Prototype website — draft content pending attorney review. Domain selected: skillworkers.us (registration pending). Content pending attorney review.
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States

Every role must meet federal immigration rules, the licensing laws of the state (and sometimes city or county) where the job is located, and the employer's own hiring criteria. Pick a state to see official licensing links and employer partners.

Rules change often. This is not legal advice. Requirements, fees, test scores, and forms are set by each licensing board and government agency and can change at any time. Always confirm directly with the official source before you pay for an exam, course, or application. Skill Workers links to official sites for convenience; we do not control them and cannot guarantee their content. Immigration questions belong with a licensed immigration attorney.
Four layers of requirements

What every placement must satisfy

1. Federal immigration

USCIS and the Department of Labor: Schedule A, the I-140 petition, prevailing wage, visa availability, and the federal health-care worker certificate (VisaScreen for nurses).

2. State licensure

The state Board of Nursing (or PT board, pharmacy board, or trade licensing agency) decides who may practice in that state.

3. Local law

Mostly for trades: many cities and counties issue their own electrical, mechanical, or contractor licenses and permits.

4. Employer criteria

Employers add their own requirements — experience, specialty certifications (BLS/ACLS), background checks, health screening, and credentialing.

National lookup · all 50 states + D.C.

Pick a state

Links open the official board or licensing agency in a new tab. ★ marks our Phase 1 employer states (New Mexico, Texas, Arizona).

Show full list of Boards of Nursing

Source for board list: NCSBN — Contact a Board of Nursing ↗. Links checked Oct 5, 2026.

Phase 1 · Registered Nurses

Federal requirements (same in every state)

Schedule A & the I-140

Professional nurses are a Schedule A, Group I occupation. For Schedule A, a nurse generally must show one of: a passing NCLEX-RN score, a full and unrestricted license in the state of intended employment, or a TruMerit (formerly CGFNS) certificate. The employer's attorney files the I-140.

20 CFR 656.5 (Schedule A) ↗ · 20 CFR 656.15 ↗ · USCIS Form I-140 ↗ · USCIS EB-3 ↗

VisaScreen (federal health-care worker certificate)

Foreign-educated nurses generally need a health-care worker certificate (VisaScreen®, issued by TruMerit) to receive an immigrant visa. It reviews education, license, and English proficiency. Nurses from countries not exempted by the regulation — including Cameroon — should expect to need an approved English test for VisaScreen, even if a state board does not require one.

8 CFR 212.15 ↗ · TruMerit VisaScreen ↗ · NCLEX (NCSBN) ↗

State requirements — Phase 1 employer states

Summaries of what each board's official pages said on Oct 5, 2026, for nurses educated outside the U.S. Always read the board's current page. New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona are all Nurse Licensure Compact ↗ states; a multistate license is issued only by the nurse's primary state of residence.

New Mexico

  • Course-by-course education evaluation sent directly to the board by an approved agency (Josef Silny & Associates, TruMerit/CGFNS, or ERES)
  • English proficiency unless the nursing program was taught in English (TOEFL / TOEFL iBT, TOEIC, IELTS, OET, or MET at board minimums)
  • Online initial exam application and fee through the Nurse Portal
  • Criminal background check (fingerprints)
  • Register for NCLEX with Pearson VUE; internationally educated applicants may test up to 5 times within 3 years

NM BON — RN/LPN ↗ · NM BON FAQ ↗ · 16.12.2 NMAC ↗

Texas

  • Credential Evaluation Service (CES) Full Education Professional report from a board-approved provider, dated within 1 year
  • Verification of licensure from every jurisdiction where licensed, sent directly by the licensing authority
  • English proficiency exam if the program was not conducted in English
  • Texas Nursing Jurisprudence Exam (NJE)
  • Fingerprint criminal background check
  • Must have worked within 4 years before applying, or be within 4 years of graduation

TX BON — Examination ↗ · Approved CES providers ↗ · Jurisprudence Exam ↗

Arizona

  • Credential evaluation from a board-approved service (e.g., TruMerit/CGFNS, IERF, ERES), sent directly to AZBN
  • Report verifying any international license is in good standing
  • English proficiency before NCLEX if required (e.g., TOEFL iBT 84 with 26 speaking; IELTS Academic 6.5 overall, 6.0 each module; PTE Academic 55/50; or VisaScreen/CGFNS certificate), with listed exemptions
  • Pass the NCLEX-RN

AZBN — Apply for a License ↗ · A.R.S. 32-1634.01 ↗

Cameroon note: Cameroon has both English- and French-language nursing programs. Whether a state waives its English test depends on that board's rule and the language of your program — check with the board and your credential evaluator.

Costs: Exam, evaluation, VisaScreen, English test, licensing, fingerprinting, prep-course, and travel costs are paid by the worker directly to the official providers. Skill Workers charges no recruitment or placement fee.
Future program · stub

Physical therapists

Physical therapists are also a Schedule A, Group I occupation. Each state's PT board sets licensure rules for foreign-educated PTs (typically credential review and the NPTE exam). The federal health-care worker certificate for PTs is issued by an authorized organization such as FCCPT — counsel to confirm.

FSBPT — State licensing authorities ↗ · FSBPT — Foreign-educated PTs ↗ · PT Compact ↗ · FCCPT ↗

Phase 1 states: New Mexico PT Board ↗ · Texas ECPTOTE ↗ · Arizona Board of PT ↗

Section in development — detailed requirements to be added as this program advances. No launch date announced.

Future program · stub

Skilled trades (electricians, HVAC, data centers)

Trade licensing varies widely. Some states license electricians and HVAC technicians statewide; others leave it to cities and counties, and some license only contractors. Trades are not on Schedule A — permanent jobs usually go through PERM labor certification and an EB-3 petition, and temporary or seasonal needs may use H-2B. The employer's attorney decides.

CareerOneStop License Finder (U.S. DOL) — all states ↗ · DOL FLAG system ↗

Phase 1 states: NM Construction Industries Division ↗ · Texas TDLR Electricians ↗ · Texas TDLR A/C & Refrigeration ↗ · Arizona Registrar of Contractors ↗ — also check city/county requirements.

Section in development — detailed requirements to be added as this program advances. No launch date announced.