Immigration Canada

To work in Canada, you may need to have your academic and/or professional credentials assessed to do certain jobs. This is essential in all regulated professions. While you are in your home country you can research your profession in Canada and start your credentials assessment process. If you have arrived in Canada, it is important to get started on these tasks quickly.

If you are considering moving to Canada or you have recently arrived in Canada, the Planning to work in Canada? workbook will help you gather information about living and working in Canada.

The following list can help you get your credentials recognized and started on your job search in Canada.

1. Determine if your Profession is Regulated

The resources on the Foreign Credentials Referral Office (FCRO) web site and the Working in Canada tool help you determine if your profession is regulated or non-regulated in the province/territory in which you would like to work.

If your profession is regulated, the Working in Canada tool will indicate the appropriate provincial/territorial regulatory body. You need to contact this organization to determine what steps to take to start working in your profession. Carefully review the information about certification on the regulatory organization’s Web site.

Some professions that are not regulated by law have professional organizations that may provide certification courses. Membership in these organizations might provide you with good networking opportunities which could help you find work in your profession. TheWorking in Canada tool can help you determine if there are any professional associations in your field.

2. Have your Credentials Assessed

Contact the appropriate regulatory body and provide it with the necessary documents to have your credentials assessed. The documents and process are determined by the specific regulatory body and can vary greatly depending on the province/territory and profession.

If your profession is non-regulated, it is still a good idea to have your credentials assessed and recognized because it will help employers better understand your qualifications.

The FCRO Web site also provides additional information on how to get your credentials recognized.

3. Organize your Documents

The regulatory body for your profession will need specific documents to support the recognition of your credentials. Generally, you will require at least a copy of your degree/diploma and transcripts, translated into either English or French. The regulatory body will specify any other necessary documents and will be able to provide you with additional information, including specifications about translation standards.

The Foreign Credentials Referral Office provides Occupational Fact Sheets that will help you to understand the general requirements you must meet to work in some professions/sectors and understand the steps that you can take while you are still in your home country.

To work in Canada, you will need a Social Insurance Number. You can apply for a Social Insurance Number, at your local Service Canada Centre or by mail after you arrive in Canada. You must provide a primary document that proves your identity and status in Canada. If your name on your primary document is different from the name you are currently using, you must also provide a supporting document. These documents must be originals and written in English or French.

4. Begin the Job Search

For your job search, you will need a résumé or curriculum vitæ translated into English or French and formatted in a style acceptable to Canadian employers. When you arrive in Canada, visit your nearest Settlement Organization or Employment Resource Centre for help with your résumé and job search activities.

If you have letters of reference from previous employers, you should have them translated into English or French.

Various job search tools are available to help you find a job in Canada, create a résumé, choose a career and assess your skills. You also can learn about finding jobs in Canada by visiting the Foreign Credentials Referral Office Web site.

5. Apply for Other Employment Programs and Services

You may be eligible for other programs and services. Visit the Benefits Finder on the Service Canada Training and Careers Web site for a list of federal and provincial or territorial government benefits for which you may be eligible.

Canadian employers often want you to have soft skills and hard skills.

Often, it is not enough to have hard skills, or technical skills. Canadian employers want to hire people who also have soft skills.

Soft Skills

Soft skills are sometimes called employability skills. They include:

Communication

Problem solving

Positive attitudes and behaviours

Adaptability

Working with others

Employers want every employee to have these skills. Someone who has these skills will be able to learn and grow in a job. These people can get along with their co-workers and are a long-term asset for the organization.

Hard Skills or Technical Skills

Each job type has its own set of skills, called hard skills. Hard skills are the technical skills you need to do a certain job. For example:

Using computer programs

Measuring and calculating

Analyzing data

Speaking a language

Operating a machine

Experience

Understanding labour market information can help you identify what kind of experience employers want.

How your professional qualifications are valued in Canada is very important. It can help you find work in your field. By finding out how your experience is valued, you will know if you need to do any academic upgrading or exams to get the same kind of work in Canada .

You might need to have your academic or professional credentials assessed. In regulated professions or trades, you cannot work in your field unless you have had your credentials and experience evaluated.

After you have assessed your skills, you need to be able to show employers that you have these skills. You can ask someone at a settlement agency or a community employment centre for help with your résumé and job search. You can find them in Services Near Me.

For More Information

Employability Skills Profile - A fact sheet with descriptions of critical skills, including personal management and teamwork skills.

Ontario Skills Passport - A website with clear descriptions of basic skills and work habits that employers want, and information about what skills and tasks are required for certain occupations.

JVS Career Voice - This blog for job seekers has information about career choices, finding a job, marketing yourself and more. You can submit questions. The blog posts are written by experts in employment.