British Columbia’s Credential Recognition Act will start on July 1
British Columbia’s Credential Recognition Act will start on July 1, 2024. The Act will modify the process of international credential recognition in the province and streamline the process. Particularly, it eliminates the requirements for Canadian work experience, language testing for a few applicants, and additional fee payment for international applicants.
In addition, it will impact 29 occupations from engineers to applicants, real estate brokers, healthcare professionals, etc.
The province considered 18 regulatory bodies to formulate the legislation, which was further passed by British Columbia’s Legislative Assembly last November.
The complete list of professions affected by the Act includes the following:
- Professional Engineer
- Land surveyor
- Professional teaching certificate holder
- Registered music teacher
- Landscape architect
- Early Childhood Educator Assistant
- Certified technician
- Applied science technology
- Social worker
- Veterinarian
- Professional Biologist
- Notary public
- Architect
- Registered clinical social worker
- Emergency medical assistants, such as paramedics
- Applied Biology Technician
- Registered professional forester
- Managing real estate broker
- Real estate representative
- Technical agrologist
- Professional geoscientist
British Columbia’s Credential Recognition Act will start on July 1
Elimination of the work experience requirements
British Columbia revealed that it will simplify international credential recognition by eliminating the less significant work experience requirements. The Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills states that it aligns with the regulatory authorities to analyze the existing strategies and recognize any current Canadian work experience necessities that would not be permitted under the new regulations.
However, the province states that the superintendent of international credential recognition might permit an exemption to a regulator with a significant reason for acquiring Canadian work experience.
Furthermore, there is yet to be a transition period for the work experience requirement. For instance, on January 1, 2025, regulations displaying non-requirement of work experience and the related exemptions will take effect on July 1, 2025.
Language requirements
Applicants in the chosen occupations will not be required to offer new English-language test outcomes, in the case of not submitting the valid outcomes.
Per the legislation, it will apply to applicants with international training who have submitted authentic results as part of the application for certification.
Still, language tests will be necessary if no decision has been made during the evaluation process of international credential recognition. In addition, if five years have elapsed since the application submission to their regulatory body.
Additional changes
The Act even states that international applicants will not need to pay more to their regulatory body compared to domestic applicants. Furthermore, the province will designate a superintendent for international credential recognition. The person will have to combat procedural challenges in the system and strive to address them.
Canadian International Credential Recognition
International Credential Recognition is vital for new immigrants who seek to pursue a career in a licensed profession. Generally, the provincial regulatory authorities issue these licenses, which are the authorities that supervise healthcare professions or skilled trades. Since these provincial regulatory bodies, the recognition will differ based on the applicant’s location.
The process of acquiring recognition has been scrutinized, and new immigrants have criticized it severely. The reasons behind the criticism are the complex process, time consumption, and cost involved.
A 2022 report by ESDC has witnessed several drastic issues, such as a lack of details for newcomers, particularly in the pre-arrival phase.
The Canadian government has taken several measures to make it more convenient for new immigrants for their credential recognition. For instance, it declared in the Fall Economic Statement 2023 that it would invest $50 million in the Foreign Credential Recognition Program, with 50 percent going to skilled trades occupations and the rest of 50 percent going to the healthcare sector.
All of the above is in addition to an existing investment of $114 million in the 2022 Budget.
If you seek information on how to begin your Canada immigration application process, you can talk to our NavaImmigration experts at 1800-918-8490, or you can drop us an email at [email protected].
