Mental Health Counseling Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Arkansas
Arkansas has a genuine shortage of licensed mental health counselors, with demand concentrated in Little Rock, Fayetteville, and Jonesboro. Major employers including the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children's Hospital, and community mental health centers across the state have sponsored international counselors for work visas to fill persistent vacancies in both clinical and outpatient settings.
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LOCATION
This position is fully on-site and requires a regular presence in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Remote or hybrid work is not available for this position.
Job Summary
The Director of Counseling and Wellness Services provides leadership for campus-wide student mental health and wellness and services and initiatives, supporting student success through primary prevention, early intervention, and coordinated care. This role is responsible for the development, implementation, and assessment of mental health and wellness programming and interventions for Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) students. Working collaboratively with ACHE leadership, academic departments, student organizations, campus housing, and community partners, the Director fosters a supportive and inclusive environment that promotes student mental health and well-being. The position also provides and supervises direct clinical counseling services for students and supports mental health training and consultation for campus and community members.
Essential Functions And Responsibilities
- Provide oversight and supervision for on-site primary prevention counseling and distance counseling as needed for students.
- This position will also provide referrals for additional concentrated mental health services as needed.
- Provide and support direct student wellness and mental health interventions for students dealing with cognitive, social, interpersonal communication skills or emotional behaviors which interfere with their success.
- Collaborate with leadership to promote student success through development, implementation, and tracking of campus-wide student wellness programming, including wellness initiatives and activities.
- Support Success and Leadership course in conjunction with the Office of Academic Affairs.
- Lead the evaluation and continuous improvement of external student wellness partnerships by assessing effectiveness, utilization, and outcomes, while serving as the primary administrator for third-party contracts, ensuring compliance, value, and alignment with institutional goals.
- Oversee and manage student wellness communications and workflows, including monitoring and responding to the Be Well Form submissions and maintaining a dedicated student wellness email inbox to ensure timely, appropriate follow-up.
- Provide guidance and leadership for student organizations to encourage student wellness activities and monitor effectiveness.
- Provide individual and group counseling to students in the educational environment.
- Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with students, faculty, staff, and other constituent groups in the support of student success.
- Effectively and regularly collaborate with Academic Affairs, Academic Support and other student-facing departments for effective and appropriate campus programming for students.
- Evening and weekend hours may be required.
- Minimal travel may be required.
- Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director of Student Support Services or their designee.
QUALIFICATIONS AND CREDENTIALS
Education And Experience
Minimum Qualifications
- Master’s degree in counseling, psychology, or social work with special training in guidance and behavioral counseling.
- Must have Arkansas license (LCSW, LMSW, LPC, LAC).
- Ability and credentials, appropriate to work in a clinic setting.
- Experience in education, health care, or social work.
- Outstanding interpersonal communication skills, both written and verbally.
- Ability to express empathy while maintaining professional ethical standards.
- Exceptional writing and analytical skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Doctoral degree in Psychology or Counseling.
- Three (3) to five (5) years of experience in higher education or student counseling environments.
- Prior work with health professions graduate students.
- Knowledge of accreditation standards relevant to health professions education.
- Demonstrated supervisory experience.
- Experience working with online, hybrid, or international student populations.
Required Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities
- Demonstrate proficiency in computer skills, i.e. Microsoft Office.
- Display professionalism for the college in all communication and interaction.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and privacy.
- Ability to prioritize and organize numerous and varied assignments.
ABILITIES AND COMPETENCIES ESSENTIAL TO THE FUNCTION OF THE JOB
Communication and Comprehension
ACHE is in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and does not discriminate with regard to applicants or employees with disabilities and will make reasonable accommodations when necessary. The following are essential abilities and physical requirements for all positions at the college.
- Ability to orally communicate effectively with others with strong interpersonal skills and customer service orientation.
- Ability to work cooperatively with colleagues and supervisory staff at all levels.
- Ability to understand oral and written information, using the English language, and organize thoughts and ideas into effective forms of communication.
- Ability to make decisions which range from moderate to a significant impact on the immediate work environment, as well as outside contributors.
- Possess public communication skills that allow professional representation of ACHE to a variety of business and community customers and associates.
- Strong organizational skills.
Problem Solving
- Intuitively able to reason, analyze information and events, and apply judgment in order to solve problems of both a routine and complex nature.
