New B.C. Act simplifies foreign credential recognition starting July 1. British Columbia’s International Credentials Recognition Act does away with the requirement for work experience in Canada, lessens the need for language tests for some applicants, and does away with extra costs for foreign applicants. These modifications expedite the province’s procedure for accepting foreign credentials.
Moreover, among the 29 professions that will be impacted by the new B.C. Act are engineers, accountants, real estate brokers, healthcare providers, and more. Eighteen regulatory bodies cooperatively drafted the legislation, which the British Columbia Legislative Assembly approved in November of last year.
Here is the complete list of occupations affected by the Act:
- Technical agrologist
- Certified technician
- Applied science technologist
- Social worker
Professional biologist - Managing real estate broker
- Emergency medical assistant, including paramedics
- Lawyer
- Applied biology technician
- Landscape architect
- Professional engineer
- Professional geoscientist
- Professional agrologist
- Associate real estate broker
- Registered forest technologist
- Professional teaching certificate holder
- Registered clinical social worker
- Registered music teacher
- Notary public
- Veterinarian
- Architect
- Early childhood educator
- Early childhood educator assistant
- Registered professional forester
- Registered biology technologist
- Conditional teaching certificate holder
- Land surveyor
- Registered professional forester
- Chartered professional accountant
- Real estate representative
Work Experience Requirements Across Various Professions
British Columbia’s Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills states that the province wants to make it easier for foreign credentials to be recognized by doing away with needless Canadian work experience requirements. They are collaborating with regulatory agencies to assess current procedures and identify Canadian work experience requirements that will be reduced by new legislation.
The superintendent of international credential recognition may, however, make an exception for regulators who can provide a good reason for continuing to demand Canadian work experience.
In addition, there is a one-year transitional period with regard to the work experience requirements. For example, rules outlining what constitutes forbidden Canadian job experience and outlining exclusions will go into effect on January 1, 2025. On July 1, 2025, the requirement for Canadian work experience will no longer be allowed.
Requirements for Language Competency
Candidates for several jobs no longer need to provide fresh results from English language tests if they have already submitted valid findings. This exception only applies to candidates with foreign training who have submitted certification applications with valid language test results.
But in two situations, applicants might still need to take language tests: first, if the process of evaluating international credentials hasn’t determined anything about them yet; and second, if it has been five years since the applicant applied to a regulatory body.
Additional changes
In addition, the Act states that regulatory bodies cannot charge foreign applicants more than they do domestic applicants. The province will also appoint a superintendent of recognition of international credentials. To guarantee equitable treatment, this official will concentrate on correcting procedural problems inside the system.
International Credential Recognition in Canada – Policies and Practices
Before pursuing licensed professions in Canada, foreigners must ensure their credentials are recognized. Provincial regulatory organizations, which oversee the healthcare industry and skilled trades, typically issue these licenses with varying standards in each province.
Newcomers have criticized the recognition procedure for being too complicated, time-consuming, and expensive. Important problems were brought to light in a 2022 report by Employment and Social Development Canada, including the lack of information available to immigrants, especially before to their arrival in Canada.
In response, the Canadian federal government has put policies in place to expedite the recognition of credentials. For example, the government disclosed a $50 million funding for the Foreign Credential Recognition Program in its Fall Economic Statement 2023. This financing, which boosts the $115 million investment previously allocated in Budget 2022, evenly distributes funds between skilled trades and healthcare professions.