A survey asked internationally trained professionals to share their feedback on BC’s credential recognition process. Some shared that, if they had better understood the complexity of the process before their arrival, it may have changed their decision to immigrate to Canada.
VICTORIA – It has been a persistent challenge for people with training from outside of Canada to get their international credentials recognized.
There are over 50 regulatory authorities in B.C. responsible for setting and enforcing professional standards relating to clinical and technical knowledge for 235 different regulated professions. People who received training in one of these 235 occupations outside of Canada, face barriers to recognition in these occupations.
In spring 2023, the Province asked internationally trained professionals, educational institutions, immigrant-serving organizations, business associations, health-care associations, regulatory authorities and members of the public for their feedback about international credential recognition through a series of roundtables and an online survey.
More than 1,450 British Columbians participated in this public engagement about how to improve the credential recognition process and remove unnecessary barriers for newcomers to Canada.
The “what we heard” report identified eight themes for improvement:
One of the most challenging barriers identified by virtual roundtable participants and survey respondents was the complexity and length of the application and licensure process for international applicants. 85% of internationally trained professionals who responded to the online survey identified this aspect of the overall process as “difficult” compared to 56% of domestically trained professionals.
According to the report, the application and licensure process is understood through two significantly different lenses. From a regulatory perspective, the start of the process is measured upon receipt of a complete application. From the perspective of many internationally trained professionals, the process starts upon first application for a work permit or immigration to Canada, which can already be many months before establishing contact with the appropriate regulatory authority.
This disconnect is heightened if there are differing systems of oversight between B.C. (and Canada at large) and the country where the training was obtained. Further, there are limited pre-arrival supports or guidance for internationally trained professionals on what to expect if they hold credentials for an occupation that is regulated in B.C. As a result, internationally trained professionals often arrive in Canada without a full awareness of the pathway to working in their field of training and are left feeling misguided and dismayed. Some shared that, if they had better understood the complexity of the process before their arrival, it may have changed their decision to immigrate to Canada.
“It is very difficult to speak to anyone with the regulatory authority for my profession in B.C. and the volume of evidence required is astounding. I have bachelor’s and master’s degrees in my professional field, yet I had to submit reports from my classes from my first year at university which was over 10 years ago,” a survey respondent said.
The length and complexity of the current licensure processes has left many internationally trained professionals having to wait years before being able to practice in their professional field in B.C. In some cases, the burden of the licensure process leads many to give up, or not start the process in the first place. Of the more than 900 internationally trained professionals who responded to the online survey, only 38% have certification in their field in B.C. while 19% are in the process and 18% have never attempted to obtain it. On an individual level, this has significant personal and financial consequences for internationally trained professionals who struggle to make ends meet, support their families, and are frustrated that they cannot contribute to the full extent of their skills and capabilities.
“It took 9 months to evaluate degrees then you have to pass through various exams which takes years to finish. Extremely stressful when you have a family to support and nobody supports you to get your license,” another survey respondent said.
Another key area for improvement identified through this engagement is communication from regulatory authorities. some international applicants were unable to identify a representative from the regulatory authority to contact to ask questions for clarification – many internationally trained professionals experienced being unable to contact anyone from the regulatory authority despite reaching out multiple times. Such absence of support leaves internationally trained professionals feeling unwanted and unwelcome in B.C.
Some respondents said that Canadian work experience requirements fail to appropriately credit experience from outside of Canada, do not accurately assess professional skills, and are perceived to be biased against internationally trained professionals. Internationally trained professionals who responded to the survey ranked Canadian work experience requirements as the second most difficult aspect of the application and licensure process with more than 63% identifying this aspect of the process as “difficult.”
Language proficiency testing was another barrier identified by participants. Over the course of the immigration, settlement, and licensure process, internationally trained professionals are often required to pass multiple language tests creating a compounding sense of frustration throughout the settlement journey. This reflects the disconnect between the requirements different institutions have for language standards. On top of having to complete multiple tests, applicants are sometimes required to retake exams throughout the licensure process due to the expiration of test results. These requirements add to the financial burden internationally trained professionals face and can result in further delays in the licensure process.
“We’ve heard from regulators, post-secondary institutions and internationally trained professionals that the system isn’t working,” said Andrew Mercier, Minister of State for Workforce Development. “This is a question of fairness and about making sure that internationally trained professions have the supports they need to succeed and practise in B.C.”
Feedback gathered from the public engagement will be used to help streamline the international credential-recognition process and work toward new legislation.
To read the “what we heard” report on international credential recognition, visit:
https://engage.gov.bc.ca/app/uploads/sites/121/2023/07/What-We-Heard-Report-International-Credential-Recognition-2023-07-24.pdf
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