CUSMA Professions – Full List and Requirements

Under the Canada–U.S.–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), U.S. citizens in more than 60 specific professions can apply for a Canadian work permit without an LMIA. This makes it one of the most efficient immigration pathways for American professionals.

How CUSMA Works

• Job offer required: You must have a Canadian employer offer in a CUSMA-eligible profession.
• Education/credentials: Each profession has specific minimum requirements (degree, diploma, professional license, or years of experience).
• Application: Most U.S. citizens can apply directly at the Canadian border or port of entry with supporting documents.

Eligible Professions

The list covers categories in:

• General Professions (e.g., Accountant, Architect, Engineer, Computer Systems Analyst, Lawyer, Graphic Designer).
• Medical/Allied Health (e.g., Dentist, Registered Nurse, Pharmacist, Physiotherapist, Psychologist).
• Scientists (e.g., Biologist, Chemist, Geologist, Physicist, Zoologist).
• Teachers (College, University, Seminary).

 

CUSMA Professional
Work Permits may be issued for the following professions:

General

Profession	Minimum education/credentials
Accountant	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or C.P.A., C.A., C.G.A. or C.M.A.
Architect	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial licence.
Computer Systems Analyst	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post-Secondary Certificate, and three years’ experience.
Disaster Relief Insurance Claims Adjuster	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree, and successful completion of training in the appropriate areas of insurance adjustment pertaining to disaster relief claims; or three years experience in claims adjustment and successful completion of training in the appropriate areas of insurance adjustment pertaining to disaster relief claims.
Economist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Engineer	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial licence
Forester	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial licence
Graphic Designer	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post-Secondary Certificate, and three years experience.
Hotel Manager	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree in hotel/restaurant management; or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post-Secondary Certificate in hotel/restaurant management, and three years experience in hotel/restaurant management.
Industrial Designer	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post-Secondary Certificate, and three years experience.
Interior Designer	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post-Secondary Certificate, and three years experience.
Land Surveyor	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial/ federal licence.
Landscape Architect	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Lawyer (including Notary in the province of Quebec)	LL.B., J.D., LL.L, B.C.L. or Licenciatura Degree (five years); or membership in a state/provincial bar.
Librarian	M.L.S. or B.L.S. (for which another Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree was a prerequisite). A librarian must have either: a Master of Library Science degree; or a Bachelor of Library Science and another baccalaureate degree which was necessary to enter the B.L.S. program.
Management Consultant	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or equivalent professional experience as established by statement or professional credential attesting to five years experience as a management consultant, or five years experience in a field of specialty related to the consulting agreement.
Mathematician (including statistician and Actuary)	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree An actuary must satisfy the necessary requirements to be recognized as an actuary by a professional actuarial association or society operating the territory of at least one of the Parties.
Range Manager/Range Conservationalist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Research assistant (working in a post-secondary educational institution)	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Scientific Technician/ Technologist	Possession of (a) theoretical knowledge of any of the following disciplines: agricultural sciences, astronomy, biology, chemistry, engineering, forestry, geology, geophysics, meteorology or physics; and (b) the ability to solve practical problems in any of those disciplines, or the ability to apply principles of any of those disciplines to basic or applied research A business person in this category must be seeking temporary entry to work in direct support of professionals in agricultural sciences, astronomy, biology, chemistry, engineering, forestry, geology, geophysics, meteorology or physics.
Social Worker	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Sylviculturist (including Forestry Specialist)	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Technical Publications Writer	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post-Secondary Certificate, and three years experience.
Urban Planner (including Geographer)	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Vocational Counsellor	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree