TN Visa Professions List | Full USMCA Appendix 2 Eligible Occupations

Looking for the complete list of TN visa professions?

Under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)—formerly NAFTA—the TN visa allows qualified Canadian and Mexican professionals to work in the United States in specific occupations.

But here’s the key: only certain professions qualify. This list is set out in Appendix 2 of the USMCA and is further explained in Chapter 6 of the USCIS Policy Manual.

If your profession appears on this list and you meet the required education or licensing credentials, you may qualify for TN status.

This guide covers:

• What the TN Professionals List is

• How it’s organized

• The full list of eligible TN occupations

• Minimum education and licensing requirements

What Is the TN Professionals List?

The TN Professionals List is an official list of occupations recognized under USMCA for TN visa eligibility.

Each profession includes minimum education or licensing requirements that applicants must meet to qualify. For example:

• Some require a Baccalaureate (Bachelor’s) or Licenciatura degree

• Others allow for alternative credentials, like a CPA license for Accountants

• A few allow a combination of a diploma and professional experience

This list is exhaustive. If your occupation does not appear, you cannot qualify for TN status.

How Is the List Organized?

The list is divided into several broad categories:

• General Professions (Accountants, Architects, Engineers, etc.)

• Medical/Allied Health Professionals (Dentists, Pharmacists, Registered Nurses, etc.)

• Scientists (Biologists, Chemists, Geologists, etc.)

• Educators (College, Seminary, University Teachers)

For each profession, the minimum requirements are also specified—some require only a degree, while others may require additional licensing or work experience.

Full TN Visa Professionals List

Below is the complete USMCA Appendix 2 list of professions eligible for TN visas, along with the minimum education requirements and alternative credentials:

USMCA – APPENDIX 2 - PROFFESIONALS
Profession	Minimum Education Requirements and Alternative Credentials
GENERAL
Accountant	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or C.P.A., C.A., C.G.A. or C.M.A.
Architect	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license
Computer Systems Analyst	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post-Secondary Certificate, and three years experience
Disaster Relief Insurance Claims Adjuster	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree, and successful completion of training in the appropriate areas of insurance adjustment pertaining to disaster relief claims; or three years experience in claims adjustment and successful completion of training in the appropriate areas of insurance adjustment pertaining to disaster relief claims
Economist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Engineer	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license
Forester	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license
Graphic Designer	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post-Secondary Certificate, and three years experience
Hotel Manager	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree in hotel/restaurant management; or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post-Secondary Certificate in hotel/restaurant management, and three years experience in hotel/restaurant management
Industrial Designer	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post-Secondary Certificate, and three years experience
Interior Designer	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post-Secondary Certificate, and three years experience
Land Surveyor	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial/federal license
Landscape Architect	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Lawyer (including Notary in Quebec)	LL.B., J.D., LL.L., B.C.L. or Licenciatura Degree (five years); or membership in a state/provincial bar
Librarian	M.L.S. or B.L.S. (for which another Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree was a prerequisite)
Management Consultant	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or equivalent professional experience as established by statement or professional credential attesting to five years experience as a management consultant, or five years experience in a field of specialty related to the consulting agreement
Mathematician (including Statistician)	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Range Manager/Range Conservationalist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Research Assistant	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Scientific Technician/Technologist	Possession of (a) theoretical knowledge of agricultural sciences, astronomy, biology, chemistry, engineering, forestry, geology, geophysics, meteorology or physics; and (b) ability to solve practical problems in any of those disciplines, or apply principles of those disciplines to basic or applied research
Social Worker	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Sylviculturist (including Forestry Specialist)	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Technical Publications Writer	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post-Secondary Certificate, and three years experience
Urban Planner (including Geographer)	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Vocational Counsellor	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
MEDICAL / ALLIED PROFESSIONALS
Dentist	D.D.S., D.M.D., Doctor en Odontologia or Doctor en Cirugia Dental; or state/provincial license
Dietitian	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license
Medical Laboratory Technologist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post-Secondary Certificate, and three years experience
Nutritionist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Occupational Therapist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license
Pharmacist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license
Physician (teaching or research only)	M.D. or Doctor en Medicina; or state/provincial license
Physiotherapist/Physical Therapist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license
Psychologist	State/provincial license; or Licenciatura Degree
Recreational Therapist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Registered Nurse	State/provincial license; or Licenciatura Degree
Veterinarian	D.V.M., D.M.V. or Doctor en Veterinaria; or state/provincial license
SCIENTISTS
Agriculturist (including Agronomist)	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Animal Breeder	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Animal Scientist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Apiculturist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Astronomer	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Biochemist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Biologist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Chemist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Dairy Scientist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Entomologist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Epidemiologist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Geneticist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Geologist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Geochemist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Geophysicist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Horticulturist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Meteorologist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Pharmacologist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Physicist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Plant Breeder	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Poultry Scientist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Soil Scientist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Zoologist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
TEACHERS
Teacher - College	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Teacher - Seminary	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Teacher - University	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree

How to Know if You Qualify

If your job matches one of these listed professions and you meet the required degree or licensing criteria, you can apply for TN status.

Important notes:

• Job duties matter. Even if your title is close, your actual duties must align with the professional role.

