OPT Travel Nurse RN Jobs
Travel Nurse RN jobs on OPT require active RN licensure in the placement state, which means F-1 students must complete NCLEX-RN before their OPT start date. Most assignments run 13 weeks, fitting neatly within standard OPT authorization. STEM OPT extension does not apply to nursing, so your 12-month window is firm.
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Pack your bags for an adventure as a Travel BCBA with ABS Kids! You provide the behavior plans and we'll provide a unique opportunity and great compensation package!
What can we offer you?
- Total comp: $103,500 - $114,500 / year (includes $85,000 salary + bonuses)
- Uncapped monthly bonus
- $7,500 - 15,000 signing bonus, depending on length-of-stay commitment
- $5,000 - 7,500 completion bonus, once you complete your length-of-stay commitment
- Monthly housing stipend, if applicable
- Housewarming stipend, if applicable
- Licensure costs (if needed)
- 2 options for your length-of-stay commitment: 6 months or 1 year!
- Benefits: medical, dental and vision insurance, HSA, 401K+match, free CEUs, cellphone and laptop stipends, short-term/long-term disability insurance and many more!
Locations and Centers
- These are all center-based positions
- Opportunities in North Carolina and South Carolina
- North Carolina locations: Charlotte, Concord, Gastonia, Greensboro, Huntersville, Kernersville, Mint Hill, Monroe, Winston-Salem
- South Carolina locations: Columbia, Fort Mill, Greenville, Rock Hill
Do you value support?
- Smaller, manageable caseloads, ranging from 8-10 clients per BA
- Administrative and clinical support
- Work in a supportive, close-knit community where your voice is valued, and your input drives positive change
Join a Strong Community
- Share vision and goals with colleagues in a positive center workplace
- Community involvement including sensory friendly events, Special Olympics teams, run/walk sponsorships, and lots more
Who are we looking for?
- A passion to help children with autism and their families live their best lives
- Integrity to always do what’s right for the individual child and their family
- Ability to hold yourself to the highest standards of quality in everything you do
- The ability to be transparent, accessible, and as innovative as you can working as a Behavior Analyst
- Master's degree and a minimum of 2 or more years experience working as a BCBA
- Due to credentialing requirements, BCBAs interested in our South Carolina locations need to have proof of SC residency
Who We Are:
- It’s in the wow moments that we find our purpose at ABS Kids. Our shared experiences are the milestones that influence our work. The mission of our work with children with autism and their families feeds our spirit. With every wow moment, we can see our impact grow.
- At ABS Kids we are empowered by the breadth of our differences. Our mission is to create a culture where all people thrive because their diverse stories are heard and celebrated. We commit to an evolving understanding of diversity as we learn from one another.
- We are committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.
Job Requirements
Pack your bags for an adventure as a Travel BCBA with ABS Kids! You provide the behavior plans and we'll provide a unique opportunity and great compensation package!
What can we offer you?
- Total comp: $103,500 - $114,500 / year (includes $85,000 salary + bonuses)
- Uncapped monthly bonus
- $7,500 - 15,000 signing bonus, depending on length-of-stay commitment
- $5,000 - 7,500 completion bonus, once you complete your length-of-stay commitment
- Monthly housing stipend, if applicable
- Housewarming stipend, if applicable
- Licensure costs (if needed)
- 2 options for your length-of-stay commitment: 6 months or 1 year!
- Benefits: medical, dental and vision insurance, HSA, 401K+match, free CEUs, cellphone and laptop stipends, short-term/long-term disability insurance and many more!
Locations and Centers
- These are all center-based positions
- Opportunities in North Carolina and South Carolina
- North Carolina locations: Charlotte, Concord, Gastonia, Greensboro, Huntersville, Kernersville, Mint Hill, Monroe, Winston-Salem
- South Carolina locations: Columbia, Fort Mill, Greenville, Rock Hill
Do you value support?
