Health Professional Resources

The Alliance for Ethical International Recruitment Practices is not an advocacy organization and cannot provide direct legal assistance. However, every foreign-educated health professional (FEHP) should be familiar with their rights under U.S. law and have access to community resources that can provide advice and support.

Below you will find information about federal laws, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and other resources that will help you understand your rights and resposibilities.

WHAT ARE YOU INTERESTED IN?

U.S. Salary Information for Health Professionals
Professional Associations and Organizations for Health Professionals
National Unions with Health Professional Membership
Certification and Licensing
Legal Education Resources
Legal Services
Embassies and Consulates
Immigration Agencies
Books and Publications

U.S. Salary Information for Health Professionals

U.S. Department of Labor

The Department of Labor is responsible for improving and protecting workers in the United States, provides information on wages and other employment information by profession. They have specific information on Registered Nurses , Licensed Practical and Vocational Nurses, Physical Therapists, Dieticians and Nutritionists, Physicians and Surgeons, Message Therapists, Dentists, and more. For more information regarding your specific field, search the Occupational Outlook Handbook.

ADVANCE for Nurses
Advance provides concise, practical information on clinical, management, professional and career development issues for nurses practicing in all areas of the nursing profession. They also provide wages by geographic region.

Professional Associations and Organizations for Health Professionals

There are a vast array of professional associations and other organizations specifically for health professionals in the United States - no matter what your area of specialization or what your current level of education and experience might be. The links provided are only a starting place to become familiar with what is available.

The American Dental Association (ADA)
The ADA is the professional association of dentists that fosters the success of a diverse membership and advances the oral health of the public.

The American Dietetic Association (ADA)
The American Dietetic Association is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA is committed to improving the nation's health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy.

The American Massage Therapist Association (AMTA)
The AMTA is a professional association which promote massage to the public, the healthcare community, and other important groups while advancing the art, science and practice of massage therapy.

The American Nurses Association (ANA)
The ANA is a professional association for registered nurses that advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promotes the rights of nurses in the workplace, and works to project a positive and realistic view of nursing.

The American Occupational Therapist Association (AOTA)
The AOTA is a professional association for occupational therapists which advances the quality, availability, use, and support of occupational therapy through standard-setting, advocacy, education, and research on behalf of its members and the public.

The American Pharmacist Association (APhA)
The AphA is a professional association provides a forum for discussion, consensus building, and policy setting for the profession of pharmacy. Through information, education, and advocacy APhA empowers its members to improve medication use and advance patient care.

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
APTA seeks to improve the health and quality of life of individuals in society by advancing physical therapist practice, education, and research, and by increasing the awareness and understanding of physical therapy's role in the nation's health care system

The American Public Health Association (APHA)
The APHA represents a broad array of health professionals and builds a collective voice for public health, working to ensure access to health care, protect funding for core public health services and eliminate health disparities, among a myriad of other issues.

The American Medical Association (AMA)
The AMA is a professional association which seeks to promote the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health through a concerted effort to help doctors help patients.

The American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
The AOA serves as the professional family for all Osteopathic Physicans (DOs) and osteopathic medical students.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
The ASHA is a professional association empowering and supporting speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists through the advancement of communication science, promotion of effective human communication,and advocacy on behalf of persons with communication and related disorders

The National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses (NFLPN)
The NFLPN is a professional organization representing licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses committed to developing quality and professionalism in the delivery of nursing care.

For links to more professional health professional associations click below:

American Medical Association: Health Professional Associations
Medical Academies & Healthcare Professional Associations
State Nursing Associations
Other Nursing Associations and Organizations

National Unions with Health Professional Membership

AFT Healthcare
AFT Healthcare represents members working in the public and private sector, in hospitals, clinics, home health agencies and schools throughout the United States; our members work in more than 6,000 job titles. Members include not only registered nurses, but also LPNs, technicians, technologists, therapists, medical researchers, dieticians, aides, psychologists, clerical personnel, service and maintenance workers, pharmacists, and doctors.

American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees
AFSCME is a union made up of a diverse group of people who share a common commitment to public service. We are nurses, corrections officers, child care providers, EMTs and sanitation workers.

National Federation of Nurse
The NFN is a new, innovative national labor organization for registered nurses. The NFN is a federation made up of organizations that represent RNs for collective bargaining

National Nurses United
NNU's first and main objective is to organize every RN in the nation so that we can all finally speak collectively on behalf of our patients and our profession.

SEIU Healthcare
SEIU has over 1 million members in the health care field, including nurses, LPNs, doctors, lab technicians, nursing home workers, home care workers.

Certification and Licensing

The Commission on Graducates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS)
CGFNS is an internationally recognized authority on credentials evaluation and verification pertaining to the education, registration and licensure of nurses and health care professionals across the world.

The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT)
The FSBPT is achieve a high level of public protection through a strong foundation of laws and regulatory standards in physical therapy, effective tools and systems to assess entry-level and continuing competence, and public and professional awareness of resources for public protection.

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
The NCSBN provides comprehensive information on the nursing profession in the United States and provides Web links for nurse licensing in all 50 states.

The Nursing License Map
The Nursing License Map is a simple guide ot nursing licensure in your state, helping you advance your nursing career.

