Mental Health Counseling Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Mental health counseling roles sponsor H-1B visas when the position requires a master's degree in counseling or a related clinical field. Licensure requirements vary by state, and many employers will sponsor while you complete supervised hours toward full licensure. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsPosition Announcement
Utah Valley University offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on students' educational journeys while serving in a leadership role within Financial Aid and Scholarships. As the Assistant Director, you will help ensure students have access to the financial resources they need to achieve their academic goals by overseeing federal aid compliance, maintaining high standards of accuracy, and guiding a team dedicated to student success. This position combines leadership, regulatory expertise, and service, providing a rewarding opportunity to influence both operational excellence and the student experience.
At UVU, you will join a student-focused institution that values collaboration, continuous improvement, and professional growth. The role offers the opportunity to hire, mentor, and develop staff; lead critical compliance initiatives; and work directly with students and families as they navigate the financing of their education. For professionals passionate about leadership, problem-solving, and helping students access opportunities through higher education, this position offers a meaningful and impactful career path.
Summary of Responsibilities
- Oversees the operation and processes of the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office, Financial Aid Counseling II team. Ensures all tasks and reports are completed accurately and on time. Coordinates with the Business Systems Analyst to ensure all reports in the coordinator area are received on time and contain accurate information. Oversees compliance with Return of Title IV, Federal Work Study, Direct Loan, Pell Grant, and Gainful Employment.
- Provides regular training for the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office staff in regulations, policies, and procedures. Assists co-workers in answering questions, researching student accounts for accurate processing of federal student aid funds, and looking for system abnormalities and processing errors. Conducts regular spot checks on each employee's work to ensure accurate processing.
- Hires and supervises Financial Aid Counseling II employees. Trains and counsels all Financial Aid and Scholarship staff.
- Consults with the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office Director, Associate Directors, and other Assistant Directors regarding development, implementation, and maintenance of training materials, emails, and forms. Verifies the accuracy of printed materials and the website.
- Assists co-workers as needed to ensure the department's successful operation.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications / Licenses / Certifications
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in a directly related field and two years' experience related to the Summary of Duties; OR a combination of education and/or experience totaling six years.
For Example:
- Bachelor's degree in a related field and two years of related professional experience.
- OR an associate's degree in a related field and four years of related professional experience.
- OR one year of college coursework in a related field and five years of related professional experience.
- OR two years of college coursework in a related field and four years of related professional experience.
- OR three years of college coursework in a related field, and three years of related professional experience.
- OR six years of progressively responsible experience related to the duties of the position.
Knowledge / Skills / Abilities
Knowledge
- Knowledge of federal regulations pertaining to financial aid, including need analysis, eligibility assessment, verification, packaging strategies, loan awarding, default prevention, Federal Work Study, Return of Title IV, Gainful Employment, and evaluation of academic progress.
- Knowledge of financial aid institutional policies and procedures.
- Knowledge of computerized financial aid systems, preferably Banner.
- Knowledge of computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, PowerPoint, internet tools, email systems, and other general computer skills.
Skills
- High technical aptitude and skill in problem solving, technical troubleshooting, decision-making, and prioritizing.
- Effectively uses interpersonal skills and communication skills, including tact, diplomacy, understanding, compassion, and valuing all contributions, while maintaining adherence to policies.
- Skills in leading a group of employees to accomplish common departmental and university goals.
- Skills in maintaining an established work schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends for outreach programs.
- Skills in making public presentations to large and small groups, and one-on-one.
- Effectively using organizational and planning skills, with acute attention to detail, exacting accuracy, and follow-through.
- Skills in maintaining confidentiality of work-related information and materials, including information from student records.
Abilities
- Ability to work effectively with individuals from all different backgrounds.
- Ability to analyze and solve problems in an effective and professional manner.
- Shows initiative and has the ability to effectively prioritize tasks to meet deadlines.
- Ability to learn quickly.
- Ability to effectively provide knowledge, training, and expertise to students, faculty, and staff.
