VisaScreen certificate

Section 343 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 requires specific health care workers to complete a screening programme before they get an occupational visa, including Trade NAFTA status. The rules are in federal regulation 8 CFR 212.15. TruMerit says it is the only credentials evaluation organisation authorised by USCIS to certify all nine covered occupations.

VisaScreen checks four things: that your education is comparable to a US graduate's in the same profession, that every licence you have held is valid and unrestricted, that you have passed an approved English test, and, for registered nurses, that you have passed the NCLEX-RN or TruMerit's Nurse Qualifying Exam.

Successful applicants receive a certificate from TruMerit's International Commission on Healthcare Professions (ICHP). Since 1 November 2025 TruMerit issues certificates digitally as standard, and government authorities can access them through a secure online platform. VisaScreen is completely separate from the visa decision itself, which is made by the US immigration authorities.

The nine occupations are registered nurses, licensed practical or vocational nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, physician assistants, audiologists, speech-language pathologists, clinical laboratory technicians and clinical laboratory scientists. Doctors do not use VisaScreen; they follow ECFMG certification. The requirement applies to both permanent and temporary occupational visas; see the EB-3 visa for the green card route nurses commonly use.

Federal rules exempt graduates of schools in Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the USA from the English test. Some nurses can instead use a 212(r) certified statement if they meet conditions including an English-taught programme in a listed country and an unrestricted US licence.

For tests taken after 12 May 2026, TruMerit lists these scores for registered nurses: IELTS 6.5 overall with 7 in speaking; OET 360 speaking, 340 reading, 350 writing and 320 listening; TOEFL iBT 4.5 overall and 4.5 speaking with 3.5 in the other skills; PTE 55 overall with 76 speaking. Cambridge English and the Michigan English Test are also listed. At-home test versions are not accepted.

Licensed practical nurses and other occupations below bachelor's level have slightly lower thresholds on some tests, and occupational and physical therapists have their own column. Check TruMerit's current list for your occupation before you book.

1. Apply online with TruMerit and pay $740.
2. Have each school send your transcript directly to TruMerit, and arrange validation of all licences, signed within the last three years.
3. Send your NCLEX-RN or Nurse Qualifying Exam result (nurses) and English test result.
4. Receive a digital certificate. A paper copy costs $195 extra.

Expedited review costs $650. TruMerit says 90% of certificates are issued within 3.5 business days once all primary source documents are received and validated. The certificate is valid for five years; renewal costs $475 and must be ordered within six months of expiry. See our VisaScreen guide.