Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Mental health nurse practitioners fill one of the most actively sponsored clinical roles in U.S. immigration. Employers file H-1B visa and EB-3 petitions regularly for this specialty, and many hospital systems and community mental health centers sponsor both immigrant and nonimmigrant visas to address persistent workforce shortages. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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TOWN AND COUNTRY, MO 63131
Scheduled Hours
40
Position Summary
Washington University in St. Louis is seeking an Outpatient Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) or Physician Assistant with at least one year of post-graduate outpatient experience in psychiatric evaluation and medication management.
In this role, the APP delivers diagnostic evaluations and ongoing medication management within a collegial, team-based environment. The position offers a flexible hybrid schedule of telemedicine and in-person care in modern facilities, backed by full administrative support and structured for approximately 36 direct patient care hours per 40-hour workweek.
- Practice: Outpatient practice at one of our St. Louis Mental Health and Wellness Center Clinics. Monday - Friday clinic hours (No Nights, weekends, or holidays).
- Collaborative Environment: Offers a highly supportive, collegial atmosphere alongside leading psychiatric faculty and clinicians.
- Comprehensive Support: Full administrative backing designed to streamline workflows and maximize patient facing time.
Placement across the greater St. Louis area will be determined during the interview process based on candidate fit and availability.
This job offers a generous base salary plus uncapped additional productivity-driven bonuses, exceptional employee benefits including 20 vacation days & 10 paid holidays a year, a 7-10% matching 403(b), dependent tuition and so much more!
Job Description
Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
- Provide direct outpatient psychiatric care to patients for a minimum of 36 hours per 40 hour work week.
- Focus on clinical care of patients with a wide range of psychiatric diagnoses.
- Evaluate, diagnose, and develop treatment plans for assigned patients.
- Prescribe and monitor medication.
- Provide referrals for additional treatment needs.
- Provide psychotherapy as needed.
- Document, monitor, and ensure accuracy and timeliness of patient medical records. Maintain all required reports, record, statistics, etc.
- Maintain a safe, comfortable and therapeutic environment for patients/families in accordance with established clinic/hospital standards.
- Maintain established departmental policies and procedures, objectives, quality assurance program, safety, environmental and infection control standards.
- Enhance professional growth and development through educational programs, current literature, in-service meetings and workshops. Will function and be supervised under a Collaborative Practice Agreement with a Physician.
Working Conditions:
- Ability to travel to other locations.
- Normal office environment.
- Exposure to blood-borne pathogens.
- Exposure to chemicals.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.
Required Qualifications
Education:
Master's degree
Certifications /Professional Licenses:
The list below may include all acceptable certifications, professional licenses and issuers. More than one credential, certification or professional license may be required depending on the role.
- Basic Life Support - American Heart Association
- Basic Life Support - American Red Cross
Work Experience:
No specific work experience is required for this position.
Skills:
Not Applicable
Driver's License:
A driver's license is not required for this position.
More About This Job
We are seeking a dedicated NP or PA to join our team. Below are additional requirements and information based on each role.
Required Qualifications:
- Psychiatric - Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification, Board Certified or other APP certifications with the mental health experience we seek.
- Must have Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration and number, and Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD) registration and number.
- APN licensure or ability to successfully obtain licensure within three months of date of hire.
- Certain/additional certifications may be necessary based on area of specialty.
- Basic Life Support certification (Online Basic Life Support certifications, those without a skills assessment component, are not sufficient to meet the Basic Life Support requirement).
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experienced in both medication management as well as psychotherapy.
- Experience in working with children, adolescents, and adult outpatient mental health.
- 2 or more years of outpatient mental health experience is a plus.
- Illinois APN licensure is a plus.
- Missouri and Illinois Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration and number, Missouri Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD) registration and Illinois Controlled Substance Registration (CSR) registration is a plus.
- Experience with Epic Electronic Medical Records system is a plus.
- Empathy, communication, active listening, problem solving, ethical, and the ability to work with diverse populations and insurers.
Preferred Qualifications
Education:
Master's degree - Nurse Practitioner, Master's degree - Physician Assistant Studies
Certifications /Professional Licenses:
- Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) - Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
- Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) - Missouri Division of Professional Registration
- Certified Nurse Practitioner - Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
- Certified Nurse Practitioner - Missouri Division of Professional Registration
- Physician Assistant - Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
- Physician Assistant - Missouri Division of Professional Registration
Work Experience:
No additional work experience unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
Skills:
Adaptability, Clinical Decision Making, Clinical Diagnostics, Communication, Customer Empathy, Detail-Oriented, Disease Management, Epic EHR, Family Support, HIPAA Compliance, Interpersonal Communication, Interpersonal Relationships, Multitasking, Organizing, Patient Care, Patient Education, Patient Evaluations, Patient Management, Pharmacology, Preventive Care, Psychiatric Care, Teamwork, Time Management
Grade
S31
Salary Range
$97,000.00 - $174,600.00 / Annually
The salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.