- Smaller, manageable caseloads, ranging from 8-10 clients per BA
- Administrative and clinical support
- Work in a supportive, close-knit community where your voice is valued, and your input drives positive change
Join a Strong Community
- Share vision and goals with colleagues in a positive center workplace
- Community involvement including sensory friendly events, Special Olympics teams, run/walk sponsorships, and lots more
Who are we looking for?
- A passion to help children with autism and their families live their best lives
- Integrity to always do what’s right for the individual child and their family
- Ability to hold yourself to the highest standards of quality in everything you do
- The ability to be transparent, accessible, and as innovative as you can working as a Behavior Analyst
- Master's degree and a minimum of 2 or more years experience working as a BCBA
- Due to credentialing requirements, BCBAs interested in our South Carolina locations need to have proof of SC residency
Who We Are:
- It’s in the wow moments that we find our purpose at ABS Kids. Our shared experiences are the milestones that influence our work. The mission of our work with children with autism and their families feeds our spirit. With every wow moment, we can see our impact grow.
- At ABS Kids we are empowered by the breadth of our differences. Our mission is to create a culture where all people thrive because their diverse stories are heard and celebrated. We commit to an evolving understanding of diversity as we learn from one another.
- We are committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.
See all 124+ OPT Travel Nurse RN Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Travel Nurse RN
Secure your RN license before OPT begins
State nursing boards can take 6 to 12 weeks to process applications after NCLEX-RN. Start the licensure application in your target state immediately after graduation so your license is active on your OPT start date.
Target staffing agencies that sponsor H-1B
Most travel nursing agencies hire on OPT without issue, but sponsorship options after OPT vary widely. Prioritize agencies with a documented history of H-1B visa filings for RNs, since nursing qualifies as a specialty occupation.
Understand the 13-week assignment cycle
Travel nurse contracts typically run 13 weeks. Map your remaining OPT time before accepting an assignment to confirm you can complete the full contract without your work authorization lapsing mid-placement.
Apply for Nurse Compact License if eligible
If your primary state of residence participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact, one license covers 40-plus states. This dramatically widens your assignment options without filing separate licensure applications in every new state.
Report employer changes to your DSO promptly
Each new travel assignment with a different staffing agency counts as an employer change under OPT rules. Notify your Designated School Official within 10 days of starting with any new agency to keep your SEVIS record current.
Track your 90-day unemployment limit carefully
Gaps between travel nursing assignments count toward your OPT unemployment limit. Keep documentation of assignment end dates and new contract start dates, and pursue your next placement before the current one ends.
Travel Nurse RN OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students work as travel nurses in the United States?
Yes, F-1 students with active OPT authorization can work as travel nurses, provided they hold a valid RN license in the state where each assignment is located. Your OPT EAD card serves as your work authorization document. Each new staffing agency must be reported to your DSO as an employer update in SEVIS.
Does nursing qualify for the STEM OPT 24-month extension?
No. Nursing is classified under CIP code 51.3801, which is not on the STEM Designated Degree Program List. F-1 nursing graduates receive the standard 12-month OPT period only. Planning your post-OPT visa pathway, such as H-1B sponsorship through your staffing agency, should begin well before your OPT expires.
How do travel nursing assignment gaps affect my OPT unemployment limit?
Any day between assignments when you are not employed counts as an unemployment day under OPT rules. F-1 students on post-completion OPT may not accumulate more than 90 unemployment days. Back-to-back 13-week contracts with minimal gaps is the safest approach. Overlapping your job search with your current assignment end date reduces the risk of exceeding the limit.
Where can I find travel nurse RN jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT and visa-sponsored candidates, so every listing is filtered for work authorization compatibility. Searching on Migrate Mate lets you browse travel nurse roles at agencies that actively hire international candidates, saving time you would otherwise spend screening general job postings for OPT eligibility.
Do I need a new EAD or updated work authorization for each travel nursing assignment?
No. Your existing OPT EAD remains valid for the duration of the authorized period regardless of how many assignments or agencies you work with. What changes with each new agency is your SEVIS employer record, not your EAD. Report each new staffing agency to your DSO within 10 days of starting the assignment.