 employees, working together as one health system in a relentless pursuit of healing for our patients, community, and each other. And everyone, in their own unique way, plays an important part, every day.
Responsibilities
- Provides assessment of patients/families and their adaptation to patient’s illness.
- Provides counseling as needed and ensures maximum patient participation in plans for discharge and recovery.
- Identifies system or discharge problems and develops discharge plans and presents options to patients.
- Assessment of all potential cases of abuse: child, elderly, disabled, and/or domestic violence.
I. Major Responsibilities:
-
Provides clinical service to patients and their families through individual, family, or group work, such as biopsychosocial assessment, crises intervention, treatment planning, and counseling relative to medical conditions.
-
Identifies clinical resources and makes referrals when necessary.
-
Collaborates with physicians, care coordinators, discharge planners, and other health care professionals to identify barriers to discharge or treatment and help resolve these issues with patients, families, or external sources.
-
Advocates for patients and families as they negotiate the health care system so that effective care, treatment, and planning may occur.
-
Documents all information obtained in evaluation, assessment, consultation, referral, and disposition to comply with regulatory requirements, as well as ensuring best possible patient outcome.
-
Utilizes the language of the current DSM-IV-TR to establish comprehensive diagnostic evaluations and subsequent planning and treatment.
Standard Staffing Level Responsibilities:
-
Complies with established departmental policies, procedures, and objectives.
-
Attends a variety of meetings, conferences, seminars as required or directed.
-
Demonstrates use of Quality Improvement in daily operations.
-
Complies with all health and safety regulations and requirements.
-
Respects diverse views and approaches, demonstrates Standards of Respect, and contributes to creating and maintaining an environment of professionalism, tolerance, civility, and acceptance toward all employees, patients, and visitors.
-
Maintains regular, reliable, and predictable attendance.
-
Performs other similar and related duties as required or directed.
All responsibilities are essential job functions.
POSITION QUALIFICATIONS
License/Certification/Education:
Required:
-
Master’s Degree in Social Work.
-
Current Massachusetts Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensure.
Experience/Skills:
Required:
-
Demonstrated ability in psychosocial assessment, knowledge of community resources, crisis intervention skills, ability in discharge planning, and ability to work with a multidisciplinary team.
-
Data compilation and analysis skills.
-
Excellent written and communication skills.
-
Basic computer skills.
Preferred:
- One to three years of Social Work experience.
Unless certification, licensure, or registration is required, an equivalent combination of education and experience which provides proficiency in the areas of responsibility listed in this description may be substituted for the above requirements.
Department-specific competencies and their measurements will be developed and maintained in the individual departments. The competencies will be maintained and attached to the departmental job description. Responsible managers will review competencies with position incumbents.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Position requires work indoors most often in an office environment. However, work may also include monitoring patients’ movements and activities resulting in the need for rapid physical response to unsafe patient movements. This includes standing, walking, running, reaching, bending, lifting, and stooping.
Position in Ambulatory Oncology
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
We’re striving to make respect a part of everything we do at UMass Memorial Health – for our patients, our community, and each other. Our six Standards of Respect are: Acknowledge, Listen, Communicate, Be Responsive, Be a Team Player, and Be Kind. If you share these Standards of Respect, we hope you will join our team and help us make respect our standard for everyone, every day.
As an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, UMass Memorial Health recognizes the power of a diverse community and encourages applications from individuals with varied experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity and expression, protected veteran status, or other status protected by law.
If you are unable to submit an application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at talentacquisition@umassmemorial.org. We will make every effort to respond to your request for disability assistance as soon as possible.
See all 1,273+ OPT Social Worker Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Social Worker Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Social Worker
Confirm your role qualifies as a specialty occupation
Social work positions tied to a specific degree field, like clinical social work or psychiatric social work, are stronger OPT fits. Avoid roles with vague degree requirements, as these can complicate future H-1B visa sponsorship with the same employer.
Target employers with existing H-1B sponsorship history
Hospitals, university counseling centers, and large nonprofits like Catholic Charities and Lutheran Social Services regularly sponsor H-1B visas. Prioritizing these employers gives you a realistic path from OPT employment to long-term work authorization.
Get your state licensure process started early
Most clinical social work roles require a state license, which can take months to obtain. Start the application process before your OPT period begins so licensure delays do not interrupt your authorized employment timeline.
Clarify supervision requirements with your employer
Many states require supervised clinical hours before licensure. Confirm your employer can provide a licensed supervisor and that the arrangement is documented, since USCIS may request proof of your employment structure during OPT verification.
Apply to roles that align with your degree field
OPT requires your job to be directly related to your major. A degree in social work, counseling, or human services supports most social worker roles. Document the connection clearly in case your DSO or USCIS requests verification.
Plan your H-1B timeline around the cap deadline
Social work roles at for-profit employers are subject to the H-1B lottery, which opens in March each year. Talk to your employer about sponsorship intentions at least six months before your OPT expires to avoid a gap in status.
Social Worker OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Social Worker on OPT?
Yes. Social work qualifies for OPT authorization when your role is directly related to your degree field, such as a bachelor's or master's in social work, counseling, or a related discipline. Clinical roles at hospitals, nonprofits, and schools are common placements. Confirm with your DSO that your specific employer and job duties align with your academic program before accepting an offer.
Does social work qualify for STEM OPT extension?
Standard social work degrees do not appear on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List, so most social work graduates are limited to 12 months of OPT. However, graduates with degrees in fields like applied psychology, public health informatics, or data-focused social science may qualify for the 24-month STEM extension depending on their CIP code. Check your degree's CIP code with your DSO to confirm eligibility.
Will social work employers sponsor me for an H-1B after OPT?
Some will. Hospitals, large healthcare systems, and university-affiliated programs have established immigration pathways and are more likely to sponsor. Smaller nonprofits often lack the legal infrastructure for H-1B filings. Use Migrate Mate to filter for social worker roles at employers with a documented sponsorship history, which significantly improves your chances of transitioning from OPT to long-term status.
Do I need a state license to work as a Social Worker on OPT?
Licensure requirements depend on your role and state. Licensed Clinical Social Worker positions typically require a state license, which involves post-degree supervised hours and a licensing exam. Entry-level case manager or social services roles may not require licensure immediately. Research your target state's requirements early, since the licensing process can take three to six months and affects when you can legally practice.
What counts as unemployment on OPT for social work students?
USCIS allows a maximum of 90 days of unemployment during standard OPT, or 150 days if you have a STEM extension. Unpaid internships at nonprofits or government agencies can count as authorized OPT employment if the work directly relates to your degree. Volunteer work without formal employment documentation does not count. Gaps between positions count toward your unemployment limit, so avoid extended breaks between roles.