Licensed professions

In the United States, professions such as medicine, nursing, law, engineering (with signing authority), teaching, pharmacy, and dentistry require a state-level license. Your diploma and license from Türkiye are not automatically valid in the United States. This page explains the authorized body, examinations, 2026 fees, important points for applicants from Türkiye, and official websites for each profession.

• The professional board of the state where you will work issues the license. A separate license may be required for each state.
• Some states have mutual recognition agreements; their scope varies considerably by profession and state.
• A license and a certificate are different. A license is the legal authorization issued by a state to practice a profession. A certificate is a qualification document issued by a professional organization.
• For diploma evaluation, see 5.6 Diploma equivalency.
• A license does not also grant work authorization. For your status, see 5.1.
• You can search for jobs requiring a license and state boards through CareerOneStop's License Finder tool.

• Examination: The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) has three steps: Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 3.
• To take Step 1 and Step 2 CK, your school must appear in the "World Directory of Medical Schools" as meeting ECFMG requirements; you must be a student or graduate on the application and examination date.
• For Step 3, you must have passed Step 1 and Step 2 CK and obtained a valid ECFMG Certificate.
• Application: Students and graduates of medical schools outside the United States apply through FSMB.
• 2026 and 2027 fees: Step 1 $695, Step 2 CK $695, Step 3 $955. If you take the examination outside the United States and Canada, a regional fee of $210 for Step 1 and $235 for Step 2 CK is added.
• Attempt limit: Anyone who takes and fails a Step four or more times cannot apply for any Step. The same Step may be taken no more than three times in 12 months.
• Many state boards require all Steps to be passed within a specified period.
• Visa for residency training:
  • J-1 physician: You must pass the required medical examinations, have sufficient English proficiency, obtain a statement of need from the government of the country of which you are a citizen, and have a contract with an accredited program. J-1 physicians undertaking medical residency in the United States are subject to a two-year home-country residence requirement; see 2.3 Exchange visitor (J-1).
  • H-1B physician: If treating patients, you need the state's license or authorization, must have passed the federal licensing examination or its equivalent, and must meet ECFMG's English proficiency requirement. These requirements differ if you will only teach or conduct research.
• Physicians are not subject to the healthcare worker certificate (VisaScreen) requirement described below.

• License: The state's nursing regulatory body issues it.
• NCLEX steps:
  1. Apply to the board of the state where you will seek licensure; the board determines whether you are eligible for the examination
  2. Register through Pearson and pay the fee
  3. Receive your Authorization to Test (ATT) email; the board determines its validity period, which is 90 days on average
  4. Schedule an appointment and take the examination
• Fee (for a U.S. license): registration $200; if you take the examination outside the United States, an additional $150 applies, plus VAT where applicable. Starting February 1, 2027, the registration fee will be $350.
• NCLEX is also administered in Türkiye. Türkiye is among the countries with international examination centers.
• Healthcare worker certificate for a visa (VisaScreen): Nurses obtain a certificate from an authorized organization before coming with an immigrant or work visa. Federal regulations authorize CGFNS, now called TruMerit, to issue it for nurses.
  • For the certificate, your education must be equivalent to education in the United States, all licenses you hold must be valid and unrestricted, and you must pass an English examination.
  • Nurses must also have passed the NCLEX-RN or TruMerit's qualifying examination.
  • USCIS and HRSA, which is affiliated with the Department of Health and Human Services, changed the English examination requirements. New scores apply to English examinations taken after May 12, 2026.
  • The certificate is not permission to practice a profession; the state still issues the license.
• Physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, medical laboratory workers, and physician assistants are also subject to the same certificate requirement.

• Each state's bar admission authority issues the license to practice law. You can find the rules on the NCBE state information page.
• New examination: Between July 2026 and July 2028, most states will switch to the new NextGen UBE examination. Check which examination your state administers.
• New York example (foreign legal education, Rule 520.6):
  • First-time applicants request a preliminary evaluation of eligibility before applying for the examination. A BOLE account is opened using an NCBE number for this purpose.
  • The education must be equivalent in duration to that of an ABA-approved U.S. law school; in content, the country's law must be based on English common law.
  • If the deficiency is either in duration or content (but not both), it may be remedied with an LL.M. from an ABA-approved school. Türkiye's legal system is not a common-law system.
  • The LL.M. must consist of at least 24 credits, be completed within 24 months, and last at least two semesters; distance education is not accepted.
  • For applicants who need an LL.M., the document deadline is May 1 of the preceding year for the February examination and October 1 of the preceding year for the July examination. The decision may take up to six months.
  • The examination application fee is $750. Applicants are advised not to apply before receiving the evaluation result.

