Interim Decision #1679 

MAIIM Or RABBAN1 

In Visa Petition Proceedings 

A-14985118 

Decided by District Director October 26, 1966 

Since a pharmacist is a member of the professions within the meaning of section 

101(a) (32), Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by P.L. 89-236, a 

visa petition is granted to accord preference classification under section 203 

(a) (3) of the Act, as amended, to beneficiary, as a qualified pharmacist, where 

his foreign education in pharmacy has been evaluated by the U.S. Office of 

Education as being equivalent to an undergraduate degree in pharmacy from 

an accredited institution of higher learning in the United States and he has 

been working as a pharmacist and teacher of pharmacy since 1941. 

The petition seeks third preference classification of the beneficiary 

as a member of the professions based upon his qualifications as a 

pharmacist. 

The beneficiary received a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Tehran 

University, Tehran, Iran, upon completion of a six-year course of 

study. The Office of Education, Washington, D.C., has certified that the 

beneficiary's degree is equivalent to an undergraduate degree from an 

accredited institution of higher learning in the United States. He was 

licensed as a pharmacist by the Ministry of Education, Tehran, Iran, 

in 1941, and was self-employed as a pharmacist in his own pharmacy 

from 1941 to 1963. From-1963 to the present time he has been employed 

as a teacher by the Pharmaceutical Branch of the Faculty of Medicine 

at the University of Tehran. We therefore find 'that the beneficiary is a 

pharmacist. 

Section 101 (a) (32) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as 

amended, reads as follows : 

The term "profession" shall include, but not be limited to architects, engineers, 

lawyers, physicians, surgeons, and teachers in elementary or secondary schools, 

colleges, academies, or seminaries. 

The issue here is whether or not the occupation of pharmacist comes 

within the purview of the term "profession." Volume II of the Dictionary of Occupational Titles, Second Edition, which deals with occu15 
Interim Decision #1670 

pational classification, lists pharmacists as members of the professions. 

As an indication of the educational requirements for the vocation of 

pharmacist, the following is quoted from 'the Occupational Outlook 

Handbook, 1966-67 Edition, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Labor : 

The bachelor's degree in pharmacy is the minimum educational qualification for 

most positions in the profession. However, the master's or doctor's degree in 

pharmacy or a related field .. is usually required for research work or college 

teaching. Graduate study is desirable also for pharmacists planning to work in 

hospitals. 

That publication also states the following : 

A license to practice pharmacy is required in all states and the District of 

Columbia. To obtain a license, one most be a graduate of an accredited pharmacy 

college, pass a State Board examination and, in most states, also have one year of 

practical experience under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. 

The degree of education required for entry into the field of pharmacy 

is comparable to the degree of education required for the specific professions named under section 101(a) (32). In view of the foregoing, it 

is concluded that the beneficiary possesses the education and experience 

to qualify him as a pharmacist and that a pharmacist is a member of 

the professions as contemplated by section 101(a) (32). 

ORDER : It is ordered that the petition to accord beneficiary third 

preference classification be and hereby is approved. 

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