Getting Your Skills Assessed to Work in Canada
Getting your education or professional skills assessed to prove the merit of your international credentials can be daunting for newcomers to Canada. However, it’s vital to understand the process if you want to continue your career in Canada or attend a Canadian post-secondary college or university. Even with labour shortages in some occupations in Canada (i.e. healthcare), it can be hard to find a job if employers don’t know how your education or work experience compare. That’s where education evaluation and credential recognition can help you overcome this barrier. Learn more about these skills assessment processes, and how to get your international work experience and academic credentials recognized.
Why is it Important to Get Your Skills Assessed?
Getting your international education and work credentials assessed is a smart and strategic thing to do. There are two important aspects to assess: your education and your professional credentials.
Education Evaluation
The education evaluation process reassures Canadian employers that your education has been independently verified. This proves that you received your education award from a school that Canada recognizes. This applies to your international certificate, degree, diploma, Masters, or Ph.D. An education evaluation confirms that the course content and duration are equal to Canadian education. You may also have to complete an education evaluation if you plan to return to school for further training.
Credential Recognition
The credential recognition process proves you have the status or credentials to safely work in a regulated profession. Credential recognition allows you to use a professional title or designation so that you can continue your career in Canada.
| EDUCATION EVALUATION | CREDENTIAL RECOGNITION |
|---|---|
| An education evaluation shows employers the value of your international education and verifies:
– Where you attended school and that the school exists – How your education compares to similar studies in Canada. |
Credential recognition verifies that you meet the standards to work in Canada based on your:– Education
– Training – Job experience. You must get your credentials recognized if you work in a regulated profession such as healthcare, law, engineering, and accounting. |
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Steps to Get Your Skills Assessed to Work in Canada
Education evaluation and credential recognition are important processes that can help you prepare to enter the Canadian job market.
If you belong to a regulated occupation, you might have started to process of getting your international skills and credentials assessed.
| EXAMPLES OF REGULATED PROFESSIONS IN CANADA |
|---|
| Engineer Architect Accountant Medical Doctor Dentist Nurse Medical Laboratory Technologist Medical Radiation Technologist Trades-related apprentice or journeyperson, etc. |
The following steps can guide you in getting your skills assessed:
1. Use the Canada Job Bank to review your job profile
The job bank will help you learn about your occupation in Canada and provide information such as available jobs, wages, career prospects, job requirements, and whether or not your job is regulated.
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2. Find your occupational profile
The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC) has profiles for more than 500 regulated and non-regulated occupations in Canada. By searching an occupational directory, you can learn about regulations and organizations that are responsible for recognizing your professional qualifications.
You can also check out our Career Pathways resources for more than 25 occupations in Canada. For each occupation, you’ll gain relevant information about pre-arrival activities, skills development, job-finding techniques, professional associations, and employment tools and resources!
Determine what qualifications you require to work in your chosen occupation in the province or territory where you want to live in Canada. This includes licensing, registration, certifications, and language requirements. Compare your qualifications and determine what you need to meet the requirements.
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3. Compare your qualifications
Depending on your job, you may require specific licensing, registration, certificates, and language requirements in the province or territory where you want to live. If there is a gap, you will have to prepare to close the gap through activities such as additional training or exams.
4. Contact a Regulatory Body
Regulatory bodies for your profession can tell you what you need to do to get a license or certification. They can also tell you what steps you can take before you arrive in Canada. In some cases, you can complete an education evaluation and begin applying for a license or certificate before you arrive in Canada. If you can begin the process before you arrive, it can save you valuable time and money.
5. Collect Your Documents
Before you come to Canada, collect documents such as degrees, diplomas, certificates, and employment documents that can help explain how your education and employment compare to Canadian standards. However, you may need to send official documents directly from the issuing organization to regulatory bodies or credential assessment agencies. Be sure to check what the assessment organization requires before you leave for Canada.
6. Contact an Approved Assessment Agency
There are several evaluation services including:
-
- International Credential Evaluation Services British Columbia
7. Upgrade Your Skills or Education
You can also take advantage of vital pre-arrival employment services that can help you navigate the skills assessment process with greater ease!
What Organizations Can Assess Your Education and Work Credentials?
The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC) provides a full list of services across Canada.
But what exactly should you have assessed and when? Before you leave your country of origin? Or after you arrive?
Before you proceed to have your skills assessed, here are some things to consider that can save you time, money, and energy:
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- Some organizations may request that you get your education evaluation or credential recognition from a specific service provider. So, be sure to confirm if you have to use a specific provider before your pay any fees for these services.
-
- It can take anywhere from weeks to months to complete the credential recognition process. So, be sure to build this into your timeframe and budget. The process will require you to prove your work experience
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Types of Credential Reports
There are two types of reports that a credential evaluation service can offer: official and original.
For an official report, the school or authority that issued the credential must send the transcripts directly to the credential evaluation service, signed and sealed in an envelope. In other words, only the issuing organization can provide the documents and they must not go through other hands.
Original reports are made with the certificates and transcripts that you bring to Canada.
Both reports can be basic or comprehensive. Basic reports mention your certificates and how they compare in years with the Canadian system. Comprehensive reports list all the subjects you have taken with their conversion to the Canadian credit/grade system.
Credential and Skills Assessments for Regulated Professions in Canada
If you belong to a regulated profession in Canada such as a doctor, dentist, architect, accountant, teacher, or engineer, be sure to connect with the professional regulatory body in the province where you intend to live. And, before you pay to have your credentials and skills assessed, ask about their requirements. For example, some regulatory bodies and schools may want you to use a specific service provider. Or they may require the documents to be translated by an organization in Canada. Also, the requirements might vary depending on the organization and the province. Some organizations may even have their own evaluation services, instead of relying on third-party services.
Approximately 20% of jobs in Canada are regulated to protect the health and safety of Canadians.
Canadian information centre for international credentials
Credential and Skills Assessments for Non-Regulated Professions
If your occupation belongs to a non-regulated profession, you may not have to retrain or obtain a license to apply for and work in jobs in your field. So that means you will not require a credential evaluation. Many employers may not even be familiar with the credential evaluation process.
However, if an employer seems hesitant to hire you because they don’t understand how your credentials compare to Canadian standards, a credential evaluation can help. Your report will show potential employers what you are qualified for.
While getting your skills assessed may seem daunting, becoming familiar with the process can save you time, money, and energy. And with an ECA, you’ll be in a good position whether you’re seeking employment or wish to continue your education in Canada.
For information, tools, free webinars, and more visit our Finding a Job in Canada resource page. Get the help you need to achieve your career goals in Canada!