Questions
For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.
Accommodation
If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.
All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.
Pre-Employment Screening
All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.
Benefits Statement
Personal
- Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
- Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
- Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
- WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.
Wellness
- Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!
Family
- We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We’ve got you covered.
- WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.
For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit: https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/
EEO Statement
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.
Location
TOWN AND COUNTRY, MO 63131
Scheduled Hours
40
Position Summary
Washington University in St. Louis is seeking an Outpatient Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) or Physician Assistant with at least one year of post-graduate outpatient experience in psychiatric evaluation and medication management.
In this role, the APP delivers diagnostic evaluations and ongoing medication management within a collegial, team-based environment. The position offers a flexible hybrid schedule of telemedicine and in-person care in modern facilities, backed by full administrative support and structured for approximately 36 direct patient care hours per 40-hour workweek.
- Practice: Outpatient practice at one of our St. Louis Mental Health and Wellness Center Clinics. Monday - Friday clinic hours (No Nights, weekends, or holidays).
- Collaborative Environment: Offers a highly supportive, collegial atmosphere alongside leading psychiatric faculty and clinicians.
- Comprehensive Support: Full administrative backing designed to streamline workflows and maximize patient facing time.
Placement across the greater St. Louis area will be determined during the interview process based on candidate fit and availability.
This job offers a generous base salary plus uncapped additional productivity-driven bonuses, exceptional employee benefits including 20 vacation days & 10 paid holidays a year, a 7-10% matching 403(b), dependent tuition and so much more!
Job Description
Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
- Provide direct outpatient psychiatric care to patients for a minimum of 36 hours per 40 hour work week.
- Focus on clinical care of patients with a wide range of psychiatric diagnoses.
- Evaluate, diagnose, and develop treatment plans for assigned patients.
- Prescribe and monitor medication.
- Provide referrals for additional treatment needs.
- Provide psychotherapy as needed.
- Document, monitor, and ensure accuracy and timeliness of patient medical records. Maintain all required reports, record, statistics, etc.
- Maintain a safe, comfortable and therapeutic environment for patients/families in accordance with established clinic/hospital standards.
- Maintain established departmental policies and procedures, objectives, quality assurance program, safety, environmental and infection control standards.
- Enhance professional growth and development through educational programs, current literature, in-service meetings and workshops. Will function and be supervised under a Collaborative Practice Agreement with a Physician.
Working Conditions:
- Ability to travel to other locations.
- Normal office environment.
- Exposure to blood-borne pathogens.
- Exposure to chemicals.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.
Required Qualifications
Education:
Master's degree
Certifications /Professional Licenses:
The list below may include all acceptable certifications, professional licenses and issuers. More than one credential, certification or professional license may be required depending on the role.
- Basic Life Support - American Heart Association
- Basic Life Support - American Red Cross
Work Experience:
No specific work experience is required for this position.
Skills:
Not Applicable
Driver's License:
A driver's license is not required for this position.
More About This Job
We are seeking a dedicated NP or PA to join our team. Below are additional requirements and information based on each role.
Required Qualifications:
- Psychiatric - Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification, Board Certified or other APP certifications with the mental health experience we seek.
- Must have Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration and number, and Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD) registration and number.
- APN licensure or ability to successfully obtain licensure within three months of date of hire.
- Certain/additional certifications may be necessary based on area of specialty.
- Basic Life Support certification (Online Basic Life Support certifications, those without a skills assessment component, are not sufficient to meet the Basic Life Support requirement).
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experienced in both medication management as well as psychotherapy.
- Experience in working with children, adolescents, and adult outpatient mental health.
- 2 or more years of outpatient mental health experience is a plus.
- Illinois APN licensure is a plus.
- Missouri and Illinois Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration and number, Missouri Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD) registration and Illinois Controlled Substance Registration (CSR) registration is a plus.
- Experience with Epic Electronic Medical Records system is a plus.
- Empathy, communication, active listening, problem solving, ethical, and the ability to work with diverse populations and insurers.
