TN Visa Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs
Substance Abuse Counselor roles qualify for TN visa sponsorship under USMCA when you hold a qualifying degree in counseling, psychology, or a related field and have a confirmed U.S. job offer. Canadian citizens enter without a cap; Mexican citizens are subject to a limited annual allocation. Licensing requirements vary by state and can affect your timeline.
See All Substance Abuse Counselor JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 14+ Substance Abuse Counselor 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 14+ Substance Abuse Counselor jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Substance Abuse Counselor roles.
Get Access To All Jobs
INTRODUCTION
- Complete intake assessments and enrollment for new clients
- Refer clients for services identified in needs assessment and assist in providing wraparound services for clients
- Facilitate clients' increased access to specialized care including early intervention, primary care and mental health services
- Facilitate psycho-educational groups
- Meets individually with clients for substance use counseling and treatment planning
- Works directly with program and clinical staff to collaborate on treatment needs of clients
- Completes paperwork and documentation as required for compliance and billing
- Maintain collaborative relationships with both internal and external providers of services
- Provides administrative support to the Director of Outpatient Services
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in psychology, social work or social services field
- LADAC I/II or CADAC, or eligibility strongly preferred
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in the deliverance of services to individuals with substance use disorders
- Strong working and conceptual understanding of substance use disorders; etiology and treatment continuum
- Experience with individual and group treatment of individuals with substance use disorders
- Knowledge of area resources and systems
- Ability to work as part of a team and to support team members
- Strong customer service orientation
- Good organizational and communication skills
- Experience in working with culturally and racially diverse groups
- Bilingual/bicultural skills in English/Spanish strongly preferred
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
The mission of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is to work in partnership with communities to protect and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, especially those impacted by racism and systemic inequities. The BPHC sets an expectation that all staff and leadership commit, individually and as part of the BPHC team, to hold ourselves accountable to establishing a culture of anti-racism and advance racial equity and justice through each of our bureaus, programs, and offices.
LOCATION
- City of Boston residency is required; Allston, Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Brighton, Charlestown, Chinatown, Dorchester, Downtown, East Boston, Fenway-Kenmore, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Mid-Dorchester, Mission Hill, North End, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston, South End, West End, West Roxbury, Wharf district.
- A Criminal Offenders Records Information request must be completed for this position. However, a record is not an automatic bar to employment but is reviewed in relation to the job applied for.
- Certain immunizations will be recommended and/or required prior to commencement of employment duties.
- Any position that requires an advanced degree will be subject to education verification.
- Certain positions at the BPHC may be Grant Funded.
- The Boston Public Health Commission is an EEO Employer and all applicants meeting the minimum requirements are eligible to apply.
- Certain positions at the BPHC may require Child Protective Service Background verification.
- The advertised shift and schedule are subject to change at the department's discretion.
SCHEDULE
Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
COMPENSATION
$879.90 - $1,051.57 / wk

INTRODUCTION
- Complete intake assessments and enrollment for new clients
- Refer clients for services identified in needs assessment and assist in providing wraparound services for clients
- Facilitate clients' increased access to specialized care including early intervention, primary care and mental health services
- Facilitate psycho-educational groups
- Meets individually with clients for substance use counseling and treatment planning
- Works directly with program and clinical staff to collaborate on treatment needs of clients
- Completes paperwork and documentation as required for compliance and billing
- Maintain collaborative relationships with both internal and external providers of services
- Provides administrative support to the Director of Outpatient Services
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in psychology, social work or social services field
- LADAC I/II or CADAC, or eligibility strongly preferred
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in the deliverance of services to individuals with substance use disorders
- Strong working and conceptual understanding of substance use disorders; etiology and treatment continuum
- Experience with individual and group treatment of individuals with substance use disorders
- Knowledge of area resources and systems
- Ability to work as part of a team and to support team members
- Strong customer service orientation
- Good organizational and communication skills
- Experience in working with culturally and racially diverse groups
- Bilingual/bicultural skills in English/Spanish strongly preferred
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
The mission of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is to work in partnership with communities to protect and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, especially those impacted by racism and systemic inequities. The BPHC sets an expectation that all staff and leadership commit, individually and as part of the BPHC team, to hold ourselves accountable to establishing a culture of anti-racism and advance racial equity and justice through each of our bureaus, programs, and offices.
