Behavior Specialist Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Behavior Specialist roles qualify as specialty occupations under the H-1B visa, requiring a bachelor's degree in applied behavior analysis, psychology, or a related field. Employers in school districts, clinical settings, and ABA therapy organizations regularly file LCAs and sponsor H-1B petitions for qualified candidates, making this a viable path for international professionals with BCBA or BCaBA credentials.
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IDD Behavior Specialist
Type: Regular
If you are a positive and personable individual looking for a satisfying and fun opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of people with intellectual, developmental disabilities, and people facing mental health, and substance use challenges, join our team at RHA Health Services!
In-services, monitors, and implements behavior programs and behavioral support systems. Collects and records data for summarization by the psychologist and/or completion of monthly progress reviews by performing the following duties. Relies on direction and supervision to accomplish the job. Responsible for working closely with interdisciplinary healthcare team and other clinical staff to maintain communication and provide feedback, standardizing procedures, expediting habilitation plan implementation and work-flow to improve efficiency of home care staff.
Rate of Pay: $17.50 / hr.
Schedule: Full-time, on-site, 9am to 5pm; rotating Administrator on-call weekend once a month
Benefits package: Monthly cellphone stipend, mileage reimbursement, paid training opportunities & orientation, health insurance benefits, Wellbeing programs, Paid Time Off, 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan, and Employee Discount programs.
Job Responsibilities
- Assisting in scheduling specialized psychiatric and psychological assessments and appointments and providing follow-up support as directed by the psychologist
- Establishing and maintaining behavior support intervention notebooks for homes and vocational centers and ensuring materials are available to implement behavior support plans
- Developing and authoring behavior support plans and systems that do not involve restrictive procedures
- Completing Adaptive Behavior Assessments such as the Vineland Social Maturity Scale to assist psychologists in completing full psychological evaluations
- Completing functional analysis through observation and interview to determine the probable causes and maintaining factors involved in a maladaptive behavior
- Providing individual and group in-service training for current and new staff concerning new behavior support plans and plan changes
- Spending adequate amount of time in the residential facility monitoring and providing feedback to staff in interactions and relationships with people supported
- Observing and modeling appropriate behavior skills in group homes, schools, workplace, and vocational/administrative units
- All other duties as assigned
Job Requirements
- One year certificate from college or technical school; or 3 to 6 months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Valid drivers’ license and automotive insurance
- Ability to read and interpret professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations
- Ability to write reports and business correspondence
- CPR, first aid, NCI and/or other role specific certification
Pre-employment screening:
- Complete criminal background
- Name checked in the registries. (OIG exclusions database, Child Abuse Registry, and Offenders Against Individuals with Developmental Disabilities)
- Drug testing
- Education verification and other credentialing based on position requirements
- Proof of employment history or references (if required)
- Positions that require driving Proof of driver's license, driver's insurance, and vehicle, IF required for providing transportation for individuals
We offer the following benefits to employees:
- Payactiv: early access to the money you’ve earned from hours you’ve already worked, before payday!
- Employee perks and discount program: to help you save money!
- Paid Time Off (full-time employees only)
- Health/Insurance (full-time employees only)
- 401(k) retirement savings program
- Wellbeing Programs: Physical, Emotional and Financial
- Chronic Disease management programs for hypertension and diabetes (for qualifying employees)
- Training: Free CPR, first aid, and job-specific training opportunities
- Contract/contingent workers and interns do not qualify for any of the above benefits
EEO Statement
RHA is an equal opportunity employer. In addition, we provide reasonable accommodation to qualified employees who have protected disabilities to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process, please contact our solutions center.
About RHA:
At RHA Health Services, we help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health and/or substance use needs live their best lives. Our mission is to provide a safe and healthy environment while creating opportunities for personal outcomes.
For over 30 years, the people we serve and support have remained at the very center of everything we do. RHA currently provides services in North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and New Jersey.
If you are ready to make a difference in the lives of people we serve and support apply to join the team today.
We are hiring for:
IDD Behavior Specialist
Type: Regular
If you are a positive and personable individual looking for a satisfying and fun opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of people with intellectual, developmental disabilities, and people facing mental health, and substance use challenges, join our team at RHA Health Services!
In-services, monitors, and implements behavior programs and behavioral support systems. Collects and records data for summarization by the psychologist and/or completion of monthly progress reviews by performing the following duties. Relies on direction and supervision to accomplish the job. Responsible for working closely with interdisciplinary healthcare team and other clinical staff to maintain communication and provide feedback, standardizing procedures, expediting habilitation plan implementation and work-flow to improve efficiency of home care staff.
Rate of Pay: $17.50 / hr.
Schedule: Full-time, on-site, 9am to 5pm; rotating Administrator on-call weekend once a month
Benefits package: Monthly cellphone stipend, mileage reimbursement, paid training opportunities & orientation, health insurance benefits, Wellbeing programs, Paid Time Off, 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan, and Employee Discount programs.
