2.C Settlement and Integration

In Canada, there are a multitude of players involved in credential assessment and qualification recognition. This includes regulatory bodies, post-secondary educational institutions, and employers. Some occupations in Canada are regulated to protect public health and safety, and internationally trained individuals, including refugees, need to obtain licensure or certification from a regulatory body to work legally in these occupations.  

The qualification recognition process can be complex and timelines can vary from a few days or weeks to several years. Refugees must submit proof of their language proficiency, education (transcripts) and work experience, and may also need to undertake written, oral, or practical examinations. Some refugees may need to upgrade their education or get on-the-job experience to obtain qualification recognition or licensure required to work in their intended occupation.

Canada’s Settlement Program also provides pre-arrival and in-Canada services to assist refugees with foreign qualification recognition, licensure, and employment pathways. Provincial governments may also provide additional or complementary supports to assist refugees with qualification recognition and employment.

Foreign credentials are assessed by specialized organizations. Specific credentialing bodies also exist for different professions. These organizations evaluate documentary evidence to determine if an individual’s qualifications are not substantially different from Canadian standards and requirements.

Refugee situations often result in important documents that are traditionally required to verify foreign credentials being left behind or destroyed. Canada’s experience of resettling Syrian refugees in 2015-2016 led to further refinement in best practices and incorporating flexibility into policies, procedures, and document requirements for credential assessment organizations assisting refugees who do not possess documentary evidence of their foreign credentials. Alternative assessment approaches include: the use of sworn affidavits, background papers, and published research; verification of skills through reference letters; verification through direct contact with foreign embassies or academic institutions; competency-based assessments, exams or interviews; and Recognition of Prior Learning Assessment (RPL) approaches that allow individuals to identify, document, and gain recognition for their prior learning which may be formal, informal, or experiential.

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