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Without a doubt, higher education (or post-secondary education) can give you an edge in the highly competitive Canadian job market. Learning new skills or upgrading your current skills will increase your value and help you stand out from other job seekers. As well, when you show a thirst for continuous learning, you are more attractive to employers. Higher education can also provide other benefits to newcomers.
Many people in Canada attend post-secondary education at a university, college, trades program, or private college. Students must apply to the school of their choice and prepare to pay tuition fees. While some scholarships are available, most students must pay for tuition with the help of student loans.
Surprisingly to newcomers, employers like to see the names of Canadian schools on resumes. Often it’s because when managers recognize the schools you have attended they are more confident in their hiring decision.
So attending a Canadian school may give you an edge over those who have studied at foreign schools. But, if you have not attended a Canadian school, it may be helpful to get a credential evaluation. Doing so will help employers compare the schools you attended in another country to Canadian schools.
You will require a license to work in some professions in Canada. These are known as regulated professions. And because the education system in Canada may differ from your home country, you may need more training. A credential evaluation will show if your education is equal to that of a Canadian school.
Some examples of regulated jobs include:
Pursuing higher education can be a good start if you want to change your career.
Are you moving to Canada soon or already here? Do you need to find a job? Would you like to find good resources for finding employment in Canada? If so, join us for a free webinar where you can ask an expert your questions. We’ll discuss what you can do to make yourself more marketable to potential employers.
REGISTER FOR THE WEBINARPursuing higher education allows you to meet others who may work in your field. This helps you to grow your professional network and can even help you access the hidden job market. In the hidden job market, you’ll discover jobs that are not advertised. And because these jobs aren’t widely posted, it can make your job search easier.
Learning is a constant process and Canadian employers value those who commit to ongoing learning. Focusing on continuous learning can also advance your career.
You can attend a university, college, or private school. Or, you can also consider options such as bridging programs and certificate programs.
Many Canadian universities are well respected across the world, including:
University studies develop critical thinking and research skills as students work toward a:
Class sizes tend to be large, with some lecture halls counting hundreds of students. Although you may also attend smaller tutorials or labs.
Colleges and technical institutes offer a range of applied programs that typically prepare you for a career. Students work toward a:
Some colleges also offer apprenticeship training for trades. The hybrid “university college” may also offer undergraduate degrees. Class sizes are typically smaller than in universities. And tuition fees are usually less expensive.
Private career colleges are private businesses that could be either for-profit or non-profit. They do not receive government funding like colleges and universities. And because of this, fees tend to be quite high.
Private colleges offer certificates and diplomas in fields such as:
They offer flexible learning schedules, and you can enroll at different times during the year. Training is usually delivered over a short period. Some private schools, including some English language schools, are not regulated by the government. So make sure to research the school before you pay any fees.
Bridging programs are another way to get more education. These programs are delivered in partnership with a college or a university. They tend to focus more on soft skills than hard skills.
A bridging program can fill the gap between Canadian and foreign education and work experience. And bridging programs offer a faster way to get Canadian experience. Most bridging programs are between six weeks to three months.
In contrast with other courses, you can also explore certificate programs that relate to your business function such as:
These certificate programs can add to your current skill set or start you on a new career path.
Tuition fees vary depending on the school and program you attend. Fees for universities are higher than colleges. As well, the cost to attend a graduate program is higher than an undergraduate program.
The cost also depends on your immigration status in Canada. Canadian citizens and permanent residents pay domestic tuition fees. Foreign students pay international tuition fees that are more expensive than domestic fees.
For example, consider how costs compare for the full-time MBA program at the University of Toronto:
Canadian citizens and permanent residents can obtain Government of Canada grants and loans depending on:
You do not have to repay grants. However, you have to repay loans within a defined period.
If you’re studying as an adult, it may be difficult to attend school full-time and work. So, you may think that returning to school isn’t viable. However, adding Canadian education to your resumé could mean the difference between finding a job in your profession and a “survival job”.
Many post-secondary institutions offer part-time and distance education courses geared toward working adults. This allows adults to study and work at the same time. Higher education can help you stand out in a tight job market. Many schools allow you to gain practical work experience through job placement. And most importantly, it may even help you advance your career in Canada.
Post-secondary education is very much self-guided in Canada. Aside from a small number of required courses, students are free to choose what subjects they would like to study. For example, a person working toward a political science degree may take a welding course just because it fits their schedule.
Speak with your child to determine what’s important to them. Choosing post-secondary education is a big step and your child may need help to navigate the system.
Each school has its admission process and deadlines. For example, some schools run on a three-semester basis and accept students at the beginning of each semester. However, other schools may follow a yearly schedule with application deadlines in early spring.
You can contact the admissions department and visit school websites to find out what programs they offer.
Each school will also have its criteria to recognize international academic qualifications. They may also require your academic credentials to be translated and verified. You may have to get your academic credentials assessed through a credentials evaluation service. Because they charge a fee, make sure that the school accepts the assessment from the service you select. This will help you avoid paying extra costs.
Depending on the faculty or program you apply to, you may also have to show proof of specific courses. To be eligible to apply for certain programs at the university level, a student must take certain classes in high school. For example, English and Math 12 are usually necessary with a high-standing grade.
