As a U.S. citizen exploring professional opportunities in Canada under the USMCA (CUSMA) agreement, understanding which occupations qualify is essential.
The agreement provides simplified work authorization for Americans in 63 specific professions, each with defined minimum education requirements.
The following requirements apply to CUSMA professionals wishing to work in Canada:
- Citizenship of the U.S. or Mexico;
- Profession identified in the list below;
- Qualification to work in that profession (degree or certification in a related educational program);
- Pre-arranged employment with a Canadian employer;
- Provision of professional-level services in the field of qualification; and
- Compliance with existing immigration requirements for temporary entry.
This comprehensive list will help you determine if your career path makes you eligible for this streamlined cross-border opportunity, without needing to pursue traditional work permits or immigration pathways.
CUSMA Professional Work Permits may be issued for the following professions:
Overview of CUSMA Temporary Entry
The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) Chapter 16 is designed to facilitate the temporary entry of business persons across the three member countries. This chapter aims to streamline the movement of professionals, intra-company transferees, traders, and investors, while ensuring that each country’s immigration laws and measures are respected.
To qualify for temporary entry under CUSMA, a business person must meet several key requirements. These include holding a valid passport, providing proof of qualifications, and having a job offer or contract with a U.S. employer. Additionally, the individual must demonstrate that their activities will not conflict with the public interest or national security of the host country.
CUSMA outlines four specific categories for temporary entry:
- Business Visitors: Individuals entering for business purposes without intending to enter the labor market of the host country.
- Traders and Investors: Those engaged in substantial trade in goods or services, or those who have made significant investments in the host country.
- Intra-Company Transferees: Employees of multinational companies who are being transferred to a branch, subsidiary, or affiliate in the host country.
- Professionals: Individuals qualified to work in one of the 63 specified professions, meeting the necessary educational and professional requirements.
Each category has distinct qualifications and requirements, ensuring that the movement of business persons is both efficient and secure. By understanding these categories and their specific criteria, business persons can better navigate the opportunities provided by CUSMA for temporary entry into Canada, the U.S., or Mexico.
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:
|
| 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 |
Medical/Allied Professional with State Provincial License
| Profession | Minimum education/credentials |
| Dentist | D.D.S., D.M.D., Doctor en Odontologia or Doctor en Cirugia Dental; or state/provincial license |
| Dietitian | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post-Secondary Certificate, and three years experience |
| Medical Laboratory Technologist (Canada)/ Medical Technologist (Mexico and the U.S.) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post-Secondary Certificate, and three years experience. Note: A business person in this category must be seeking temporary entry to perform in a laboratory chemical, biological, hematological, immunologic, microscopic or bacteriological tests and analyses for diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease. |
| Nutritionist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Occupational Therapist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license |
| Pharmacist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license |
| Physician (teaching or research only) | M.D. or Doctor en Medicina; or state/provincial license. Note: Physicians may not enter for the purpose of providing direct patient care. Patient care incidental to teaching and/or research is permissible. |
| Physiotherapist/Physical Therapist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license |
| Psychologist | State/provincial license; or Licenciatura Degree |
| Recreational Therapist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Registered Nurse | State/provincial license; or Licenciatura Degree. Note: To be authorized to enter Canada as a registered nurse, a licence issued by the province of destination is necessary. |
| Veterinarian | D.V.M., D.M.V. or Doctor en Veterinaria; or state/provincial license |
Scientist in Basic or Applied Research
| Profession | Minimum education/credentials |
|---|---|
| Agriculturist (including Agronomist) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Animal Breeder | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Animal Scientist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Apiculturist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Astronomer | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Biochemist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Biologist \ (including Plant Pathologist) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Chemist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Dairy Scientist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Entomologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Epidemiologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Geneticist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Geologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Geochemist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Geophysicist (including Oceanographer in Mexico and the U.S.) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Horticulturist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Meteorologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Pharmacologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Physicist (including Oceanographer in Canada) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Plant Breeder | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Poultry Scientist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Soil Scientist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Zoologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
Professions such as astronomer, biochemist, chemist, entomologist, epidemiologist, geneticist, geologist, horticulturist, meteorologist, pharmacologist, and zoologist require a baccalaureate or licenciatura degree.
Teacher at Post Secondary Educational Institution
| Profession | Minimum education/credentials |
|---|---|
| College | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Seminary | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| University | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
Teaching professions such as seminary and university require a baccalaureate or licenciatura degree.
While this list covers the officially designated USMCA professions, it’s important to note that job titles at your current employer might not exactly match these designations.
What matters most is that your actual job duties and educational qualifications align with the profession’s requirements. If your occupation isn’t listed, alternative immigration pathways are available, though they typically involve more complex processes.
For U.S. citizens whose professions do qualify, USMCA offers an unparalleled advantage for working in Canada with minimal immigration hurdles.
Take the Next Steps After Successful Completion
Consult our cross-border employment specialists at Syndesus to determine your specific eligibility and the best approach for your situation. Book a free consultation today.