- Expertise in negotiation.
Physical And Sensory Abilities
- May be exposed to short, intermittent, and/or prolonged periods of sitting and/or standing in performance of job duties.
- May be required to accomplish job duties using various types of equipment/supplies to include, but not limited to pens, pencils, calculators, computer keyboards, telephone, etc.
- May be required to transport oneself to other campus offices, conference rooms, and on occasion, to off-campus sites to attend meetings, conferences, workshops, seminars, etc.
- May require significant travel or work away from campus.
- Requires attendance at events representing ACHE both within as well as outside of the college setting.
- Frequently required to work at a desk, conference table or in meetings of various configurations.
- Frequently required to see for purposes of reading matter.
- Frequently required to hear and understand speech at normal levels.
- Occasionally required to lift items in a normal office environment.
- Frequently required to operate office and presentation equipment.
If you need assistance in the application process because of a disability, or any other reason, please contact Vicki Broadaway, Vice President of Human Resources, at 479-308-2287 or vicki.broadaway@achehealth.edu.
Arkansas Colleges of Health Education is an equal opportunity employer.

LOCATION
This position is fully on-site and requires a regular presence in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Remote or hybrid work is not available for this position.
Job Summary
The Director of Counseling and Wellness Services provides leadership for campus-wide student mental health and wellness and services and initiatives, supporting student success through primary prevention, early intervention, and coordinated care. This role is responsible for the development, implementation, and assessment of mental health and wellness programming and interventions for Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) students. Working collaboratively with ACHE leadership, academic departments, student organizations, campus housing, and community partners, the Director fosters a supportive and inclusive environment that promotes student mental health and well-being. The position also provides and supervises direct clinical counseling services for students and supports mental health training and consultation for campus and community members.
Essential Functions And Responsibilities
- Provide oversight and supervision for on-site primary prevention counseling and distance counseling as needed for students.
- This position will also provide referrals for additional concentrated mental health services as needed.
- Provide and support direct student wellness and mental health interventions for students dealing with cognitive, social, interpersonal communication skills or emotional behaviors which interfere with their success.
- Collaborate with leadership to promote student success through development, implementation, and tracking of campus-wide student wellness programming, including wellness initiatives and activities.
- Support Success and Leadership course in conjunction with the Office of Academic Affairs.
- Lead the evaluation and continuous improvement of external student wellness partnerships by assessing effectiveness, utilization, and outcomes, while serving as the primary administrator for third-party contracts, ensuring compliance, value, and alignment with institutional goals.
- Oversee and manage student wellness communications and workflows, including monitoring and responding to the Be Well Form submissions and maintaining a dedicated student wellness email inbox to ensure timely, appropriate follow-up.
- Provide guidance and leadership for student organizations to encourage student wellness activities and monitor effectiveness.
- Provide individual and group counseling to students in the educational environment.
- Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with students, faculty, staff, and other constituent groups in the support of student success.
- Effectively and regularly collaborate with Academic Affairs, Academic Support and other student-facing departments for effective and appropriate campus programming for students.
- Evening and weekend hours may be required.
- Minimal travel may be required.
- Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director of Student Support Services or their designee.
QUALIFICATIONS AND CREDENTIALS
Education And Experience
Minimum Qualifications
- Master’s degree in counseling, psychology, or social work with special training in guidance and behavioral counseling.
- Must have Arkansas license (LCSW, LMSW, LPC, LAC).
- Ability and credentials, appropriate to work in a clinic setting.
- Experience in education, health care, or social work.
- Outstanding interpersonal communication skills, both written and verbally.
- Ability to express empathy while maintaining professional ethical standards.
- Exceptional writing and analytical skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Doctoral degree in Psychology or Counseling.
- Three (3) to five (5) years of experience in higher education or student counseling environments.
- Prior work with health professions graduate students.
- Knowledge of accreditation standards relevant to health professions education.
- Demonstrated supervisory experience.
- Experience working with online, hybrid, or international student populations.
Required Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities
- Demonstrate proficiency in computer skills, i.e. Microsoft Office.
- Display professionalism for the college in all communication and interaction.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and privacy.
- Ability to prioritize and organize numerous and varied assignments.