• Experience doesn’t replace a degree unless specifically stated (e.g., Computer Systems Analyst, Scientific Technicians, Management Consultants).

• Some roles require licenses in addition to a degree (e.g., Architect, Engineer, Dentist).

Special Notes on Specific TN Professions

While most TN occupations simply require a baccalaureate or licenciatura degree (or listed alternatives), some have additional requirements or clarifications outlined in the USCIS Policy Manual.

Here are key examples:

• Medical Laboratory Technologist (Canada) / Medical Technologist (Mexico & U.S.)

  • Applicants in this category must be entering the U.S. to perform chemical, biological, hematological, immunologic, microscopic, or bacteriological tests used for the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of disease.

  • They must also present health care worker certification from a recognized credentialing organization.

• Physician (Teaching or Research Only)

  • TN classification for physicians is strictly limited to teaching or research roles. Direct patient care is NOT permitted, except when it is incidental to teaching or research.

  • USCIS considers factors like:

    • How much time will be spent on patient care versus teaching/research.

    • Whether the physician will receive compensation for patient care.

    • Whether the teaching/research salary suggests patient care is minimal.

    • If there’s a recurring or scheduled patient load, it’s not considered incidental.

• Registered Nurses

  • To qualify as a TN-eligible Registered Nurse, you must:

    • Provide a provincial or state nursing license or licenciatura degree.

    • Present either a permanent or temporary state license or temporary authorization to work as an RN in the intended U.S. state of employment.

    • Provide a CGFNS certificate (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools) or an equivalent credentialing document.

  • Importantly, admission shouldn’t be limited to the license expiration date, but you must always maintain proper authorization.

• Sylviculturists and Foresters

  • These professionals plan and supervise the growing, protection, and harvesting of trees.

  • Sylviculturists focus on managing forest regeneration and growth.

  • Foresters and Range Managers also improve, protect, and manage rangelands for sustainable use.

  • A baccalaureate or licenciatura in forestry or a related field OR a state/provincial license is required.

• Disaster Relief Insurance Claims Adjusters

  • To qualify, the applicant must provide proof of a declared disaster event, which can be:

    • Declared by the U.S. President;

    • Identified by state law or local ordinance; or

    • Assigned a catastrophe serial number by the Property Claims Service.

  • In some cases, an association of insurers covering at least 15% of the U.S. property casualty market may also declare a disaster if damage exceeds $5M.

• Management Consultants

  • Management consultants analyze and resolve strategic, organizational, or operational problems to improve a company’s performance.

  • You may qualify with either:

    • A baccalaureate or licenciatura degree;

    • 5-years experience as a management consultant; or

    • 5-years experience in a specialized field related to the consulting engagement.

  • Important notes:

    • Consultants usually work as independent contractors or for consulting firms under contract to U.S. entities.

    • They may be directly employed by the U.S. company, but only for non-routine, temporary needs (not to fill a regular ongoing employee role).

• Computer Systems Analyst

  • This category requires either:

    • A baccalaureate or licenciatura degree; or

    • A post-secondary diploma or certificate PLUS 3 years of relevant experience.

  • Acceptable credentials must come from recognized institutions:

  • For Canada/U.S.: a credential issued after 2+ years of post-secondary education at an accredited school.

  • For Mexico: must be from an institution recognized by the federal/state government or created by law.

  • Note: While systems analysts may do some programming, this category does NOT cover programmers. Systems analysts focus on analyzing an organization’s needs and designing computer-based systems—not coding full-time.

• Animal and Plant Breeders

  • Animal and plant breeders work to improve economic and aesthetic characteristics in livestock or crops.

• Economists

  • An Economist must have a baccalaureate or licenciatura degree, but job duties determine eligibility—not just job title.

  • Key notes:

    • Economist roles involve economic research, modeling, and analysis of supply/demand or broader macroeconomic trends.

    • TN does NOT include roles like financial analyst, market research analyst, or marketing specialist, even if those positions involve some data analysis.

    • USCIS refers to the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system and Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) definitions when deciding if a job qualifies.

• Engineers

  • Engineers must have a baccalaureate or licenciatura degree in a relevant engineering field OR a state/provincial license.

  • Important notes:

    • USCIS may consult the OOH to confirm if your degree aligns with the requested engineering specialty.

    • Software/computer-related jobs are only included if the applicant is a bona fide Computer or Software Engineer in a recognized engineering discipline (not general IT roles).

Why Work with an Immigration Lawyer?

While the TN visa process may look straightforward, many applications are refused because of:

• Insufficient or poorly drafted employer support letters

• Not meeting the exact listed profession requirements

• Job duties that don’t clearly align with the TN occupational list

• Lack of proper supporting documentation for experience or alternative credentials

At Tchern McCallum Immigration Law, we:

• Confirm your eligibility for a TN visa

• Draft a strong, detailed employer support letter that aligns with USCIS expectations

• Ensure your credentials meet USMCA requirements for the specific profession

• Guide you step by step through the application process, including preparing you for border interviews

  
  

Ready to Work in the U.S. on a TN Visa?

The TN visa remains the fastest pathway for Canadian and Mexican professionals to work in the U.S. If you have a U.S. job offer in a qualifying profession, we can help you get approved the first time.

Contact Tchern McCallum Immigration Law today to start your TN visa process with confidence.

Book a consultation