- Experience working in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
- Ability to gain and maintain access to federal student aid databases.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality pertaining to all student records in compliance with federal and state regulations (i.e., FERPA, GRAMA, etc.).
- Ability to effectively create, compose, and edit written materials.
EEO Statement:
UVU employment decisions are made on the basis of an applicant’s qualifications and ability to perform the job without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 and over), disability, veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth, or pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or other bases protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Position Announcement
Utah Valley University offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on students' educational journeys while serving in a leadership role within Financial Aid and Scholarships. As the Assistant Director, you will help ensure students have access to the financial resources they need to achieve their academic goals by overseeing federal aid compliance, maintaining high standards of accuracy, and guiding a team dedicated to student success. This position combines leadership, regulatory expertise, and service, providing a rewarding opportunity to influence both operational excellence and the student experience.
At UVU, you will join a student-focused institution that values collaboration, continuous improvement, and professional growth. The role offers the opportunity to hire, mentor, and develop staff; lead critical compliance initiatives; and work directly with students and families as they navigate the financing of their education. For professionals passionate about leadership, problem-solving, and helping students access opportunities through higher education, this position offers a meaningful and impactful career path.
Summary of Responsibilities
- Oversees the operation and processes of the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office, Financial Aid Counseling II team. Ensures all tasks and reports are completed accurately and on time. Coordinates with the Business Systems Analyst to ensure all reports in the coordinator area are received on time and contain accurate information. Oversees compliance with Return of Title IV, Federal Work Study, Direct Loan, Pell Grant, and Gainful Employment.
- Provides regular training for the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office staff in regulations, policies, and procedures. Assists co-workers in answering questions, researching student accounts for accurate processing of federal student aid funds, and looking for system abnormalities and processing errors. Conducts regular spot checks on each employee's work to ensure accurate processing.
- Hires and supervises Financial Aid Counseling II employees. Trains and counsels all Financial Aid and Scholarship staff.
- Consults with the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office Director, Associate Directors, and other Assistant Directors regarding development, implementation, and maintenance of training materials, emails, and forms. Verifies the accuracy of printed materials and the website.
- Assists co-workers as needed to ensure the department's successful operation.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications / Licenses / Certifications
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in a directly related field and two years' experience related to the Summary of Duties; OR a combination of education and/or experience totaling six years.
For Example:
- Bachelor's degree in a related field and two years of related professional experience.
- OR an associate's degree in a related field and four years of related professional experience.
- OR one year of college coursework in a related field and five years of related professional experience.
- OR two years of college coursework in a related field and four years of related professional experience.
- OR three years of college coursework in a related field, and three years of related professional experience.
- OR six years of progressively responsible experience related to the duties of the position.
Knowledge / Skills / Abilities
Knowledge
- Knowledge of federal regulations pertaining to financial aid, including need analysis, eligibility assessment, verification, packaging strategies, loan awarding, default prevention, Federal Work Study, Return of Title IV, Gainful Employment, and evaluation of academic progress.
- Knowledge of financial aid institutional policies and procedures.
- Knowledge of computerized financial aid systems, preferably Banner.
- Knowledge of computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, PowerPoint, internet tools, email systems, and other general computer skills.
Skills
- High technical aptitude and skill in problem solving, technical troubleshooting, decision-making, and prioritizing.
- Effectively uses interpersonal skills and communication skills, including tact, diplomacy, understanding, compassion, and valuing all contributions, while maintaining adherence to policies.
- Skills in leading a group of employees to accomplish common departmental and university goals.
- Skills in maintaining an established work schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends for outreach programs.
- Skills in making public presentations to large and small groups, and one-on-one.
- Effectively using organizational and planning skills, with acute attention to detail, exacting accuracy, and follow-through.
- Skills in maintaining confidentiality of work-related information and materials, including information from student records.
Abilities
- Ability to work effectively with individuals from all different backgrounds.
- Ability to analyze and solve problems in an effective and professional manner.
