If you are an immigrant, student, or professional planning to work in Canada, you may need to have your foreign credentials assessed and recognized to meet Canadian standards. Here’s how to do it:
1. Identify If Credential Recognition Is Required
Some professions in Canada require formal credential recognition, while others do not.
- Regulated Professions: Healthcare, engineering, law, teaching, accounting, etc. require licensing from provincial regulatory bodies.
- Non-Regulated Professions: IT, marketing, sales, business administration, etc. may not require formal recognition but can benefit from credential assessment.
2. Choose a Designated Credential Assessment Organization
For immigration purposes, Canada accepts assessments from these approved organizations:
- World Education Services (WES)
- Comparative Education Service (CES – University of Toronto)
- International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS)
- International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS – Alberta)
- International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES – British Columbia)
For healthcare professions, you may need to apply to a specialized body like:
- Medical Council of Canada (MCC) for doctors
- National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) for nurses
- Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) for pharmacists
3. Apply for an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
If you are applying for Express Entry, an ECA is required to prove your education is equivalent to Canadian standards. Steps:
- Create an account on an ECA provider’s website.
- Submit your educational documents (transcripts, degrees, diplomas).
- Pay the assessment fee (varies by provider).
- Wait for results (processing times range from a few weeks to several months).
4. Get Licensed for Regulated Professions
If your job requires provincial certification, follow these steps:
- Contact the relevant regulatory body in the province where you plan to work.
- Undergo additional assessments, such as exams, training, or internships if required.
- Improve your language skills if needed (Canadian Language Benchmark CLB 7+ is often required).
5. Consider Bridging Programs
Bridging programs help internationally trained professionals gain Canadian experience, meet certification requirements, and integrate into the job market.
- Available for healthcare, engineering, accounting, and other regulated fields.
- Offered by universities, colleges, and provincial organizations.
6. Explore Alternative Career Paths
If full credential recognition is difficult, consider:
- Related jobs that require fewer licensing steps.
- Further education or certification in Canada to meet industry requirements.
- Gaining Canadian work experience through internships or volunteering.
Final Steps
- Keep copies of official translations of your documents if required.
- Research provincial and federal programs that assist with credential recognition.
- Stay updated with immigration policies that affect credential assessments.