Job Responsibilities
- Assisting in scheduling specialized psychiatric and psychological assessments and appointments and providing follow-up support as directed by the psychologist
- Establishing and maintaining behavior support intervention notebooks for homes and vocational centers and ensuring materials are available to implement behavior support plans
- Developing and authoring behavior support plans and systems that do not involve restrictive procedures
- Completing Adaptive Behavior Assessments such as the Vineland Social Maturity Scale to assist psychologists in completing full psychological evaluations
- Completing functional analysis through observation and interview to determine the probable causes and maintaining factors involved in a maladaptive behavior
- Providing individual and group in-service training for current and new staff concerning new behavior support plans and plan changes
- Spending adequate amount of time in the residential facility monitoring and providing feedback to staff in interactions and relationships with people supported
- Observing and modeling appropriate behavior skills in group homes, schools, workplace, and vocational/administrative units
- All other duties as assigned
Job Requirements
- One year certificate from college or technical school; or 3 to 6 months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Valid drivers’ license and automotive insurance
- Ability to read and interpret professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations
- Ability to write reports and business correspondence
- CPR, first aid, NCI and/or other role specific certification
Pre-employment screening:
- Complete criminal background
- Name checked in the registries. (OIG exclusions database, Child Abuse Registry, and Offenders Against Individuals with Developmental Disabilities)
- Drug testing
- Education verification and other credentialing based on position requirements
- Proof of employment history or references (if required)
- Positions that require driving Proof of driver's license, driver's insurance, and vehicle, IF required for providing transportation for individuals
We offer the following benefits to employees:
- Payactiv: early access to the money you’ve earned from hours you’ve already worked, before payday!
- Employee perks and discount program: to help you save money!
- Paid Time Off (full-time employees only)
- Health/Insurance (full-time employees only)
- 401(k) retirement savings program
- Wellbeing Programs: Physical, Emotional and Financial
- Chronic Disease management programs for hypertension and diabetes (for qualifying employees)
- Training: Free CPR, first aid, and job-specific training opportunities
- Contract/contingent workers and interns do not qualify for any of the above benefits
EEO Statement
RHA is an equal opportunity employer. In addition, we provide reasonable accommodation to qualified employees who have protected disabilities to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process, please contact our solutions center.
About RHA:
At RHA Health Services, we help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health and/or substance use needs live their best lives. Our mission is to provide a safe and healthy environment while creating opportunities for personal outcomes.
For over 30 years, the people we serve and support have remained at the very center of everything we do. RHA currently provides services in North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and New Jersey.
If you are ready to make a difference in the lives of people we serve and support apply to join the team today.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Behavior Specialist
Align your credentials to specialty occupation standards
Your BCBA or BCaBA certification from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board strengthens your specialty occupation argument significantly. USCIS scrutinizes whether a bachelor's degree in a directly related field is a minimum requirement for the role, so document that your employer requires it explicitly in the job posting.
Target ABA clinic employers with LCA history
School districts and ABA therapy organizations file LCAs more consistently than general healthcare staffing agencies. Use the OFLC Wage Search to verify which employers in your target metro have certified LCAs for behavior specialist or behavior analyst job titles before you apply.
Use Migrate Mate to find verified sponsoring employers
Filter your job search on Migrate Mate to find employers with confirmed LCA filing history for behavior specialist roles. This saves you from applying to organizations that list sponsorship as possible but have no documented history of actually filing for this occupation.
Prepare your degree equivalency documentation early
If your psychology or education degree is from outside the U.S., get a credential evaluation from a NACES-member service before applying. Employers initiating PERM or H-1B filings will need this evaluation on file, and delays here can push back your start date by weeks.
Clarify whether your role is PERM or cap-exempt eligible
Behavior specialists placed at nonprofit schools, universities, or government-affiliated agencies may qualify for cap-exempt H-1B sponsorship, bypassing the annual lottery entirely. Ask hiring managers directly whether the organization holds cap-exempt status under IRS 501(c)(3) or governmental affiliation before accepting an offer.
Negotiate LCA filing timeline into your offer letter
The employer must file and receive DOL certification of the LCA before submitting your H-1B petition to USCIS. Confirm your offer letter specifies a start date with enough lead time for LCA certification and petition processing, especially if you're transitioning from OPT or another status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Behavior Specialist role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, in most cases. USCIS requires the position to normally require at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field, such as applied behavior analysis, psychology, or special education. Roles requiring BCBA or BCaBA certification strengthen this argument because those credentials presuppose a qualifying degree. Generic titles like 'behavior technician' that accept any bachelor's degree may not meet the standard, so job description precision matters.
Which visa types realistically cover Behavior Specialist sponsorship?
The H-1B is the most common path for behavior specialists employed in clinical or school settings. If your role is at a nonprofit educational institution or a government-affiliated agency, the position may qualify for cap-exempt H-1B status, which avoids the annual lottery. TN visa classification does not cover behavior specialist roles because the occupation is not on the USMCA profession list. F-1 STEM OPT is not available unless your degree program holds a STEM-designated Classification of Instructional Programs code.
How do school districts handle H-1B sponsorship for behavior specialists?
Public school districts are government entities and can sponsor H-1B petitions as cap-exempt employers, which means you skip the annual lottery and can start at any point in the year once USCIS approves the petition. The tradeoff is that many districts move slowly through the LCA and petition process, so you'll want to begin conversations with HR several months before your intended start date and confirm they have prior experience filing H-1B petitions.
Where can I find employers who actively sponsor behavior specialist roles?
Migrate Mate shows employers with verified LCA filing history for behavior specialist and behavior analyst positions, so you can focus your applications on organizations that have already demonstrated willingness to sponsor. This is more reliable than taking employers at their word during initial screening calls, since many organizations express openness to sponsorship without having actually filed before.
What documentation do I need if my behavior analysis degree is from outside the U.S.?
You'll need a credential evaluation from a NACES-member evaluation service confirming your foreign degree is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree in a directly related field. For PERM labor certification, your employer's attorney will also need this evaluation to document your qualifications. If you hold an active BCBA credential, that certification can supplement your degree equivalency argument, since the Behavior Analyst Certification Board has its own degree verification process.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Behavior Specialist jobs?
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.