ABILITIES AND COMPETENCIES ESSENTIAL TO THE FUNCTION OF THE JOB
Communication and Comprehension
ACHE is in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and does not discriminate with regard to applicants or employees with disabilities and will make reasonable accommodations when necessary. The following are essential abilities and physical requirements for all positions at the college.
- Ability to orally communicate effectively with others with strong interpersonal skills and customer service orientation.
- Ability to work cooperatively with colleagues and supervisory staff at all levels.
- Ability to understand oral and written information, using the English language, and organize thoughts and ideas into effective forms of communication.
- Ability to make decisions which range from moderate to a significant impact on the immediate work environment, as well as outside contributors.
- Possess public communication skills that allow professional representation of ACHE to a variety of business and community customers and associates.
- Strong organizational skills.
Problem Solving
- Intuitively able to reason, analyze information and events, and apply judgment in order to solve problems of both a routine and complex nature.
- Expertise in negotiation.
Physical And Sensory Abilities
- May be exposed to short, intermittent, and/or prolonged periods of sitting and/or standing in performance of job duties.
- May be required to accomplish job duties using various types of equipment/supplies to include, but not limited to pens, pencils, calculators, computer keyboards, telephone, etc.
- May be required to transport oneself to other campus offices, conference rooms, and on occasion, to off-campus sites to attend meetings, conferences, workshops, seminars, etc.
- May require significant travel or work away from campus.
- Requires attendance at events representing ACHE both within as well as outside of the college setting.
- Frequently required to work at a desk, conference table or in meetings of various configurations.
- Frequently required to see for purposes of reading matter.
- Frequently required to hear and understand speech at normal levels.
- Occasionally required to lift items in a normal office environment.
- Frequently required to operate office and presentation equipment.
If you need assistance in the application process because of a disability, or any other reason, please contact Vicki Broadaway, Vice President of Human Resources, at 479-308-2287 or vicki.broadaway@achehealth.edu.
Arkansas Colleges of Health Education is an equal opportunity employer.
Mental Health Counseling Job Roles in Arkansas
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Search Mental Health Counseling Jobs in ArkansasMental Health Counseling Jobs in Arkansas: Frequently Asked Questions
Which visa types are most common for mental health counseling roles in Arkansas?
The H-1B is the most common visa for licensed mental health counselors in Arkansas, as the role typically qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring at least a master's degree in counseling or a related field. Some positions at nonprofit community mental health centers may qualify for cap-exempt H-1B petitions. J-1 exchange visitor visas are also used, particularly for counselors completing supervised clinical training at academic medical centers like UAMS.
Which companies sponsor visas for mental health counseling jobs in Arkansas?
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and Arkansas Children's Hospital are among the larger institutional employers with established HR infrastructure for visa sponsorship. Community mental health centers operated by Behavioral Health Services and Mid-South Health Systems have also sponsored international counselors. Rural health organizations and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) across the state sometimes sponsor for hard-to-fill positions in underserved counties.
Which cities in Arkansas have the most mental health counseling sponsorship jobs?
Little Rock concentrates the largest share of sponsorship opportunities, anchored by UAMS, Arkansas Children's Hospital, and several large outpatient behavioral health practices. Fayetteville and Springdale in the Northwest Arkansas corridor have seen growing demand tied to regional population growth and the University of Arkansas system. Jonesboro, home to Arkansas State University and St. Bernards Healthcare, is another consistent source of counseling positions, including some with sponsorship.
How to find mental health counseling visa sponsorship jobs in Arkansas?
Migrate Mate aggregates visa sponsorship jobs specifically filtered by role and state, making it straightforward to browse current mental health counseling openings in Arkansas without sorting through positions that do not offer sponsorship. Because Arkansas has a documented counselor shortage, new listings appear regularly. Filtering by Arkansas on Migrate Mate surfaces both large institutional employers and smaller community health organizations that are actively hiring internationally credentialed counselors.
What state-specific considerations apply to mental health counselors seeking visa sponsorship in Arkansas?
International counselors must obtain Arkansas licensure from the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling, which requires a master's degree in counseling, supervised clinical hours, and passing the National Counselor Examination. Licensure is a condition of employment, so visa petitions are typically filed after a conditional offer contingent on licensure approval. Arkansas participates in federal programs incentivizing providers to work in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), which can make rural placements more accessible for internationally trained counselors.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored mental health counseling jobs in Arkansas?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.
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