Are foreign degrees and qualifications accepted in Canada?

Students should find out whether their credentials and degrees are recognized in Canada.

April 1, 2024 07:07 IST

Canada, foreign degrees, qualifications, Foreign Credential Recognition Program, workers, jobs, students

If you come to Canada to work in a certain profession, you will need to have your credentials assessed. (Image: Reuters)

Foreign licenses and certifications must be recognized for immigrants to work in Canada. Newcomers who want to work in jobs that need a license or certificate must get their international credentials recognized. Foreign credential validation is the process of ensuring that training, education, and/or experience earned in another nation meets federal, provincial, or territorial standards.

Regulated occupations require a license or certificate to work in Canada. The authority for most regulated occupations in Canada lies with provincial and territorial governments. They often delegate this authority to regulatory authorities in their jurisdiction. Regulatory authorities set the requirements to obtain certification or licensure as a condition of employment

Before you apply to jobs in Canada, you should verify if the occupation that interests you is regulated. You should also find out whether your credentials and degrees are recognized in Canada.

If you immigrate to Canada as a Federal Skilled Worker or come to Canada to work in a certain profession or come to Canada to study, you will need to have your credentials assessed.

Credentials such as education, work experience that you got outside Canada will need to be assessed.

Having your credentials assessed will help you show employers what you are qualified for, understand the types of jobs you might be qualified for, see if your credentials are equal to the standards set for Canadian workers and find out if you need more training, education or Canadian work experience.

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’ll need to go to an assessment agency. You need to contact the post-secondary school you want to go to in Canada to find out what kind of assessment they need and accept.

Approximately 20% of occupations in Canada are regulated while most occupations in Canada are non-regulated. This means that you do not typically require a license or certificate.

The Foreign Credential Recognition in Canada Tool provides newcomers with information on job requirements such as: