How Do Immigrants Transfer Foreign Degrees and Licenses to Work in the US
A person can be a nurse, doctor, engineer, teacher, dentist, or accountant in another country and still arrive in the United States unable to work in that same job right away. That can feel unfair and confusing, especially when the person already spent years in school and may have real experience.
The short answer is this: foreign education can count in the US, but it usually does not transfer automatically. A degree may need to be evaluated. A license may need to be earned again or approved by a state board. Some careers require exams, supervised work, English tests, background checks, or extra classes.
That is why someone who was a doctor in Venezuela, an engineer in Syria, or a registered nurse in Mexico may work in cleaning, landscaping, childcare, food service, rideshare driving, or construction after arriving. It does not mean they are unqualified. Often, they are stuck between systems.
This article is informational only and is not legal advice, immigration advice, or licensing advice. Rules change by state, profession, and immigration status.
A foreign degree and a professional license are not the same thing
This is the biggest thing to understand.
A degree shows that someone completed school. For example, a person may have a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Mexico or a civil engineering degree from Colombia.
A license gives someone legal permission to work in a regulated profession. Nursing, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, law, teaching, architecture, counseling, and engineering are usually regulated. That means a government board or professional board sets the rules.
A person may have both in their home country:
A nursing degree
A nursing license
Years of hospital experience
But when they come to the US, the state where they live may say, “We need to verify your education and license, then you must pass our exam.”
That is not the same as starting from zero, but it can feel close to it.
In many fields, the US does not simply accept another country’s license because each country has different rules, training hours, safety standards, legal duties, and exams. In the US, many licenses are controlled at the state level, not the federal level. A nurse in Texas, a teacher in Florida, and an engineer in California may all face different rules.
The basic process usually starts with credential evaluation
For many immigrants, the first step is a credential evaluation. This is where an approved evaluation company reviews foreign school records and explains what the education equals in the US system.
For example, an evaluator might say:
This foreign high school diploma equals a US high school diploma.
This three-year university program equals some US college credit.
This foreign bachelor’s degree equals a US bachelor’s degree.
This nursing program included enough clinical hours for review by a nursing board.
This engineering degree is similar to a US engineering degree, but not ABET-accredited.
This is often what people mean when they ask, “How do I transfer my credits?”
The more accurate answer is: you do not usually transfer them directly unless a school accepts them. Instead, you get them evaluated, then a school, employer, or licensing board decides what to accept.
Common documents include:
Diplomas or degree certificates
Transcripts showing classes and grades
Course descriptions or syllabi
Proof of license from the home country
Proof of work experience
Certified translations if documents are not in English
Identity documents
Immigration and work authorization documents, when required
Some people struggle here because they fled danger and could not bring records. Others cannot safely contact a school or government office back home. Some documents get lost, damaged, or are not issued in the same format US agencies expect.
That is one reason the process can slow down before it even begins.
Why asylum status can affect the timeline
Coming to the US under asylum or applying for asylum does not erase a person’s education. A doctor is still educated. An engineer is still trained. A nurse still has knowledge.
The practical issue is permission to work and the time it takes to rebuild a career.
People seeking asylum often need an Employment Authorization Document, also called an EAD, before they can legally work. The timing and rules can depend on the status of the asylum case and current immigration policy. Once a person has valid work authorization, they can usually work in jobs that do not require a special professional license.
But licensed careers are different. A person may need both:
Legal authorization to work in the US
A state license or certification for that specific profession
Those are separate.
For example, someone may have permission to work and still not be allowed to work as a registered nurse until the state nursing board approves them and they pass the required exam.
This is one reason many people take survival jobs while they work on licensing. Rent, food, transportation, childcare, and immigration fees cannot wait for a credential review that may take months.
Different professions have very different paths
There is no single process for every career. The pathway depends on the profession, the state, and the person’s education.
