Many Brazilians arrive in the United States with years of education behind them, framed diplomas on the wall, and an entire career built through hard work. And then they discover, often the hard way, that that diploma has no automatic validity on American soil. This isn't about devaluing Brazilian education—the American system simply requires each professional to prove their qualifications according to local standards, regardless of where they graduated.
This doesn't mean you'll have to start from scratch. It does, however, mean that the path to practicing your profession in the US involves specific steps that vary greatly depending on your field. Understanding this difference can save you years of confusion—and avoid serious legal consequences.
Why the U.S. Doesn't Automatically Recognize Foreign Degrees
The United States does not have a centralized national system for diploma recognition. Unlike Brazil, where the Ministry of Education oversees course recognition, in the US this responsibility is fragmented: each state has its own regulatory bodies, and each profession has its own licensing boards.
This means that a doctor trained in São Paulo, for example, needs to go through a completely different process than an engineer or lawyer in a similar situation. There are professions that only require a diploma evaluation, others that require national exams, and some that practically force the professional to redo part of their academic training in the USA.
The starting point for any professional is to understand which category their field falls into.
Medicine: The Longest and Most Demanding Process
For doctors, the path is admittedly the most arduous. The Brazilian medical degree is not directly recognized for practicing medicine. Professionals must go through the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) licensing process, a set of three stages of exams that assess clinical knowledge and practical skills.
In addition to the exams, foreign doctors need to complete a medical residency in the U.S.—a mandatory step to obtain a license to practice medicine independently. This residency is highly competitive and requires registration through the Match system (National Resident Matching Program). For those in this process, understanding how medical residency works in the United States is essential before taking any steps.
Dentists follow a similar path, needing to pass the NBDE (National Board Dental Examination) and meet additional clinical requirements, which vary by state.
Nursing: Revalidation Possible, But With Clear Steps
Nurses trained in Brazil have a more defined, though equally demanding, path. The process first involves the evaluation of the diploma by an accredited agency such as the CGFNS (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools). This evaluation verifies whether the Brazilian training is equivalent to American standards.
After passing this stage, the nurse needs to pass the NCLEX-RN, the national licensing exam for registered nurses. Only after that is it possible to apply for a license in the state where they intend to work. The entire process can take one to two years, depending on the speed of the documentation stages and the waiting time for the exams.
Pharmacy: One of the Most Regulated Areas
Pharmacy in the US is a highly regulated profession, and Brazilian pharmacists are no exception to its complexities. The diploma must be evaluated by the NABP (National Association of Boards of Pharmacy), and the professional must pass the NAPLEX and MPJE exams. In many states, a supervised internship period is also required before a license can be issued.
It's worth noting that the requirements vary considerably from state to state — what is approved in Florida may have different requirements than in California or New York. Anyone intending to pursue this field should research the specific rules of the state where they plan to settle.
Law: One of the Most Restrictive Professions
For lawyers, the situation is particularly complex. In the US, practicing law requires passing the state's Bar Exam—and most states only allow graduates of American law schools (ABA-accredited) to take this exam.
There are exceptions. Some states, such as California and New York, allow foreign lawyers to qualify for the Bar Exam after demonstrating professional experience and, in some cases, completing an LLM (Master of Laws) program at an American university. This is generally the most viable path for Brazilian lawyers who wish to practice law in the U.S.
Practicing law without a state license is a crime in the U.S. Therefore, many professionals in the field migrate to related roles—such as paralegal, legal consultant, or compliance specialist—while seeking formal licensing.
Engineering: License Required to Sign Projects
Engineers who wish to sign off on projects and assume technical responsibility in the U.S. need to obtain the PE (Professional Engineer) designation. The process involves passing the FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) exam, accumulating supervised professional experience, and subsequently passing the PE exam.
For engineers who graduated outside the U.S., it is also necessary to have their diploma evaluated by an accredited agency, such as NACES. It's important to know that working in technical support roles—without signing off on projects—generally does not require a PE license. Many Brazilian engineers work in these roles for years while building their path to certification.
Psychology and Social Work: Intense State Regulation
Psychologists and social workers face regulations that vary widely from state to state. Generally, they need to have their degree evaluated, complete clinical supervision hours, and pass specific exams in their field. For psychologists, the EPPP (Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology) is the most common. For social workers, the ASWB (Association of Social Work Boards) exam is the national benchmark.
Both fields typically require that a portion of the supervisory hours be completed in the United States, meaning that professionals need to be willing to work in more entry-level positions before obtaining a full license.
Education: Certification varies by state and level of education.
Teachers who wish to work in American public schools need to obtain teaching certification from the state where they will work. This usually involves diploma evaluation, passing subject-specific content exams, and, in many cases, completing additional pedagogy courses adapted to the American system.
University professors have more flexibility, since universities usually hire based on resumes and academic degrees — although fluent English is practically mandatory in this context.
The First Step for Any Professional: Diploma Evaluation
Regardless of the field, almost all diploma revalidation processes begin with an evaluation of the diploma by an accredited agency. This service verifies whether the Brazilian education is equivalent to the level required in the USA. The main agencies are WES (World Education Services), ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators), and NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services).
This evaluation is not automatic recognition—it's just the first step. But without it, no licensing board will even consider your application. To better understand how this initial process works, it's worth checking out the article on how to validate your diploma in the US.
What Happens If You Practice the Profession Without a License?
Practicing a regulated profession without the proper license in the U.S. is a serious offense. Depending on the field, it can result in heavy fines, deportation, or even criminal prosecution. This is especially true for healthcare, law, and engineering—fields where liability to others is direct.
Many immigrants unknowingly work informally in their fields for years—and only discover the risk when they seek to regularize their immigration status or when something goes wrong. The caution here is not bureaucracy: it's protection.
Is it Worth Investing in Revalidation?
The honest answer is: it depends on your field, your career stage, and how much time and money you're willing to invest. For a young doctor with the energy to tackle the USMLE and Match process, revalidation can open doors to one of the highest-paying careers in the world. For an experienced lawyer, perhaps an LLM and the Bar Exam make sense—or perhaps a transition to a related field would be more strategic.
What doesn't make sense is ignoring the process and hoping no one notices. The American market is regulated, monitored, and competitive. The sooner you understand the demands of your profession, the sooner you can develop a realistic plan—and start building your career in the U.S. with confidence.