Preferred Qualifications
Education:
Master's degree - Nurse Practitioner, Master's degree - Physician Assistant Studies
Certifications /Professional Licenses:
- Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) - Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
- Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) - Missouri Division of Professional Registration
- Certified Nurse Practitioner - Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
- Certified Nurse Practitioner - Missouri Division of Professional Registration
- Physician Assistant - Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
- Physician Assistant - Missouri Division of Professional Registration
Work Experience:
No additional work experience unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
Skills:
Adaptability, Clinical Decision Making, Clinical Diagnostics, Communication, Customer Empathy, Detail-Oriented, Disease Management, Epic EHR, Family Support, HIPAA Compliance, Interpersonal Communication, Interpersonal Relationships, Multitasking, Organizing, Patient Care, Patient Education, Patient Evaluations, Patient Management, Pharmacology, Preventive Care, Psychiatric Care, Teamwork, Time Management
Grade
S31
Salary Range
$97,000.00 - $174,600.00 / Annually
The salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.
Questions
For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.
Accommodation
If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.
All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.
Pre-Employment Screening
All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.
Benefits Statement
Personal
- Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
- Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
- Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
- WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.
Wellness
- Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!
Family
- We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We’ve got you covered.
- WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.
For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit: https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/
EEO Statement
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.
See all 4,995+ Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Mental Health Nurse Practitioner roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Jobs
Target federally qualified health centers
FQHCs are cap-exempt H-1B employers, meaning they can file petitions year-round without waiting for the annual lottery. Mental health NPs are in high demand at these centers, which serve underserved communities and actively recruit internationally trained practitioners.
Verify your state's APRN licensing requirements early
Each state sets its own nurse practitioner scope-of-practice rules. Some require a collaborative agreement with a physician before you can practice independently. Confirm your target state's requirements before accepting an offer, since licensing delays can stall your visa petition.
Confirm your degree meets specialty occupation standards
USCIS requires a master's degree or higher for H-1B approval as a nurse practitioner. A BSN alone is not sufficient. Most PMHNP programs already meet this threshold, but international credentials may need a credential evaluation from a NACES-recognized organization.
Ask about EB-3 sponsorship alongside H-1B
Many hospital systems will sponsor mental health NPs for permanent residence under EB-3, often running the green card process concurrently with H-1B status. This is worth negotiating at the offer stage rather than waiting until after you've started working.
Prioritize employers with an established immigration track record
Look for employers who have sponsored NPs before, not just physicians. Reviewing DOL LCA disclosure data shows which hospital systems and healthcare networks have a consistent history of filing petitions specifically for advanced practice nursing roles.
Account for licensing board processing time in your timeline
State nursing boards can take 60 to 120 days to issue an NP license, and most employers won't submit your H-1B petition until that license is in hand. Build this buffer into your job search timeline to avoid gaps between offer and petition filing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do mental health nurse practitioners qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship?
Yes. Mental health nurse practitioners qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupation workers because the role requires at least a master's degree in a specific field, typically a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program. USCIS has consistently approved H-1B petitions for NP roles when the employer documents the degree requirement for the position. The key is ensuring your job offer reflects the specialty, not just a general nursing classification.
Which employers are most likely to sponsor a mental health NP?
Federally qualified health centers, Veterans Affairs medical centers, large hospital systems, and community mental health organizations are the most active sponsors. VA facilities and FQHCs are cap-exempt, so they can file H-1B petitions outside the annual lottery window. You can browse open sponsored roles on Migrate Mate, which filters specifically for employers willing to support visa petitions for clinical positions like this one.
Can a psychiatric NP apply for a green card through employment?
Yes, and it's one of the more straightforward employment-based green card paths in healthcare. Most psychiatric NPs qualify under EB-3, which covers professionals with a bachelor's degree or higher. The process requires PERM labor certification, an I-140 petition, and an adjustment of status or consular interview. Some employers with demonstrated recruitment difficulties can also pursue EB-2. Priority dates vary significantly by country of birth.
Does the U.S. recognize international psychiatric nursing qualifications?
International nursing credentials require evaluation before they're recognized in the U.S. You'll need a credential evaluation from a CGFNS-recognized organization to confirm your degree is equivalent to a U.S. master's-level NP program. You'll also need to pass the ANCC PMHNP board certification exam and obtain a state nursing license before most employers will proceed with a petition. The process typically takes six to 18 months from credential evaluation to licensure.
Is there a shortage of mental health NPs that makes sponsorship more likely?
Yes. The Health Resources and Services Administration designates large portions of the U.S. as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas, and psychiatric NPs are specifically identified as a high-need specialty. This shortage makes employers more motivated to sponsor international candidates and strengthens the case for PERM labor certification, since employers can more easily demonstrate that qualified U.S. workers are unavailable for the role.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Mental Health Nurse Practitioner 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.