BC is making it easier for those who are internationally educated professionals to find a job in the field they were trained in upon immigrating to Canada.
When skilled professionals immigrate, the process to have their training and experience recognized can often be a tedious and confusing one.
Going forward they will have better opportunities and less hurdles to keep them from finding a job that can support them and their families.
“Skilled professionals from around the world move to BC hoping to put their skills to good use, but instead face huge obstacles and an often-confusing process to get their credentials recognized,” said Premier David Eby.
“With the skills shortage we have in this province, we cannot afford to leave anyone on the sidelines. That’s why we’re taking action to close the gaps in the system so people can get to work faster, fill in-demand jobs and provide much-needed services to people in BC,” he added.
The new system would focus on fairness, efficiency, transparency and accountability if passed.
This legislation would see barriers removed for 29 professions, making it easier for people to get their credentials recognized much more swiftly, no matter where the training came from.
The 29 professions that will be affected by this legislation are:
- Registered music teacher
- Professional engineer
- Professional teaching certificate holder
- Land surveyor
- Early childhood educator
- Landscape architect
- Early childhood educator assistant
- Applied science technologist
- Conditional teaching certificate holder
- Certified technician
- Social worker
- Veterinarian
- Registered clinical social worker
- Lawyer
- Professional biologist
- Architect
- Applied biology technician
- Notary public
- Registered biology technologist
- Emergency medical assistant, including paramedics
- Professional geoscientist
- Chartered professional accountant
- Registered professional forester
- Associate real estate brokenr
- Registered forest technologist
- Managing real estate broker
- Professional agrologist
- Real estate representative
- Technical agrologist
According to the Province, the legislation would also remove redundant language testing, set caps for maximum processing times and require credential-assessment information be available online.
“This is a matter of fairness,” said Andrew Mercier, Minister of State for Workforce Development.
“Ensuring international professionals can build strong, prosperous lives for themselves and their families in BC is important to this government.”
The legislation was proposed on October 23rd and the Province hopes to see it come into effect by summer 2024.