Profession | What may be required in the US | Why it can take time |
Registered nurse | Credential review, English test in some cases, state board approval, NCLEX exam | Nursing is licensed by state boards, and clinical training must be verified |
Doctor | ECFMG certification, USMLE exams, residency matching, state medical license | Many foreign doctors must complete US residency even if they practiced abroad |
Engineer | Degree evaluation, FE exam, work experience, PE exam for licensed roles | Some jobs do not need a PE license, but public safety roles often do |
Teacher | Transcript review, teacher preparation review, state exams, background check | Education rules vary widely by state |
Dentist | Dental board review, exams, often extra US dental schooling | Some states require advanced standing dental programs |
Lawyer | Foreign law degree review, possible LL.M., bar exam eligibility | Each state bar sets its own rules |
Accountant | Degree and credit review, CPA exam, state board approval | CPA rules include specific accounting credits and experience |
Nurses may have one of the clearer paths, but it is still hard
A nurse from Mexico, the Philippines, Nigeria, or another country may be able to become a registered nurse in the US, but they usually must go through the state board of nursing.
The process often includes:
Applying to the state board
Having foreign education reviewed
Proving the nursing program covered required subjects and clinical hours
Taking an English exam if required
Passing the NCLEX-RN
Completing background checks
Meeting any extra state requirements
If the board says the education is missing certain courses or clinical hours, the person may need extra classes. In some cases, they may decide to enter a US nursing program, not because they know nothing, but because the licensing system does not fully accept their prior training.
Doctors face one of the longest barriers
People are often shocked by this. Someone can be a fully trained doctor in another country and still not be able to practice medicine in the US without completing major steps.
International medical graduates usually need to pass US licensing exams, become certified through the proper medical graduate process, apply for residency, match into a program, complete residency training, and then apply for a state medical license.
That is why some foreign-trained doctors work as medical assistants, interpreters, researchers, home health aides, or in completely different jobs. They may be brilliant and experienced, but the US medical licensing system is strict and difficult to re-enter.
Engineers may have more flexible options
Engineering is different because not every engineering job requires a Professional Engineer license. Some private companies hire people with foreign engineering degrees if they can prove their skills.
But if the job involves signing off on public projects, safety systems, buildings, roads, or infrastructure, a license may be required. That can involve a degree evaluation, exams, and documented experience under licensed engineers.
So a foreign-trained engineer may have two possible routes:
Work in a related technical role that does not require a license
Pursue the full Engineer in Training and Professional Engineer path
This is why some engineers find work faster than doctors or nurses, while others still struggle because employers do not understand their foreign degree.
Why skilled immigrants end up in low-wage jobs
From the outside, it can look like something does not add up. Why would a surgeon drive a taxi? Why would an engineer mow lawns? Why would a nurse clean houses?
There are real reasons.
The family needs income right away
Licensing can take months or years. Bills arrive now. Many immigrants take the first available legal job because they need housing, transportation, food, and stability.
A survival job is often not a career choice. It is a bridge.
Employers may not understand foreign experience
A resume with a university in another country may confuse employers. They may not know whether the school is strong, what the degree means, or how to verify past work.
Some employers also ask for “US experience,” which creates a trap. A person cannot get US experience because no one will hire them, and no one will hire them because they do not have US experience.
Licensing boards may require exact documents
A person may know the work, but boards often require proof in a specific format. If a nursing school closed, a government office is unsafe to contact, or records are incomplete, the person can get stuck.
English can be a barrier even for skilled people
Someone may speak English well enough for daily life but still need medical, legal, or technical English for exams and licensing. Testing language can be harder than workplace conversation.
Childcare and transportation make everything harder
Classes, exams, document appointments, and board reviews cost money and time. Many immigrants are also supporting relatives in the US or abroad. That makes it hard to study after a long workday.
Trauma and displacement affect the process
People seeking asylum may have fled violence, threats, or persecution. Rebuilding a career while dealing with trauma, court dates, housing insecurity, and family separation is not simple.
What the path can look like in real life
A foreign-trained professional usually moves through several stages. The order can change, but this is a common pattern.
Gather documents
The person collects diplomas, transcripts, licenses, employment letters, and proof of clinical or professional hours.
Translate documents
If the records are not in English, certified translations may be required.
Choose the right goal
The person decides whether to pursue the same licensed career, a related career, or a faster bridge job.