• Path: generally (1) an EAC/ABET-accredited bachelor's degree, (2) four years of supervised work experience in most states, and (3) the FE and PE examinations.
• Only a licensed professional engineer (P.E.) may sign and seal drawings and projects.
• FE examination: Computer-based and available year-round at Pearson centers. The fee is $225, paid directly to NCEES.
• Examination in Türkiye: NCEES administers examinations in Türkiye under an agreement with Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ). In Türkiye, only final-year students and graduates of İTÜ may take the examination; applications are first submitted to İTÜ.
• For degrees not accredited by ABET, state boards generally require an NCEES evaluation:
  • at least 32 credit hours of advanced mathematics and basic sciences
  • at least 48 credit hours of engineering science and design
  • fee $400; re-evaluation $100
• ABET also accredits some programs outside the United States. Check your program through ABET's search tool.

• The state's education agency issues teaching credentials for public schools.
• California (CTC): There are two stages of credentialing: first, a "preliminary" credential valid for up to five years; once the requirements are completed, a "clear" credential. Those trained as teachers outside the United States may apply directly to the commission. If foreign courses are used, a course-by-course evaluation from an approved organization is required.
• New York (NYSED): Applications are submitted through the TEACH system. If you do not have an SSN, request a "TEACH Access Number" using a copy of your passport or visa. The foreign diploma report must be sent directly by an approved organization. Citizenship or lawful immigration status is required only for "Permanent" and "Professional" certificates.
• J-1 teacher program: An exchange program lasting up to three years that requires at least two years of experience and a bachelor's degree; see 2.3.

• Foreign pharmacy graduates first obtain NABP's FPGEC certificate. The certificate is not a license.
• Requirements:
  • graduation from a recognized foreign school of pharmacy; for graduates from January 1, 2003 onward, a program of at least five years
  • an unrestricted foreign license or registration
  • English proficiency through TOEFL iBT or OET Pharmacy
  • the FPGEE examination, with a passing score of 75
• The education evaluation takes approximately 12 weeks after all documents are completed.
• NABP is not accepting applications for the 2026 FPGEE; applications will reopen after the October 15, 2026 examination.
• After certification, apply to the state's pharmacy board; eligibility requirements for the NAPLEX and MPJE examinations vary by state.

• There are three basic requirements in all states: education, a written examination, and a clinical assessment.
• Education: Most states require foreign dental graduates to complete additional general dentistry education in a CODA-accredited program and obtain a D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree. This is generally done through "advanced standing" programs.
• Completing only a postgraduate specialty program in the United States does not satisfy the education requirement in most states.
• Written examination: All states require the INBDE examination.
• Clinical assessment: Most states require one; the accepted examination varies by state.
• Always check the requirements with the dental board of the state where you will work.

• Physician:
  • USMLE Secretariat: 3750 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3102 · +1 215 590 9700
  • FSMB Evaluation Services (USMLE applications for graduates outside the United States): 400 Fuller Wiser Rd., Euless, TX 76039-3856 · +1 817 868 4041
  • ECFMG Certificate: ecfmg.org
• Nurse: state boards of nursing (NCSBN list); TruMerit (VisaScreen): 3600 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2651 · +1 215 222 8454 (Monday–Friday, 08:00–18:00 U.S. Eastern Time)
• Attorney: New York Board of Law Examiners · +1 518 453 5990 (Monday–Friday, 08:30–16:30 U.S. Eastern Time); for other states, see the NCBE state list
• Engineer: NCEES member board directory
• Teacher: California CTC, 651 Bannon Street, Sacramento, CA 95811; New York NYSED TEACH system
• Pharmacist: NABP – state boards of pharmacy

• Starting examinations before determining the state in which you will obtain your license.
• Mistaking a VisaScreen certificate for a state license.
• Applying for the bar examination in New York before receiving the evaluation result and losing the fee.
• Failing to account for USMLE attempt limits and state time limits.
• Taking a home-based English examination for VisaScreen; these versions are not accepted.

• Can I work in the United States with my license from Türkiye? No. The board of the state where you will work issues the license.
• Can I take the NCLEX in Türkiye? Yes. Türkiye is among the international examination centers. You must first obtain authorization to test from a U.S. state board.
• Can I take the FE examination in Türkiye? In Türkiye, only final-year students and graduates of İTÜ can take it. Other candidates take it at Pearson centers approved by NCEES; check the options on the NCEES website.
• Can I take the New York bar examination with a Turkish law degree? Generally, you must first complete an LL.M. at an ABA-approved school. The board makes the final decision during the preliminary evaluation.
• Does obtaining a license provide a visa? No. For visas, see 2.4 Work visas and 3.4 Employment-based green card.

• U.S. Department of Education – Licensing boards by profession
• CareerOneStop – License Finder
• USMLE – Examination application · ECFMG Certificate
• NCLEX – Examination centers · TruMerit – VisaScreen
• NCEES – FE examination · NABP – FPGEC