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New Immigrant Career Path — License & Certification Ladder

You can build a career in the U.S. one step at a time — and take many of these exams in your language. Start where you are: a driver's license, an entry certificate, a caregiving or beauty license, all the way to higher-paying licensed professions. Every exam below has free practice on PassPrep.

🏁 Foundation🥉 Entry certificates🥈 Skilled & care work🥇 Licensed professions

🏁 Foundation

Get the basics that everyday life and many jobs start from.

🥉 Entry certificates

Certificates you can earn in weeks to enter food service, hospitality and security.

  • Food Handler

    ENES中한VI
    Exam
    Short open-book cert exam; often 40 questions, ~75% to pass.
    Requirements
    Usually no prerequisite; some states/counties require it to work with food. varies by state →
    Free practice →Leads to: Food Service Manager

  • Alcohol Server

    ENES中
    Exam
    Short responsible-beverage-service cert exam.
    Requirements
    Minimum age to serve alcohol varies by state. varies by state →
    Free practice →

  • Security Guard (Guard Card)

    ENES
    Exam
    Power to Arrest exam (CA: open-book, must pass 100%).
    Median pay
    $38,370/yr · U.S. BLS OEWS, May 2024
    Requirements
    Age, background check and training hours vary by state. varies by state →
    Free practice →

🥈 Skilled & care work

Caregiving and hands-on trades — high demand, and many exams offered in your language.

  • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

    EN
    Exam
    Written knowledge test + a hands-on skills evaluation.
    Median pay
    $39,530/yr · U.S. BLS OEWS, May 2024
    Requirements
    State-approved training program + background check; hours vary by state. varies by state →
    Free practice →Leads to: Phlebotomist

  • Home Health Aide (HHA)

    EN
    Exam
    Competency evaluation (no single national exam; overlaps CNA).
    Median pay
    $34,900/yr · U.S. BLS OEWS, May 2024
    Requirements
    Federal minimum training hours; states and agencies add their own. varies by state →
    Free practice →Leads to: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

  • Phlebotomist

    EN
    Exam
    National certification exam (e.g. NHA CPT: 100 questions).
    Median pay
    $43,660/yr · U.S. BLS OEWS, May 2024
    Requirements
    Approved training + a set number of live blood draws; varies by program.
    Free practice →Real exam in: EN

  • Nail Technician

    ENESVI한中
    Exam
    State board written theory exam + a practical exam.
    Median pay
    ≈ $34,650/yr · U.S. BLS OEWS, May 2024
    Requirements
    Required training hours vary widely by state (often 300–600). varies by state →
    Free practice →Leads to: Esthetician (Skincare), Cosmetologist

  • Esthetician (Skincare)

    ENESVI한中
    Exam
    State board written theory exam + a practical exam.
    Median pay
    ≈ $41,560/yr · U.S. BLS OEWS, May 2024
    Requirements
    Required training hours vary by state (often 600). varies by state →
    Free practice →

  • Cosmetologist

    ENESVI한中
    Exam
    State board written theory exam + a practical exam.
    Median pay
    ≈ $35,256/yr · U.S. BLS OEWS, May 2024
    Requirements
    Required training hours are the highest of the beauty licenses (often 1,000–1,600). varies by state →
    Free practice →

  • Barber

    ENESVI한中
    Exam
    State board written theory exam + a practical exam.
    Median pay
    ≈ $38,950/yr · U.S. BLS OEWS, May 2024
    Requirements
    Required training hours vary by state (often 1,000–1,500). varies by state →
    Free practice →

🥇 Licensed professions

Licensed professions with higher pay; requirements differ by state — check yours.

  • Commercial Driver (CDL)

    EN
    Exam
    Knowledge tests + a pre-trip inspection and driving skills test.
    Median pay
    $57,440/yr · U.S. BLS OEWS, May 2024
    Requirements
    Federal English-proficiency rule (49 CFR 391.11); age and CDL class vary. varies by state →
    Free practice →

  • Food Service Manager

    ENES中한VI
    Exam
    Certified Food Protection Manager exam (proctored, ~80 questions).
    Median pay
    $65,310/yr · U.S. BLS OEWS, May 2024
    Requirements
    No fixed prerequisite; many jurisdictions require one certified manager per site. varies by state →
    Free practice →

  • Real Estate Agent

    EN
    Exam
    National + state-law exam (multiple choice, incl. real-estate math).
    Median pay
    $56,320/yr · U.S. BLS OEWS, May 2024
    Requirements
    Pre-license course hours + background check; requirements vary by state.
    Free practice →Real exam in: EN

🗣️ Every step, in your language

This is what makes the path real for you: the citizenship civics test, food and alcohol certs, caregiving in some states, and the beauty licenses (Vietnamese and Korean nail, cosmetology and skincare exams) can be taken in your language — not just studied in it. Language availability varies by state; each exam page shows the honest, state-by-state truth.

Wherever you start, every exam on PassPrep is free and multilingual.

Browse all free practice tests →