Read the general professional work overview
The accountant listing accepts either a baccalaureate degree or a CPA, CA, CGA or CMA designation. Pick the credential that is complete, current and issued in the applicant's present name, and make the employer letter describe that same credential. Hypothetical example: an accountant at an industrial-park fabricator in the Rural Municipality of Sherwood holds a foreign three-year degree and a Saskatchewan CPA membership; the membership record, not the degree, should carry the file, because it needs no evaluation and no explanation.
Decide which credential to lead with
Two routes to one rule means the applicant can choose the stronger one. A Canadian four-year degree in accounting or commerce stands on its own. A degree from outside North America needs an evaluation confirming equivalence to a U.S. baccalaureate, which costs money and takes weeks, and an evaluator may conclude that a three-year program falls short. A current designation from a provincial CPA body avoids all of that; the membership certificate and a letter confirming good standing are enough. Lead with the designation, include the degree as background, and do not ask the officer to reconcile an evaluation that was never needed. If the designation has lapsed, reinstate it or fall back on the degree route with a proper evaluation.
Make the employer letter and the credential agree
The U.S. employer's letter must state the professional position, the duties, the qualification relied on, the anticipated duration and the salary. If the letter says the accountant qualifies by degree while the file leads with a CPA designation, the inspecting officer is reading two different cases. Send the employer a one-paragraph summary of the credential before the letter is drafted, and ask that the letter name the designation by its exact title and issuing body. The duties should read as accounting: cost analysis, reconciliations, reporting, audit support. Where the role includes purchasing or supervisory tasks, describe them honestly; the officer will weigh the whole. Include a statement that the applicant holds no ownership interest in the employer.
Prepare the identity and citizenship documents
A Canadian citizen presents the application at a port of entry or through an employer's Form I-129 filing and does not need a visa stamp. Bring a valid Canadian passport, and if citizenship was acquired by naturalization after the degree was earned, bring the citizenship certificate as well. Where a maiden name appears on the degree and a married name on the passport, include the marriage certificate; where a legal name change occurred, include the change document. Certified translations are needed for any document not in English. Carry evidence of prior TN admissions if any, since cumulative history can be asked about. Place everything in one folder in the order the officer will want it: letter, credential, proof of standing, citizenship, name-link documents, then supporting records.
What else is on your mind?
Is a matching job title enough for TN?Can years of experience replace a degree for TN?Can my own U.S. company employ me under TN?Can my spouse work if I hold TN status?Editorial source review: 2026-09-07. General preparation guidance, not an individual assessment.