Many health professional associations require internationally educated individuals who wish to pursue certification to have their credentials evaluated by an independent foreign credential evaluation service. If credential evaluation is needed in order to persue certification and licensure, click HERE for a list of credential agencies. All agencies listed are members of the National Association for Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), an association of private foreign educational credential evaluation services dedicated to promoting excellence and committed to setting the standard for their profession. Further information on NACES may be obtained through the NACES website.

Legal Education Resources

Federal Department of Labor
The Federal Department of Labor provides information on local and regional Department of Labor programs and services around the country.

State Attorneys General Offices
An excellent source of information is your state’s Attorneys General office. The National Association of Attorneys General provides a comprehensive list of contact information for each state. The Web site for each state office can provide specific information about how to file a complaint or ask a question about a specific area of the law.

State Departments of Health
In the majority of states, the official Web site for state level Departments of Health can provide information on how hospitals are licensed and regulated, answer questions about nurse-to-patient ratio requirements, and direct you to information concerning any topic related to patient care and safety and health care facility management.

FindLaw
FindLaw provides provide legal information, lawyer profiles, and community resources to help you make informed legal decisions. The site offers easy to understand explanations of basic legal concepts across a range of topics. they offer overviews for Immigration and Employee Rights.

Legal Services

American Civil Liberties Union Immigrant Rights Project (IRP)
The IRP works to ensure that federal employment, labor, and anti-discrimination laws provide meaningful protection to non-citizens, legal residents, and U.S. citizens alike. Any person perceived to be foreign born is highly vulnerable to discrimination, exploitation, and abuse in the workplace.

American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
AILA is a national association of over 11,000 attorneys and law professors who practice and teach immigration law. AILA Member attorneys represent individuals, families, and businesses in all aspects of immigration law. Although primarily a resource for lawyers, AILA provides referral services for individuals seeking immigration counsel. To request a referral, visit their Web site or call 1-800-954-0254.

Bar Associations
If you believe you require legal representation you will need to locate an attorney licensed to practice law in the state where you live or work. Each state has its own bar association with state-specific resources and attorney referral services that are free to the public. Many major cities also have their own bar associations as well.

Immigrant Legal Resource Center
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is a national non-profit resource center that provides legal trainings, educational materials, and advocacy to advance immigrant rights. The mission of the ILRC is to work with and educate immigrants, community organizations, and the legal sector to continue to build a democratic society that values diversity and the rights of all people. ILRC is committed to engaging immigrants and developing their leadership in the democratic process.

Legal Services Corporation (LSC)
The mission of the LSC is to promote equal access to justice in the United States and to provide high quality civil legal assistance to low-income persons. The LSC provides funding for hundreds of legal service organizations in the United States.

In addition, the LSC Web site provides a comprehensive database of free and low cost legal services across the United States. Keep in mind many of the legal services listed on the LSC Web site have strict eligibility requirements, and in most instances you will be asked to provide documentation of your current income – either a pay stub or tax documents – in order for your eligibility to be determined.

National Alliance for Filipino Concerns
A U.S.-based advocacy organization that protects and advances the rights and welfare of the Filipino community in the United States. For more information visit their Web site or call 201-921-6385.

The American Association of Nurse Attorneys (TAANA)
TAANA is a professional organization for attorneys who are also trained nurses. They also have a lawyer referral service.

The American Bar Association (ABA)
The ABA is a national legal organization with a range of free information and resources for the public. The ABA Web site has a database of legal resources organized by state, and also provides a nationwide lawyer referral service.

Embassies and Consulates

The Embassy or Consulate for your home country can provide information on a range of immigration issues and can provide information and advocacy for certain situations. For a comprehensive list of embassies located in Washington, D.C. with links provided to each Embassy's official Web site click HERE. The official Web site for each country provides a list of the Consulate offices located throughout the United States.

The following are direct links to official Embassy Web sites for select communities:
Embassy of Canada
Embassy of Ghana
Embassy of India
Embassy of Jamaica
Embassy of Kenya
Embassy of Mexico
Embassy of Nigeria
Embassy of Pakistan
Embassy of the Philippines
Embassy of South Africa

Immigration Agencies

Department of Homeland Security
The Department is responsible for providing immigration-related services and benefits such as naturalization and work authorization as well as investigative and enforcement responsibilities for enforcement of federal immigration laws, customs laws and air security laws

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States.

Books and Publications

Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants
Author: U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services
Description: A comprehensive guide, available in 14 languages, containing practical information to help immigrants settle into everyday life in the United States, as well as basic civics information that introduces new immigrants to the U.S. system of government.

Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition
Author: United States Department of Labor
Internet-based report on the field of Registered Nursing, with detailed information on earnings, advancement and employment environments.

The Official Guide for Foreign-Educated Nurses: What You Need to Know about Nursing and Health Care in the United States
Authors: Barbara Nichols, MS, DHL, RN, FA; Catherine Davis, RN, PhD
Description: Compiled by Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS), this book is the only guide to the United States health care system for nurses immigrating to this country as well as foreign-educated nurses who are already here.

Nurses on the Move: Migration and the Global Health Care Economy
Author: Mireille Kingma
Description: This book explores the various complexities of nurse migration, documenting first hand experiences and contemplating the benefits and drawbacks for migrating nurses, the source countries from which they are drawn, and the impact on the new workplaces and communities where foreign educated nurses live.