The category in brief
Registered Nurse is a listed TN profession and the route many Canadian nurses use to take hospital and clinical roles with U.S. employers. Like every category, the case rests on citizenship proof, a credential that meets the list, and an employer letter, presented at a port of entry or airport preclearance.
Nursing adds steps the other categories don’t have: a federal healthcare worker certificate (VisaScreen®) and licensure in the U.S. state where you’ll work.
What the TN list requires
“State/provincial license; or Licenciatura Degree.”TN profession list, Appendix 2 to Annex 16-A of USMCA Chapter 16 (8 CFR 214.6(c))
For Canadians, the licence is the practical route. The list’s degree alternative refers to a Mexican licenciatura, so a Canadian nursing degree on its own isn’t the path. The list defines a state/provincial licence as a document issued by a state, provincial or federal government (or under its authority) that permits someone to engage in the profession.
The VisaScreen® certificate
U.S. law requires foreign-educated health care workers, including registered nurses, to present a certificate from an approved credentialing organization to be admitted to work. For nurses this is the VisaScreen® certificate issued through CGFNS. It verifies your education, licensure and English proficiency.
It’s separate from the TN letter and it takes time, so start early. Discovering the requirement at the border is the wrong time.
U.S. state licensure
Meeting the TN credential minimum isn’t the same as being allowed to practise. Each U.S. state licenses nurses separately, and most require passing the NCLEX-RN. Some states belong to the multistate Nurse Licensure Compact. Check with the board of nursing in the state where you’ll work, and bring evidence of your licensure status (a state licence, a temporary permit, or confirmation from the board).
Duties that describe RN work
Officers read the duties to decide whether the job really is registered nursing work. Concrete, professional-level duty statements make the letter easy to assess. These examples show the style; use only the ones that genuinely describe the job, in your employer’s own terms.
- Assess patient health needs and develop nursing care plans.
- Administer medications and treatments as prescribed.
- Monitor patient conditions and document clinical observations.
- Coordinate care with physicians and other health professionals.
- Educate patients and families on treatment and recovery.
- Delegate tasks to licensed practical nurses and aides within scope of practice.
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.
Roles that are a different occupation
The category is Registered Nurse specifically. Practical nurse roles (LPN, LVN, RPN), nursing assistants, care aides and personal support workers are different occupations. Nurse practitioner roles may raise licensing and scope-of-practice questions beyond this category. TNPath flags these titles in the builder.
Documents to bring
- A valid Canadian passport.
- The signed employer support letter, on company letterhead (original plus a copy).
- Your résumé, consistent with the letter.
- Your offer letter or employment agreement, if you have one.
- A way to pay the CBP fee (a card is simplest).
- Your registered nurse licence and a printout of the regulator’s online registry showing it’s active.
- Your VisaScreen® certificate from CGFNS.
- Evidence of your licensure status in the U.S. state where you’ll work.
- Your nursing diploma or degree and transcripts, as supporting evidence.
Build your TN Registered Nurse packet
Tracks your VisaScreen® and state licence status and adds them to your checklist.
Common questions
I’m an RPN or LPN. Can I use the Registered Nurse category?
The category is Registered Nurse specifically. Practical nursing is a different occupation with different training and scope. Whether another category fits is a question for an immigration lawyer.
Do I need the U.S. state licence before I apply at the border?
Two gates, two answers. The TN list names a state or provincial licence as the credential minimum. Separately, the state where you’ll work requires its own licensure before you can practise there, and U.S. law requires the VisaScreen® certificate for admission. Check with the state board of nursing early, because licensure takes time.
What is VisaScreen® and why do I need it?
It’s a certificate issued through CGFNS that verifies a foreign-educated nurse’s education, licensure and English proficiency. U.S. law requires it for health care workers seeking admission to work, separately from the TN application.
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: Citizens of Canada or Mexico seeking TN status (Cornell LII)
- 8 CFR 212.15: Certificates for foreign health care workers (Cornell LII)
- CGFNS International
- CBP: Traveling on a TN or L-1 from Canada
Last reviewed September 29, 2026. General information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with official sources before you travel.