British Columbia’s International Credentials Recognition Act will come into effect on July 1.
The act makes several changes to the way international certifications are recognized in the province and simplifies the process for applicants. Specifically, it removes Canadian work experience requirements, language tests for some applicants, and additional fees for international applicants.
Know if you are eligible for Canadian immigration
It will affect 29 professions ranging from engineers to accountants, real estate brokers, healthcare professionals and more. The province consulted with 18 regulatory bodies to draft the law, which was passed by British Columbia’s legislature last November.
The full list of businesses affected under the Act is as follows:
- Registered Music Teacher
- professional engineer
- Vocational Teaching Certificate Holder
- land surveyor
- Early Childhood Educator
- landscape architect
- Early Childhood Teacher Assistant
- Applied Science Technologist
- Holders of a Conditional Teaching Certificate
- Certified Technician
- Social Worker
- animal treatment
- Registered Clinical Social Worker
- Advocate
- Professional biologist
- Architect
- Applied Biology Technician
- notary public
- Registered Biology Technologist
- emergency medical assistants, including paramedics
- Professional Geologist
- Chartered Professional Accountant
- Registered Professional Forester
- Associate Real Estate Broker
- Registered Forest Technologist
- Managing Real Estate Broker
- professional agronomist
- Real estate representative
- technical agronomist
Work Experience Requirements
Through the act, BC says it will streamline international certificate recognition by removing unnecessary Canadian work experience requirements. The Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills says it is “working closely with regulatory authorities to understand current approaches and identify any existing Canadian work experience requirements that would be prohibited under the new rules.”
However, the province says the Superintendent of International Credential Recognition may grant a regulator an exemption to the Canadian work experience requirement if there is a valid reason.
In addition, there is still a one-year transition period for the work experience requirement. For example, regulations defining prohibited Canadian work experience and outlining exemptions will come into effect on January 1, 2025, and the ban on the Canadian work experience requirement will come into effect on July 1, 2025.
Language Requirements
Applicants in selected occupations will no longer be required to submit new English language test results if they have already submitted valid results.
According to the law, this applies to internationally trained applicants who have submitted valid language test results as part of the application for certification.
However, if no determination has been made in the international certificate assessment process, or if five years have passed since the applicant submitted an application to the regulatory authority, a language test may be required.
Other Changes
The act also states that international applicants will not be required to pay more to their regulatory body than domestic applicants and that the province will appoint a superintendent for international certificate recognition. This person will work to address and resolve procedural issues in the system.
International Credential Recognition in Canada
Any newcomer who wants to pursue a career in a licensed profession needs international certificate recognition.
Licences are usually issued by provincial regulatory authorities, such as those that oversee skilled trades or healthcare occupations. Since they are provincial, recognition requirements vary depending on where the applicant resides.
The process of obtaining accreditation has been heavily criticized by newcomers due to its complexity, time commitment, and cost involved. Employment and Social Development Canada’s 2022 report found several key issues, including a lack of information for newcomers, especially in the pre-arrival phase.
To help, Canada’s federal government has taken initiatives to make it easier for newcomers to have their credentials recognized. For example, it announced in its Fall Economic Statement 2023 that it would spend $50 million on a foreign credential recognition program, with half of that going to skilled trades and half to the healthcare sector.
This is in addition to the $115 million investment included in Budget 2022.
Know if you are eligible for Canadian immigration
