Discover the steps to get your credentials recognized for work in Canada.

1. Review the job profile

Examine the job profile on Job Bank to learn important details about the job you have, like:

• main duties
• hourly wages
• job description
• if it’s regulated
• related job titles
• job openings
• training
• the skills needed to do the job
• contact information for your:
  • regulatory body
  • apprenticeship authority

2. Find your occupational profile

The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC) provides occupational profiles for a wide range of fields.

3. Compare your qualifications

Compare your qualifications to the requirements for employment in the province or territory where you want to live. This includes:

• licensing
• registration
• certificates

Determine what you need to do to achieve these standards.

You may also need to compare your language skills to those required for your position.

4. Contact a regulatory body

Contact the regulatory organization or apprenticeship authority in your province or territory. They will explain what you need to do to obtain a license or certification.

You must prove to them that you meet the same criteria as those trained in Canada. This is shown via your

• training
• experience
• other skills

In many circumstances, you can have your educational qualifications evaluated and start applying for a license or certificate before leaving your home country. The regulatory organization or apprenticeship authority can advise you on what actions to take before you arrive in Canada. Visit Job Bank to learn more.

5. Collect your documents

Many documentation about your education and experience can help explain your foreign qualifications to:

• employers
• regulatory bodies
• assessment agencies

Before you go to Canada, you can:

• find out which documents you may need after you arrive
• get copies of the documents

Documents that show your qualifications for employment in Canada include:

• work experience
• educational record
• professional training

These documents are required when applying for:

• licensing
• certification
• registration in a regulated occupation

Documents you may need include:

• degrees, diplomas, or certificates from:
  • universities
  • colleges
  • secondary schools
  • trade schools
• education-related:
  • transcripts of grades
  • program descriptions
  • syllabi related to your studies
• letters from professional and other regulatory bodies
• apprenticeship or professional certificates
• employer:
  • letters of reference
  • performance reviews
• work descriptions for jobs you’ve done

You may need to send official documentation directly from schools or other organizations to Canada:

• schools
• employers
• regulatory bodies
• credential assessment agencies

Before you travel to Canada, check with the appropriate organization to see what they need.

Translate your documents

You may require your documents translated into English, French, or both. To determine whether you are required to:

• use an approved translation service (if so, you’ll have to pay for the translation)
• give them original documents or whether you’ll need a lawyer to notarize copies
• provide certified translations

Missing documents

If you aren’t getting the documents you need, contact the regulatory organization or apprenticeship authority to find out what you should do.

6. Consult an approved assessment agency

If you are not required to have your credentials examined as part of the licensing process, you should consider having them analyzed by an approved assessment agency. It will allow you to demonstrate to companies how your training compares to that of persons schooled in Canada.

Next steps:

When you finish your assessment, you’ll know if you:

• need to upgrade your skills or education to work in your occupation
• should consider looking for a different job in your field
• should look for a job in a different field

7. Upgrade your skills or education

It might be easier to find work if you get more training in your field of interest. You can:

• go back to school to upgrade your education
• complete a training program
• train in a new field

Here are some ways to uncover education and training opportunities in Canada that will help you qualify for the job you want:

• Look up your occupation or job in Job Bank. The Education and Job Requirements section of the report lists the schools you can attend to get the education you need. It also has links to educational and career planning resources. You can find the websites of professional regulatory bodies and apprenticeship agencies, where you can get more information.
• Develop your essential skills to help you get a job, succeed at work and adapt to change.

Learn about skills training on Job Bank. If you want to continue your studies in Canada, visit the websites of the universities and colleges or by contacting the following institutions:

• Colleges and Institutes Canada
• Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
• Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials

Canadian citizens and permanent residents may be eligible for student loans or grants. Eligibility is determined by the sort of course you wish to attend and the province or territory in which you live.

8. Look for related jobs at job bank

Because getting licensed takes time, you may need to work in a job related to but not in your field while you wait. Working in a connected job gives you the possibility to:

• earn money while your credentials are being assessed
• use your knowledge and skills
• learn work-related language
• get Canadian work experience
• connect and network with other professionals

Consider working in a job that is not related to your profession if:

• you are interested in changing careers
• job opportunities in your profession are not available
• you need to find any kind of job immediately
• your credentials are not equivalent to Canadian standards or it would take too much time, effort and money for you to meet the standards

You may decide to stay in a similar field or use this expertise to help you obtain licensure in your initial occupation.

Here are some strategies to locate alternative jobs:

• Review the information in the Job Opportunities section of your job profile.
• List other jobs not in your field but for which you might be qualified. Then, complete job profiles for those jobs to find out whether they are regulated or non-regulated.
• Get help at a Service Canada Centre if you are in Canada.
• Join work-related associations so that you can meet people who might have good advice for you.
• Contact the regulatory body for your profession or an immigrant-serving organization to ask for advice.