- Shows initiative and has the ability to effectively prioritize tasks to meet deadlines.
- Ability to learn quickly.
- Ability to effectively provide knowledge, training, and expertise to students, faculty, and staff.
- Experience working in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
- Ability to gain and maintain access to federal student aid databases.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality pertaining to all student records in compliance with federal and state regulations (i.e., FERPA, GRAMA, etc.).
- Ability to effectively create, compose, and edit written materials.
EEO Statement:
UVU employment decisions are made on the basis of an applicant’s qualifications and ability to perform the job without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 and over), disability, veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth, or pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or other bases protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Mental Health Counseling Jobs
Target employers with established H-1B histories
Hospital systems, federally qualified health centers, and large behavioral health networks file H-1B petitions regularly. These employers have legal infrastructure in place, which makes the sponsorship process faster and less uncertain for you.
Clarify your licensure status upfront
State licensure requirements directly affect whether an employer will sponsor you. Be transparent about whether you hold a full license, a provisional license, or are still completing supervised hours before applying to roles.
Highlight your master's degree field precisely
H-1B eligibility for counseling roles depends on degree-to-job alignment. Degrees in clinical mental health counseling, counseling psychology, or social work carry stronger specialty occupation arguments than broader behavioral science degrees.
Pursue nonprofit and government employers for cap-exempt sponsorship
Employers affiliated with universities, nonprofits, or government research institutions are exempt from the H-1B annual cap. This means year-round filing with no lottery risk, which significantly improves your chances of getting sponsored.
Ask about sponsorship during the offer stage, not after
Many behavioral health employers will sponsor but don't advertise it. Raising the question at the offer stage, once they're committed to hiring you, is far more effective than asking during an initial screening call.
Use Migrate Mate to filter roles that already sponsor
Browsing general job boards wastes time on roles that won't sponsor. Migrate Mate surfaces mental health counseling positions from employers with active visa sponsorship history, so you're only applying where it's actually possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does mental health counseling qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, in most cases. USCIS has approved H-1B petitions for mental health counselors where the employer can demonstrate a master's degree in counseling, psychology, or a directly related field is the minimum requirement for the role. Positions that accept any bachelor's degree regardless of field are harder to support. Clinical roles at hospitals or licensed outpatient programs tend to have the strongest specialty occupation arguments.
Can an employer sponsor me for an H-1B if I don't yet have full licensure?
Yes. Many employers sponsor mental health counselors who are working toward full licensure under a provisional or associate license. The H-1B covers the role itself, not the license. Your employer will need to show the position requires a relevant master's degree. Some states allow supervised practice under a temporary license, and employers factor that into their hiring plans when sponsoring international candidates.
Which types of mental health employers are most likely to sponsor visas?
Federally qualified health centers, VA medical centers, hospital-based behavioral health departments, and university counseling centers are the most active sponsors. These organizations file H-1B petitions routinely and often qualify as cap-exempt filers, meaning you avoid the lottery entirely. Community mental health organizations with federal or state funding contracts also sponsor regularly. Browse Migrate Mate to find roles specifically from employers with verified sponsorship histories.
My degree is in social work rather than counseling. Can I still get sponsored?
It depends on the role. A master's in social work (MSW) supports H-1B sponsorship for clinical social worker positions and many licensed counseling roles, provided the employer's job description aligns with social work practice. The key is degree-to-job fit. Roles explicitly requiring a counseling license tied to a counseling-specific degree may be harder to argue on an MSW alone. Titles like Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) map cleanly to MSW degrees.
Are O-1 or EB-1 visas realistic for mental health counselors?
O-1 visa and EB-1 visas are rarely viable for most mental health counselors. These categories require demonstrating extraordinary ability through national or international recognition, published research, awards, or significant contributions to the field. Clinicians who have authored research, led notable programs, or received professional recognition may have a case, but standard clinical practice credentials don't meet the threshold. The H-1B or, for qualifying nationalities, the TN visa are the realistic primary paths.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Mental Health Counseling 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.