For example, a doctor may aim for residency, or they may first work as a medical interpreter, clinical research coordinator, health educator, or medical assistant.
Get credentials evaluated
An approved agency reviews education and prepares a report for a school, employer, or licensing board.
Contact the state licensing board
The person checks the exact rules in the state where they plan to work. This matters because moving to another state can change the requirements.
Fill any gaps
This may mean taking English classes, science courses, clinical hours, test prep, or a bridge program for internationally trained professionals.
Take required exams
For nurses, this may be the NCLEX. For doctors, USMLE exams are a major step. For engineers, the FE and PE exams may apply. Other fields have their own tests.
Apply for jobs at the right level
Some people can return to their profession. Others enter a related role first and move up over time.
Bridge jobs can keep people close to their profession
A bridge job is work that connects past experience to a future licensed career. It may not be the final goal, but it keeps skills alive and builds US experience.
Examples include:
A foreign-trained nurse working as a nursing assistant, patient care technician, or home health aide
A foreign-trained doctor working as a medical assistant, interpreter, health educator, or research assistant
A foreign-trained engineer working as a drafter, technician, project coordinator, or quality inspector
A foreign-trained teacher working as a teacher aide, tutor, substitute teacher, or childcare worker
A foreign-trained accountant working as a bookkeeper, tax preparer, or payroll assistant
These jobs may pay less than the person earned in their home country, but they can help build references, confidence, English skills, and knowledge of the US system.
The key is to avoid getting trapped forever. A survival job pays the bills. A bridge job should move the person closer to the profession.
Schools can accept credits, but they decide case by case
When someone asks, “Can I transfer my credits?” the answer depends on the school.
A community college, university, or professional program may accept some foreign credits after an evaluation. But they may reject others if:
The course content does not match
The credits are too old
The transcript lacks details
The school is not recognized
The program has strict accreditation rules
The student needs a certain number of US-based credits
For example, a person with foreign nursing education may receive credit for general education classes, but still need to retake nursing courses. An engineer may get math and science credits accepted, but still need US-specific design, safety, or code-related courses.
This can feel frustrating, but partial credit still matters. It may shorten the time and reduce the cost of earning a US credential.
The smartest first steps are practical
The process can feel huge, so the first steps should be simple and organized.
Start with these:
Pick the state where you plan to work
Licensing rules are state-specific. Do not spend money based on another state’s rules unless you plan to move there.
Find the official licensing board
Search for the state board of nursing, medical board, engineering board, education department, or other agency. Use official government or board websites.
Ask which credential evaluation agencies they accept
Do not pay for an evaluation until you know the board or school will accept that agency’s report.
Create a document folder
Keep scans and paper copies of diplomas, transcripts, translations, IDs, licenses, and work letters.
Look for immigrant-serving nonprofits
Some nonprofits help with career coaching, credential evaluation, English classes, exam prep, and small grants.
Consider both the long path and the bridge path
A person can prepare for nursing licensure while working as a medical assistant. An engineer can apply for technician jobs while studying for exams.
Protect yourself from scams
No private company can guarantee a US license. Be careful with anyone promising fast approval, fake diplomas, or guaranteed exam results.
The system wastes talent when it blocks people for too long
There is a reason this issue bothers people. It feels wrong to see trained professionals shut out of careers where the US often needs workers.
Nurses, doctors, engineers, teachers, and other skilled immigrants bring education and experience with them. The US has valid reasons to check training and protect public safety, especially in health care and engineering. But the process can also be slow, expensive, confusing, and unforgiving.
A better system would make the rules clearer, help people prove what they know, offer more bridge programs, and reduce unnecessary repetition. Public safety matters. So does not wasting human potential.
The main takeaway is simple: immigrants usually cannot just “transfer” a foreign license into a US license. But their education is not worthless. With evaluation, state approval, exams, and sometimes extra training, many can return to their fields or build a related career.
That person cleaning houses may be studying for the NCLEX at night. The landscaper may be gathering engineering documents from another country. The rideshare driver may be a physician trying to enter residency.
The career did not disappear. It is caught in a system that takes time, proof, money, and support to navigate.
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