Behavioral Health Resources in North Carolina

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:

• NC DHHS: Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services
• NC Behavioral Health Services · NC Community Health Center Association (ncchca.org)

Incentive programs for behavioral health professionals:

• NC DHHS: North Carolina State Loan Repayment Program

Pipeline and pathway programs into behavioral health fields:

• UNC-PrimeCare
• North Carolina Area Health Education Centers AHEC
• North Carolina HOSA Future Health Professionals

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 North Carolina

If you want to obtain a J-1 Visa Waiver in North Carolina, 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 North Carolina now.
3. Connect with the J-1 contact to ask questions and learn about additional steps you may need to take.

North Carolina J-1 Visa Waiver Guidelines

In addition to the Conrad 30 J-1 Visa Program, J-1 visa waivers are available in North Carolina through the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The ARC program is open only to physicians practicing in HPSAs located within Appalachian counties. The HHS program is open only to primary care physicians practicing in HPSAs scoring 7 or above. In an effort to maximize available resources and improve access to healthcare in underserved areas, waiver applicants that are eligible for the ARC or HHS J-1 Visa Programs are encouraged to utilize these programs prior to applying for Conrad 30.

Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) J-1 Visa Waiver Program
The North Carolina Office of Rural Health works with the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) J-1 Visa Waiver Program to enable medical providers in the ARC counties in North Carolina to recruit and employ international medical graduates who may obtain a waiver of their two-year home residency requirements and practice in a health shortage area. For further information on the ARC J-1 Visa Waiver Program, visit the ARC website.

North Carolina ARC Counties: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cherokee, Clay, Davie, Forsyth, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, McDowell, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Stokes, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin, and Yancey
 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Exchange Visitor Program
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) manages this program as it relates to health research and clinical care. Physicians must deliver health care services for three years in a mental health or primary care shortage area.

Two types of waivers are administered under this program:

1. Research performed in an area the agency deems priority or significant, and
2. Primary health care services located in Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) scoring 7 or above. HHS will process an application for waiver for a physician to practice in a primary care specialty (family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, obstetrics & gynecology) or general psychiatry.

The Health Care Access Branch can assist with compiling, reviewing and submitting applications and may provide a letter of support for the application. For more information, review the Exchange Visitor Program website.

Health Care Employers in North Carolina

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

• Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Centers (ADATC)
• Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs)
• Community Health Centers (CHCs)
• Community Outpatient Behavioral Health Agencies
• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
• National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment sites
• National Health Service Corps Scholar sites
• Private Practices
• Rural Health Clinics (RHCs)
• State Designated Rural Health Centers
• State Mental Health Hospitals
• 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 North Carolina

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

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

• North Carolina Office of Rural Health
• North Carolina Office of Rural Health Facebook Page
• Official Health and Human Services Site for North Carolina
• North Carolina Medical Society Foundation
• North Carolina Community Health Center Association

Learn more about North Carolina:

• Why Move to North Carolina
• Moving to North Carolina
• North Carolina Official State Website
• Official Travel and Tourism Site for North Carolina

For North Carolina Employers

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

If you have specific questions about using 3RNET in North Carolina, please contact one of 3RNET’s North Carolina Network Coordinators: Clint Cresawn, Karen Gliarmis, or Maya Sanders.