For skilled immigrants, one of the biggest challenges in Canada is getting their foreign qualifications recognized. You might have years of experience and education from abroad, yet find yourself unable to work at the same level because Canadian employers or regulatory bodies don't immediately recognize your credentials. This is where bridging programs and improved credential recognition processes become vital - they are the keys to unlocking immigrant success in the workforce.
The statistics paint a clear picture of why this matters. As of 2021, about 25.8% of immigrants aged 25-64 with foreign university degrees were working in jobs that only require a high school diploma or less. In highly specialized fields, the mismatch can be even more striking. For example, among internationally trained medical professionals, many end up not practicing in their field.
Bridging programs are targeted educational or work placement programs designed to "bridge" the gap between an immigrant's foreign training and the requirements to work in Canada. These programs often include:
Many provinces offer bridging programs for healthcare professionals. An example is the practice-ready assessment program for internationally trained family physicians, now available in eight provinces, which helps foreign doctors get licensed faster.
Accelerated pathways to P.Eng designation help internationally trained engineers meet Canadian standards quickly.
Similar programs exist for nurses, teachers, accountants, and other regulated professions.
Governments and professional bodies are starting to recognize the importance of smoother credential recognition. For example, Professional Engineers Ontario recently removed the requirement for Canadian work experience for licensure. This is a significant step that will make it easier for foreign-trained engineers to become licensed.
Many immigrants who used bridging programs have achieved their career goals. Take the story of an internationally trained accountant who took Canadian tax and law courses through a bridging program. After passing the CPA qualifying exams, he landed a job in his field. Another example is internationally trained nurses who completed bridging courses in Canadian nursing practices and successfully obtained their RN licenses.
If you are an immigrant facing this hurdle, there are steps to take:
Utilizing immigrant skills fully is not just good for those individuals – it's critical for Canada's economic growth. Skilled immigrants who are working at their level of training help increase productivity and innovation.
At PathFund, we help finance the bridging programs and credential recognition processes that immigrants need. Our loans are specifically designed for newcomers pursuing Canadian licensure and certification.
Bridging programs and efficient credential recognition processes are essential for maximizing the contributions of Canada's immigrants. They transform "brain waste" into brain gain. Policymakers are urged to streamline these processes because when an engineer or doctor or any skilled professional can practice here at their full capacity, we all benefit.
For the individual immigrant, investing in bridging programs is often the key to unlocking their true career potential in Canada.