The category in brief
Your packet should document the professional work offered by the U.S. employer, the credential route in this list entry, and the requested temporary stay. Bring facts that agree across the signed letter and your supporting documents.
Distinguish therapist responsibilities from assistant or aide duties, and check the separate health-care-worker certificate requirement.
What the TN list requires
Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license.
TN profession list, Appendix 2 to Annex 16-A of USMCA Chapter 16 (8 CFR 214.6(c))
The “or” matters: the quoted routes are alternatives, not a demand to hold every credential. Copy the credential exactly from the documents you actually hold; do not add an alternative the entry does not name.
What to explain at the counter
- Describe professional-level work using the employer’s real responsibilities.
- State the temporary period requested, up to three years, with actual start and end dates.
- Keep the letter, résumé, offer details and interview answers consistent.
- Distinguish therapist responsibilities from assistant or aide duties, and check the separate health-care-worker certificate requirement.
TNPath doesn't assess whether your evidence is sufficient; that's the officer's call
If the role or credential route is unclear, consider speaking with a U.S. immigration lawyer.
Describe the actual duties
These occupational examples are prompts drawn from the BLS description, not facts about your job. Use only responsibilities your employer confirms; write them in the employer’s own terms.
- Assess clients’ daily activity limitations
- Develop occupational therapy treatment plans
- Teach strategies for daily living tasks
- Evaluate home and workplace accessibility
- Recommend adaptive equipment for daily activities
- Train clients in adaptive equipment use
- Educate families about client support needs
- Record progress toward occupational therapy goals
Never add, inflate or reword duties to fit a category. Every line in the letter should be something your employer will confirm and you can describe in your own words at the counter.
Job titles that draw questions
Titles such as Occupational Therapy Assistant, Therapy Aide, Rehabilitation Aide can describe support work or another occupation. Keep the real title and describe the responsibilities honestly. TNPath’s wording flags are prompts for review, not USCIS category rulings.
Your employer must verify, approve and sign the final letter
Documents to bring
- Canadian passport
- Signed employer letter on company letterhead, original and copy
- Résumé matching the letter
- Offer letter, if any
- Means of paying the applicable CBP fee
- Evidence of the credential route quoted above, using the exact names on your records
- Applicable valid health-care-worker certificate, checked separately under 8 CFR 212.15
See the full document checklist. Only include licence or bar details you affirm holding and can document.
Organize your Occupational Therapist packet
Answer with your own facts, then inspect the free preview before deciding.
Check state practice requirements
The TN list credential, state practice authorization and health-care-worker certificate answer different questions. Check the state rules for the actual work with your employer and the relevant state authority. A provincial licence is not a statement that you hold a U.S. state licence.
Separate health-care-worker certification
8 CFR 212.15 addresses certification for occupational therapists. Its listed credentialing organizations include CGFNS or NBCOT for this occupation. Confirm which certificate and any applicable exception address your circumstances before travel.
This is separate from the TN letter and from a state licence. TNPath does not issue or verify the certificate. Do not treat an in-progress application as an issued certificate.
Common questions
Is a licence an alternative to a degree in the TN entry?
Yes. The entry names a Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree, or a state/provincial license. State practice authorization and health-care-worker certification are separate checks.
Who is named for health-care-worker certification?
8 CFR 212.15 lists CGFNS and NBCOT for occupational therapy. Confirm the current requirements with the authorized organization; a TN letter or state licence is not the certificate.
Does this entry also name Occupational Therapy Assistant?
No. The list title is Occupational Therapist. Keep an assistant title and its actual duties accurate rather than changing them to fit this flow; seek independent advice if needed.
As a Canadian, do I need a TN visa before I go to the border?
No. Canadian citizens are visa-exempt and apply for TN status directly at a U.S. port of entry or airport preclearance, with their documents in hand. The officer decides at the counter. People still search for "TN visa", but for Canadians it's a status granted at entry, not a visa stamp.
Will TNPath tell me whether I qualify?
No. TNPath is a document-assembly tool. It organizes the facts you provide into templates and gives general information. It doesn't make eligibility determinations or recommend case-specific strategy. Only U.S. Customs and Border Protection decides whether to admit you.
Sources
- 8 CFR 214.6(c): TN profession list (eCFR)
- USMCA Chapter 16, Appendix 2 to Annex 16-A (USTR)
- CBP: Traveling on a TN or L-1 from Canada
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: occupational duties and practice context
- 8 CFR 212.15: health-care-worker certificates and authorized organizations
Last reviewed October 2, 2026. General information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with official sources before you travel.