10 PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY July 16 - 31 , 2018

By Editha Corrales Nelson Immigration Consultant , Notary Public , Mediation / Arbitrator

You will need to have the education , work experience or professional credentials you received outside Canada assessed if you are :

• immigrating to Canada as a Federal Skilled Worker

• coming to Canada to work in specific professions or trades , or

• coming to Canada to study , Credential assessment will help you :

• see whether your credentials are equal to the standards set for Canadian workers

• find out whether you need more training , education or Canadian work experience

• understand the types of jobs for which you might be qualified

• help employers understand your qualifications You can start the credential assessment and recognition process before you arrive in Canada . This takes time and costs money . 1 . TO IMMIGRATE AS A FEDERAL SKILLED WORKER ( FSW ) To apply to the Federal Skilled Worker Program ( FSWP ), you must get an Educational Credential Assessment ( ECA ) of your completed foreign educational credentials . An ECA is used to verify whether your :

• foreign degree ,

• diploma ,

• certificate , or

• other proof of your credential . is valid and equal to a completed credential in Canada for the purpose of immigrating to Canada . Remember that you will also have to have your skills and training assessed to work in particular jobs in Canada . 2 . TO WORK IN SOME JOBS IN CANADA , INCLUDING CERTAIN TRADES Reminder : No matter which type of job you are looking for , make sure you have

the language skills needed . Even if you have the language skills needed to immigrate to Canada , those skills may not be strong enough to work in your preferred profession . There are two types of occupations in Canada : regulated ( including trades ) and non-regulated . Regulated occupations , including trades A regulated occupation ( for example , architect , engineer or plumber ) is controlled by provincial and territorial ( and sometimes federal ) law and governed by a regulatory body or apprenticeship authority . They are also called professions , skilled trades or apprenticeable trades . These jobs are regulated to protect public health and safety , and to make sure that people working in those jobs are qualified . About 20 percent of jobs in Canada are regulated . A regulatory body usually assesses credential recognition . Check with the regulatory body or other organization for your occupation to find out whether you need an assessment . They can tell you which credential assessment agency you should use . You can find contact information for your regulatory body on Job Bank . You can also check their website to find information about :

• licensing ,

• eligibility ,

• the recognition process , and

• fees . To work in a regulated occupation and use a regulated title , you must :

• have a licence or

• a certificate or

• be registered with the regulatory body for your occupation in the province or territory where you want to work . Each regulated occupation has its own requirements for getting a licence or certificate . Requirements can be different between provinces and territories . Requirements for entry usually include :

• An assessment of your training and skills against the profession ’ s standards by comparing your original academic transcripts and other related documents , such as university course descriptions , with the training provided by Canadian colleges and universities

• Written examinations , an interview or both

• An evaluation of your language and communication skills

• A specified period of supervised work experience You will be evaluated as an individual . Do not compare your experience directly with that of someone else . You must understand the requirements as they apply to your own situation in the province or territory where you intend to work . If you want to work in a trade ( carpenter , electrician , bakers ), visit Red Seal for more details about the training , skills and experience you will need to meet . As a tradesperson , you may be eligible to immigrate through the Federal Skilled Trades Program . In Canada , some provinces and territories regulate certain professions and trades while others do not . If you have a licence to work in one province or territory , it may not be accepted in others . Non-regulated occupations Some employers require that job applicants be registered or certified by the relevant professional association . Credential assessment and recognition helps Canadian employers understand your qualifications . Job requirements can vary greatly between employers . Be prepared to prove that you have the education or experience to do the job . You may have to :

• demonstrate a certain level of skill and competence ,

• have a specific amount of education , and

• have personal characteristics suitable for the job . A credential assessment agency can assess your educational credentials for a fee . You may include this information in your résumé or curriculum vitæ ( CV ). 3 . TO STUDY If you plan to study in Canada , you will need to have your educational credentials assessed . Some post-secondary schools can do the assessment . In other cases you will need to go to an assessment agency . Contact the post-secondary school you want to attend in Canada to find out what kind of assessment they require and accept . Then , contact the assessment agency recommended by the school you want to attend , if required . Assessment agencies can compare your academic credentials with similar ones in Canada ’ s post-secondary educational system . Assessments done by assessment agencies help employers , post-secondary institutions , and professional bodies understand your academic background . They do not guarantee recognition of your qualifications for employment or certification / licensing purposes in Canada or further study in a Canadian post secondary institution . These agencies charge a fee for their services . Note : Having your educational credentials recognized to immigrate to Canada as a Federal Skilled Worker , to qualify to work in a particular occupation ( including getting a license ), and to find a job are each separate processes . Be aware that the words credentials , competencies and qualifications may often appear to have the same meaning , but in Canada have specific definitions .

** Strictly taken from www . cic . gc . ca

A Canadian Certified Immigration Consultant , Certified Senior Advisor and a Notary Public in the City of Burnaby , Editha Corrales Nelson ’ s preferred areas of practice are Powers of Attorney , Wills Preparation , International Legal Documents , Name Changes , Affidavits , Letters of Invitation , Statutory Declarations , Drafting of Business Contracts and other notarial services . For an appointment , please call : 604-777-2757 .

The following should not be construed as providing legal advice and information in this column is intended only as a general guide and should not be applied to specific circumstances without further consultation . For more information on the subject , contact Editha Corrales Nelson at 604-777-2757 or email : corrales @ shaw . ca .

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