Tier Categories

Tier 1

Academic

• Technical, community, or associates level college (two-year)
• Undergraduate (baccalaureate) college
• Master's college/university
• Nursing or pharmacology school

Hospital

• Hospital or clinic not affiliated with a medical school

Medical

• Private practice office
• Clinic
• Residency program
• Allied health training program
  (chiropractic, physical therapy, etc.)

Public/Not-for-Profit

• Non-research public library
• Independent research library
• Health policy or advocacy office
• Small government or independent research laboratory,
  institute, or organization (<25 PhD-level researchers)
• Local or regional governmental agency or ministry
  (e.g., city or state public health authority)
• Not-for-profit charitable organization
• Professional society or trade union
• Industry trade association

Corporate

• For-profit company (<500 relevant FTEs,
  including researchers and sales and marketing personnel)

Tier 2

Academic

• Small doctoral university (awards up to 25 PhDs annually)
  not conferring medical/dental/veterinary degrees

Hospital

• Major teaching or research hospital
  (affiliated with a medical school and
  offering numerous residency programs)

Medical

• Medical/Dental/Veterinary school not associated with a university

Public/Not-for-Profit

• Mid-size not-for-profit government or
  independent research institute or organization
  (25–50 PhD-level researchers)
• Independent research library
• Non-profit research institute or organization
  affiliated with an academic institution

Corporate

• For-profit company (500–1,499 relevant FTEs,
  including researchers and sales and marketing personnel)

Tier 3

Academic

• Small doctoral university (awards up to 25 PhDs annually)
  conferring medical/dental/veterinary degrees
• Large doctoral university (awards >25 PhDs annually)
  not conferring medical/dental/veterinary degrees

Medical

• Medical/Dental/Veterinary school associated with a
  Tier 3 small doctoral university
• Healthcare Network (e.g., VA Medical Centers)

Public/Not-for-Profit

• Large not-for-profit government or independent
  research institute or organization
  (51–100 PhD-level researchers)

Corporate

• For-profit company (1,500–2,999 relevant FTEs,
  including researchers and sales and marketing personnel)

Tier 4

Academic

• Large doctoral university (awards >25 PhDs annually)
  conferring medical/dental/veterinary degrees

Medical

• Medical/Dental/Veterinary school associated with a
  Tier 4 large doctoral university

Public/Not-for-Profit

• Not-for-profit government or independent research
  institute or organization (>100 PhD-level researchers)

Corporate

• For-profit company (3,000 or more relevant FTEs,
  including researchers and sales and marketing personnel)