H-1B for Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, and Speech Language Pathologist

H-1B for Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, and Speech Language Pathologist

The H-1B Visa is an ideal Employment-based Non-Immigrant Visa for the following times of Therapists:


  • Physical Therapist
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Speech Language Pathologist

Therapist fields are eligible to receive the H-1B Visa. A Therapist on H-1B is highly desirable in the U.S. market. The aging U.S. population has created a serious shortage of qualified healthcare workers. Due to a shortage in many geographical areas, employers are willing to sponsor H-1B and Green Card petitions for these foreign healthcare professionals.

What is required for the Physical Therapist H-1B Visa?

The physical therapist must meet the following five requirements:

  1. Possessing at least a Bachelor’s Degree or foreign equivalent in Physical Therapy. In the U.S., Physical Therapy graduates must earn at least a Master’s or Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy in order to be eligible for the National Physical Therapy Examination.
  2. Their educational credentials must be verified through Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy.
  3. They must obtain a visa screen Healthcare Worker Certification issued by the Commission of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS).
  4. They must obtain a Type 1 Certificate by the Federal Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT).
  5. They must obtain a PT license in the State of practice by passing the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) or a letter of eligibility to obtain a State License once the H-1B is approved.


What is required for the Occupational Therapist H-1B Visa?

The Occupational Therapist must meet the following requirements to be eligible for H-1B:

  1. Same as Physical Therapists, in the U.S., Occupational Therapist must have at least Doctor or Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy in order to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) licensure exam. This means the foreign national must have at least a Bachelor’s (or foreign equivalent) and a Master’s degree in the field.
  2. They must obtain a visa screen Healthcare Worker Certification issued by the Commission of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS).
  3. They must obtain a Visa Credential Verification Certificate (VCVC) by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
  4. They must acquire the OT license in the state of employment by taking and passing the NBCOT Certification Examination.


What is required for the Speech Language Pathologist (Therapist) H-1B Visa?

The basic requirement for Speech Language Pathologist H-1B is as follows:

  1. In the U.S., Speech Language Pathologist must have at least an advanced Doctoral or Master’s Degree to be eligible for licensure certification.
  2. They must obtain a visa screen Healthcare Worker Certification issued by the Commission of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS).
  3. They must acquire the certification in the state of employment by taking and passing the Praxis Examination in Speech-Language Pathology.


Alternative Visa Options:

However, since the H-1B visa is a lottery system, many local clinics and hospitals may TN visas if the therapist is from Canada or Mexico, the E-3 Visa may look more appealing if the therapist is from Australia. If you are not able to get an H-1B for yourself or your healthcare employees, direct petition for Green Card (Lawful Permanent Residence) may be another great option for healthcare professionals.

If you have any further questions for your personal situation, please contact our office and schedule an appointment to talk to one of our attorneys.

Green Card Route:

Most foreign nationals working as Nurses, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Speech Language Pathologists are also eligible for Green Card EB-2 or EB-3 Categories. These would require employer sponsorship and going through the labor certification process with the Department of Labor.

Nurses and Physical Therapists have been pre-certified for Labor Certification in the Green Card I-140 petition process under Schedule A. They have the fast track to green card because Labor Certification and recruitment process is one of the most time-consuming and expensive stages to sponsor Green Cards for qualified foreign healthcare workers in the U.S.

For further details and options about your particular case, please contact our office and make appointments to talk with one of our attorneys.

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