Exciting news! Starting on July 1, British Columbia’s International Credentials Recognition Act will be in effect. This Act eliminates Canadian work experience requirements, language testing for certain applicants, and extra fees for international applicants.
It will impact 29 professions ranging from engineers to accountants, real estate brokers, healthcare professionals and more. The province consulted 18 regulatory bodies to draft the legislation, which was passed by the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia last November.
The full list of occupations impacted under the Act include:
- 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 BROKER
- REGISTERED FOREST TECHNOLOGIST
- MANAGING REAL ESTATE BROKER
- PROFESSIONAL AGROLOGIST
- REAL ESTATE REPRESENTATIVE
- TECHNICAL AGROLOGIST
Work experience requirements
The B.C. government plans to simplify international credential recognition by eliminating unnecessary Canadian work experience requirements. The Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills is collaborating with regulatory authorities to assess existing Canadian work experience criteria that will be prohibited under the new regulations. A one-year transition period is in place, with regulations taking effect on January 1, 2025, and the prohibition on requiring Canadian work experience becoming effective on July 1, 2025.
Language requirements
Applicants in selected occupations won’t need to provide new English-language test results if they’ve already submitted valid results as part of their certification application. However, new language tests may be required if no determination has been made in the credential assessment process, or if five years have passed since the initial application.
Other changes
The Act also states that international applicants will not be required to pay more to their regulatory body than domestic applicants and that the province will appoint a superintendent of international credential recognition. This individual will work to address procedural issues in the system and work to address them.
International credential recognition in Canada
International credential recognition is required for newcomers to pursue licensed professions, but the process is complex, time-consuming, and costly. The Canadian government is working to make it easier, with initiatives such as investing $50 million in the Foreign Credential Recognition Program.
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