BARRIERS TO QUALIFICATION RECOGNITION
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Many immigrants continue to encounter barriers to the recognition of their skills, education and experience, despite the numerous efforts currently underway both within and across jurisdictions. The reality for many immigrants is that they are faced with a complex and often frustrating system.
Canadian occupational regulatory systems were designed to respond to Canadian-educated applicants. Over time, some flexibility has been developed to accommodate applicants from education systems similar to those in Canada, but challenges remain in responding to more diverse education systems and occupational standards.
Immigrants often have difficulty obtaining reliable information on regulatory requirements, registration processes and workplace expectations prior to emigrating. Consequently, many immigrants needlessly lose valuable time navigating the system after their arrival.
Assessment processes for certification may not be sufficiently flexible to adequately allow immigrants to demonstrate their qualifications. For those who do not fully meet requirements for licensure, opportunities to gain the missing complement of skills are limited. Immigrants frequently settle into work that is below their capabilities as a result of not being able to access information or the supports necessary to move into work better suited to their qualifications and experience.
Regulatory authorities may have neither sufficient financial nor human resources to address the complexities posed by assessment and recognition of foreign qualifications. This is particularly the case for smaller organizations that often rely on a limited dues-based operating income. The development of formalized processes to assess foreign qualifications is currently outside of the reach of many regulatory authorities.
Even after registration or certification requirements are met, immigrants may find that moving into the workforce poses additional challenges, and that few resources are available to either employers or workers to assist with the adjustment process.
Specific barriers to qualification recognition vary across both occupations and jurisdictions, and are highly dependent on background and experience of the individual applicant.
The Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications describes the ideal steps and processes that governments aspire to build in order to address the current gaps to successful immigrant labour market integration.
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