Virginia

Behavioral Health Resources in Virginia

Job search support is provided for the following behavioral health disciplines:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker
• Licensed Professional Counselor
• Substance Use Disorder Counselor
• Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor
• Peer Recovery Support Specialist
• Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
• Behavioral Health Therapist
• Clinical Mental Health Counselor
• Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatrist
• Clinical Psychologist
• Addiction Medicine Physician

Additional Resources:

• Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
• Office of Licensing - (virginia.gov)
• Virginia Behavioral Health Commission

Incentive programs for behavioral health professionals:

• Virginaia Behavioral Health Student Loan Repayment Program
• Virginia State Loan Repayemnt Programs

Pipeline and pathway programs into behavioral health fields:

• Virginia HOSA Future Health Professionals
• Virginia Area Health Education Centers AHEC

3RNET has resources from across the nation to support behavioral health professionals and people interested in pursuing a behavioral health career. View 3RNET’s behavioral health professionals’ resources here.

J-1 Visas in Virginia

If you want to obtain a J-1 Waiver in Virginia, here’s what you need to do:

1. Start your job search about 18 months prior to when you want to start working.
2. Find a job at an eligible J-1 site in our state. You can search for J-1 eligible jobs on 3RNET. Start your J-1 job search in Virginia now.
3. For comprehensive information regarding Virginia's processing of J-1 Visa Waivers, please visit our website prior to contacting our office.
4. Connect with the J-1 contact to ask questions and learn about additional steps you may need to take.

Visit our website to view J-1 Visa Waivers Guidelines:
https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/health-equity/conrad-30-waiver-program-overview/

Virginia also participates in the Appalachian Regional Commission’s (ARC) J-1 Visa Waiver Program. ARC is a federal government agency that considers J-1 Visa Waiver requests by state governors on behalf of medical facilities located in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in the respective state's Appalachian Region. If the employer is located in an Appalachian region of Virginia, VDH will forward the application for processing by the ARC as an interested government agency.

In an effort to maximize available resources, and improve access to health care for residents of underserved areas, applicants that are eligible for the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) J-1 Visa Waiver program should utilize the ARC J-1 Waiver program. 

In Virginia, there are 25 counties and eight independent cities that are eligible for the ARC J-1 Visa Waiver program. Specialist physicians are NOT eligible for the ARC J-1 Waiver program and should seek a specialist slot through Virginia’s J-1 Visa Waiver program.

Health Care Employers in Virginia

You'll find jobs on 3RNET from these types of health care employers in Virginia:

• Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs)
• Community Health Centers (CHCs)
• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
• Indian Health Service sites
• Rural Health Clinics (RHCs)
• National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment sites
• National Health Service Corps Scholar sites
• Tribal Health sites

We have compiled a basic overview to help you understand more about the various safety net health care facilities. View 3RNET’s Guide to Safety Net Health Care Facilities here.

Job Search Resources for Virginia

We’re here to help. 3RNET has several resources for health professionals searching for a job:

• 3RNET’s Loan Repayment Program Guide
• 3RNET’s Guide on Health Professional Shortage Areas
• 3RNET’s Guide to Navigating the J-1 Waiver Job Search
• 3RNET’s Guide to Safety Net Health Care Facilities
• 3RNET’s Resources for Behavioral Health Professionals

Virginia's state-specific job resources for health care professionals:

• Virginia Community Healthcare Association
• Southwest Virginia Residency Rotation Opportunity
• Virginia National Interest Waiver (NIW) Program
• Virginia Loan Repayment Programs
• Virginia Nursing Scholarship Program
• National Health Service Corps

Learn more about Virginia: 

• Virginia is for Lovers (Virginia State Tourism Website)

For Virginia Employers

If you’re a health care employer in Virginia and you’d like to post your jobs on 3RNET, please fill out our employer application form which will be sent to our Virginia Network Coordinator.

If you have specific questions about using 3RNET in Virginia, please contact 3RNET’s Virginia Network Coordinator, Olivette Burroughs.