TN Visas for Scientific Technicians and Technologists

A business person in the category of “Scientific Technician/Technologist”must possess:

(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.

How do I qualify for TN Visa status as a Scientific Technician or Technologist?

• A scientific technician/technologist does not generally have a baccalaureate degree. The following principles will be used to evaluate the admissibility of scientific technician/technologist applicants.
  1. Individuals for whom scientific technicians/ technologists wish to provide direct support must qualify as professionals in their own right in one of the following fields: agricultural sciences, astronomy, biology, chemistry, engineering, forestry, geology, geophysics, meteorology, or physics.
  2.  A general offer of employment by such a professional is insufficient to qualify for admission as a Scientific Technician or Technologist (ST/T). The offer must demonstrate that the ST/T’s work will be interrelated with that of the supervisory professional. That is, the ST/T’s work must be managed, coordinated, and reviewed by the professional supervisor, and input must also be provided to the supervisory professional’s work.
  3. The ST/T’s theoretical knowledge should have been acquired through completing at least two years of training in a relevant educational program. Such training may be documented by presenting a diploma, certificate, or transcript accompanied by evidence or relevant work experience.
  4. U.S. authorities will rely on the Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook to establish whether proposed job functions are consistent with those of a scientific or engineering technician or technologist. ST/Ts should not be admitted to perform job functions primarily associated with other job titles.

I work in the trades. Can I qualify for TN visa status as a Scientific Technician or Scientific Technologist?

1. 1. Not admissible as ST/Ts are persons intending to do work that is typically done by the construction trades (welders, boiler makers, carpenters, electricians, etc.), even where these trades are specialized to a particular industry (e.g., aircraft, power distribution, etc.)

Unrelated Professions to a Medical Technologist

The US Department of Labor (DOL) classifies and provides job descriptions and details for all recognized professions. According to the DOL classification codes for Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists – 29-2011.00 and Medical Clinical Laboratory Technicians – 29-2012.00, the following professions are separate and unique. They are not classified under the profession of medical technologist:

• Medical Assistants – 31-9092.00
• Respiratory Therapists – 29-1126.00
• Medical Records & Health Information Technicians – 29-2072.00
• Medical Equipment Preparers – 31-9093.00
• Biomedical Engineers – 17-2031.00
• Respiratory Therapy Technicians – 29-2054.00
• Cardiovascular Technologists & Technicians – 29-2031.00
• Nuclear Medicine Technologists – 29-2033.00
• Radiologic Technicians – 29-2034.02
• Diagnostic Medical Sonographers – 29-2032.00
• Radiologic Technologists – 29-2034.010
• Biological Technicians – 19-4021.00
• Nuclear Monitoring Technicians – 19-4051.02
• Pharmacy Technicians – 29-2052.00
• Surgical Technologists – 29-2055.00

Related Professions to a Medical Technologist

According to the DOL classification codes for both Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists – 29-2011.00 and Medical Clinical Laboratory Technicians – 29-2012.00, the following professions are related to the profession of medical technologist: