This depends on your occupation, education, experience, achievements, citizenship, and other relevant factors. Some occupations in healthcare (e.g., Registered Nurse, Physical Therapist) or legal (e.g., Lawyer, Real Estate) require a state license or a U.S. diploma to practice.
If you want to practice your occupation and not something else, you must pass the equivalence test before searching for a job in the USA. Some examples are below.
I’m a nurse. Do I need a license before searching for employment with visa sponsorship?
Yes, before searching for employment, you may possess a Registered Nurse license in a state located in the United States, pass the TOEFL, and be in the process of completing NPTC, or have already completed it.
I’m a physical therapist. Do I need a license before searching for employment with visa sponsorship?
Yes, before searching for employment, you may possess a Physical Therapy license in a state in the United States, pass the TOEFL, and be either in the process of completing NPTC or have already completed it.
I’m a lawyer. Do I need to have a bar before searching for employment with visa sponsorship?
Yes, before searching for employment, you may possess a bar in the state where you’ll be in the United States. You may also be employed as an employee in a law office.
I’m a real estate agent. Do I need a license before searching for employment with visa sponsorship?
To work as a real estate agent in the United States, you typically need a state-issued real estate license. Unless you possess extraordinary business abilities or already have a work permit for the USA, most visa categories require you to be hired as an employee of a company. Real estate agents in the U.S., however, usually work as independent contractors rather than employees. Because of this, it’s generally not possible to work as a real estate agent in the U.S. without first obtaining a work permit.
That said, you can still build valuable experience in the real estate industry by targeting related roles—such as in business, finance, or law—that do offer visa sponsorship. This path allows you to enter the U.S. job market, gain industry expertise, and prepare for a future career as a real estate agent once you’re eligible.
I’m not one of the list above. Can I find a job in the USA with my foreign diploma?
The list above is not exhaustive. However, many fields, such as marketing, finance, sales, business, management, IT, construction, supply chain, hospitality, and culinary arts, do not require any licenses or tests. In this case, you can instantly start your job search in the USA.
USponsorMe lists jobs in the USA that offer visa sponsorship, so you don’t waste your time filtering through visa sponsorship jobs.