For more information about education in Canada, check out these sites:
Driving is a big part of life in Canada. If you are planning to move to Vancouver or anywhere in British Columbia (B.C), you will need to learn about the process for getting your driver’s licence in British Columbia. The steps to complete will differ depending on your current driver’s licence status. Below we will outline the steps to get your driver’s licence in B.C.
The local licencing authority is called the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC). Newcomers to the province are allowed to drive using a foreign licence for up to 90 days after arrival. This is referred to as the 90-day rule. After this point, you can only use a driving licence in Canada issued by British Columbia.
New residents can apply for a licence at an ICBC licencing offer. For the appointment you will need to bring:
To get a B.C licence you will need to surrender your previous licence to ICBC. Experienced drivers from approved countries can exchange their foreign licence for a British Columbia equivalent right away.
Licencing requirements are based on your current licence and the country it is from. ICBC has licence exchange agreements with the following countries:
If you hold a license from any of these countries, you will need to bring identification, (including a permanent resident card, or work/study permit). You will also need to surrender your existing licence and answer basic questions about road safety to get a British Columbia licence.
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If you have a licence from a country that is not on the list, you can still apply for a B.C driver’s licence. You will need to fill out an application and pass a knowledge test and road test.
You will have 90 days to complete the process.
If you have less than two years of driving experience in your home country, you will have to take more steps to get a driver’s licence.
Those with more than two years of driving experience will get a full, Class 5 licence right away as outlined above. People with less than two years of experience will receive a Class 7 novice licence and may then apply for a full Class 5 licence when they have accumulated two years of experience. Foreign experience will be credited towards the two-year total.
You will enter the graduated licencing program. This is also applicable to newcomers who do not have a driver’s licence and want to get a B.C licence. Here’s how it works:
Now that you know how to get a driver’s licence, let’s briefly talk about what it is like to drive in British Columbia. Here are some must-know facts:
In B.C. all drivers must:
Also, to ensure your safety, it’s illegal to use your cell phone while driving and the legal blood alcohol level is 0.05 in B.C. However, it’s best to avoid drinking and driving.
For more information about living and working in Canada, check out our free webinars. We’ll help you to achieve success in Canada!
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My family is originally from South America. Like me, both my parents were born in Argentina and have strong family ties there. But when I was young, as the economy remained unsettled and work opportunities became scarce, talks of moving to Canada began.
My father was a welder and at the time, there was a need for people in the trades in Canada. As well, this country seemed to offer more opportunities and a better education for me. Like many immigrants, my parents made the difficult decision to uproot us from our home and life in the hopes of building a better and brighter future.
But a permanent move to a new country is never an easy one. The culture shock, the language barrier, and the task of re-establishing ourselves as a family proved to be difficult. My parents longed for their friends and family, as did I.
It took some time to adjust to a new place and start over. A positive attitude and a stubborn determination to succeed for my sake were the only things keeping my parents going.
As a child, it’s impossible to understand the sacrifices and hard choices parents make for their children. Only now, years later, as a mother myself, am I beginning to understand.
I can’t pinpoint the exact day or month when we finally adapted to this new Canadian environment. In some ways, I think we still are. But I do remember the start of our first summer as being the first time my mother was happy and life started feeling normal again.
We had been in Canada for about three months and summer was upon us. Living in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), we began to explore. The GTA has a number of free, family-friendly activities, events, and beaches. We had picnics at lakefront parks; we visited the Toronto Islands, and swam in transparent cool water at Crystal Beach. I remember how surprised my parents were at the cleanliness of public places and the kindness of people when we asked for directions in broken English.
And that’s what we did to move forward. We created new memories and began a new journey to build our life and our family in a new country. My humble beginnings in Canada are a constant reminder of how far I’ve come in my own journey as a mother, a writer, an editor, and an educator. With master’s degrees in education and journalism, I have worked in various facets of the children’s industry for more than a decade.
Over the next few months, I will be writing about issues that affect new Canadian families, including making the most of your children’s education, enjoying life in new communities, and navigating cultural issues around kids and parenting in a new country. I hope you’ll find this a place of useful information, as well as a place to share your own experiences raising your children in Canada.
Until next time,
Natalia Diaz
Owlkids Contributing Editor Natalia Diaz was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and writes about education and family issues. She lives in Markham, Ontario, with her family.
Canada is a mosaic of languages and cultures. Half the residents in Toronto alone cited a mother tongue other than English or French, according to a 2011 census. In fact, Statistics Canada identified 160 different mother tongues among Greater Toronto Area (GTA) inhabitants and 200 home languages across the country. (more…)
Childcare is the responsibility of the parents. If both parents work and you don’t have grandparents or other family or friends to watch your children in your absence, you’ll have to find — and pay for — suitable childcare.
To help offset the costs, Canada offers the Universal Child Care Benefit, which provide financial assistance to all Canadian families with young children, regardless of where they live, their family circumstances or preferences. Parents receive $100 a month for each child under six years of age. This is in addition to being eligible for the Canada Child Tax Benefit.