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CERTIFICATION AND LICENSING PATHWAYS BY PROFESSION
Each regulated profession has different procedures and pathways for professionals, either through licensure or certification. Below are sources that will provide you with information on how to get licensed or certified in the U.S. Remember that unless your foreign degree is recognized by the state board or certification body, you cannot become licensed.
State Licensing Boards Directory: The Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR)
Professional Associations Directory: The Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE)
Health Professions: You can find information on licensing pathways in health-related professions on our Health Professions page.
Accountant: In order to perform public accounting you must get licensed as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). For more information on obtaining a CPA license, you can visit the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) page. Information on other accountancy credentials can be found at WES Accountancy Information page.
Architect: You cannot practice architecture in a U.S. jurisdiction without acquiring a license to practice in that state. Each of the 50 states has an architectural registration board that regulates the profession according to jurisdiction. You can find detailed guidelines on the following page: National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).
Engineer: You can find detailed guidelines for licensing at the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) page. Remember that there are many positions in engineering that do not require state licensing, but you cannot practice all forms of the profession without a license.
Lawyer: Lawyers must pass a State Bar examination, which determines competency to practice law in a given jurisdiction. Foreign trained lawyers’ eligibility to sit for the bar exam, varies widely from state to state. For details, refer to Chapter 10 of the Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements. Additionally, some state boards
permit applicants with foreign law education to take the Bar exam after completing an accredited L.L.M. program in the United States. Please refer to Chapter 3 of the Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements to locate those State boards.
Teacher: In order to be a classroom teacher in public schools in the U.S., you need to get certified by the Department of Education in the state you wish to work. There is no national recognition process for teachers. Check with individual state education departments for details. The directory of 50 State Certification Requirements can be found at the University of Kentucky College of Education page.
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