British Columbia has announced that it is set to introduce legislation this fall to facilitate the recognition of international credentials.
This comes ahead of a scheduled fair credentials town hall that will bring together internationally trained professionals, leading organizations, and advocates to discuss the advancements made in recognizing international credentials within health care, and the ongoing efforts to extend these recognitions across all economic sectors.
The drive for such legislation is grounded in the challenges faced by numerous internationally trained professionals who, upon migrating, find it imperative to have their qualifications recognized in order to pursue their chosen careers in Canada. The new legislation aims to address the current obstacles and streamline the process, ensuring it is not just quicker and simpler but also fairer.
In preparation for the legislation, consultations were held that engaged more than 1,450 individuals, ranging from the internationally trained professionals themselves to educational institutions, immigrant-serving organizations, business associations, health care groups, regulatory bodies, and the general public. The outcomes of these discussions were encapsulated in a report released in July, which highlighted several priorities to better the credential recognition system.
The upcoming legislation is expected to emphasize several key responsibilities for professional regulatory bodies, including:
- Accountability: Regulators will bear the responsibility of safeguarding public health, safety, and environment. This will be achieved through inclusive and equitable processes that facilitate certification for all qualified applicants.
- Fairness: All applicants will undergo a process that is both fair and without prejudice.
- Transparency: Regulatory bodies are tasked with providing all essential information to applicants, ensuring they fully understand the certification procedure.
- Efficiency: The process will be designed to provide applicants with the necessary information for professional certification promptly, eliminating unnecessary delays.
These modifications are anticipated to establish clear, efficient pathways for skilled individuals holding international credentials. The end goal remains to uphold service excellence and equip B.C. with skilled professionals who can cater to the ever-evolving demands of critical sectors such as construction, environmental sciences, teaching, and social work.
Notably:
- The term ‘International credential recognition’ pertains to the acknowledgment of educational qualifications, skills, and work experiences acquired outside Canada as equivalent to Canadian standards.
- In the next ten years, an estimated 387,000 newcomers are projected to join the B.C. workforce, which will account for approximately 38% of the job openings.