LOCATION
- City of Boston residency is required; Allston, Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Brighton, Charlestown, Chinatown, Dorchester, Downtown, East Boston, Fenway-Kenmore, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Mid-Dorchester, Mission Hill, North End, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston, South End, West End, West Roxbury, Wharf district.
- A Criminal Offenders Records Information request must be completed for this position. However, a record is not an automatic bar to employment but is reviewed in relation to the job applied for.
- Certain immunizations will be recommended and/or required prior to commencement of employment duties.
- Any position that requires an advanced degree will be subject to education verification.
- Certain positions at the BPHC may be Grant Funded.
- The Boston Public Health Commission is an EEO Employer and all applicants meeting the minimum requirements are eligible to apply.
- Certain positions at the BPHC may require Child Protective Service Background verification.
- The advertised shift and schedule are subject to change at the department's discretion.
SCHEDULE
Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
COMPENSATION
$879.90 - $1,051.57 / wk
See all 14+ Substance Abuse Counselor jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Substance Abuse Counselor roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding TN Visa Sponsorship as a Substance Abuse Counselor
Verify your state license transfers cleanly
TN approval doesn't guarantee you can practice. Check whether your Canadian or Mexican counseling credential meets the specific licensure requirements in the state where your employer is located before you accept an offer.
Target employers with CCBHC or FQHC designation
Federally Qualified Health Centers and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics are federally funded, accustomed to professional credentialing processes, and more likely to have HR teams familiar with TN visa sponsorship paperwork for clinical roles.
Prepare a degree equivalency letter early
If your counseling degree is from a Canadian or Mexican institution, have an academic credential evaluation completed before you start interviewing. CBP officers at the port of entry assess your degree against the TN specialty occupation criteria on the spot.
Search for TN-ready roles using Migrate Mate
Filter specifically for Substance Abuse Counselor positions with TN visa sponsorship using Migrate Mate, which surfaces employers already open to USMCA-based hiring rather than making you screen out H-1B-only sponsors manually.
Clarify supervised hours requirements with your employer
Many U.S. states require post-degree supervised clinical hours before full licensure. Confirm upfront whether your employer will provide that supervision structure, since your TN status depends on actively working in the role as described.
Bring a complete support letter to the border
Canadian citizens apply at a port of entry, not a consulate. Your employer's support letter must specify your job title as Substance Abuse Counselor, your degree field, your duties, your wage, and the TN category being claimed. Missing any element can result in a same-day denial.
Substance Abuse Counselor jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Substance Abuse Counselor JobsSubstance Abuse Counselor TN Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Substance Abuse Counselor role qualify for TN visa status?
Yes, provided your job duties fall under a recognized specialty occupation and you hold a qualifying degree, typically in counseling, psychology, social work, or a closely related field. CBP evaluates the match between your credential and your actual job duties at the time of entry, so your employer's support letter must describe the role accurately and specifically.
How does the TN visa compare to the H-1B for Substance Abuse Counselors?
The TN visa has no annual lottery, no cap for Canadians, and no multi-month wait after filing. H-1B requires employer sponsorship through a lottery with roughly a one-in-four selection rate and a mandatory October 1 start date. For Canadian and Mexican counselors with a qualifying job offer, TN is faster, more predictable, and doesn't require an attorney to initiate.
Can my employer sponsor my TN visa if they've never done it before?
Yes. Unlike PERM or H-1B, TN doesn't require prior USCIS filings or government agency approvals. Your employer writes a support letter and you present it at a Canadian port of entry or, for Mexican nationals, at a U.S. consulate. Many behavioral health employers sponsor their first TN candidate without dedicated immigration counsel once they understand the documentation requirements.
Where can I find Substance Abuse Counselor jobs that offer TN visa sponsorship?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for this search. It filters for roles where employers are already open to TN visa candidates, so you're not spending time applying to positions that require a green card or only support H-1B. You can narrow results by role title, state, and visa type in one place.
Does state licensure affect my TN visa eligibility as a counselor?
State licensure doesn't directly determine TN eligibility at the federal level, but it affects your ability to practice once you arrive. If your role requires a state-issued license and you can't obtain one quickly due to credential gaps, your employer may not be able to keep you in the position, which puts your TN status at risk. Resolve licensure questions before you file.
See which Substance Abuse Counselor employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.
Search Substance Abuse Counselor Jobs