49. How will Express Entry improve the pathway for
newcomers wanting to work in a regulated occupation?
Category: Foreign Credential Recognition
As part of the reforms being made by the Government of Canada to its economic immigration system, improvements to foreign credential recognition (FCR) and the way credentials are recognized are being prioritized.
Increased collaboration with provinces and territories, regulatory authorities, and professional bodies is resulting in the development of steps to make their license and assessment tools accessible to potential immigrants before they come to Canada, giving immigrants a head start on the recognition of their qualifications.
Through an Education Credential Assessment (ECA), a potential Express Entry candidate’s foreign educational credentials are authenticated and assessed against Canadian standards. This allows applicants to have a better sense of how their education fits into the Canadian labour market and helps them make more informed choices about immigration and Canadian career paths. There are currently five organizations designated by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to deliver ECA services for immigration purposes, including two professional bodies (Medical Council of Canada and the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada). Work is being done to add more organizations and professional bodies to the list of those designated to provide ECA services.
Note: If you are hoping to apply to the Federal Skilled Worker Program, you must have an ECA that indicates that your foreign educational credentials are equivalent to a completed Canadian credential. If you are hoping to apply to the Federal Skilled Trades Program or Canadian Experience Class, an ECA is optional, but it may let you earn more points for the education component on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) and improve your chances of being drawn from the pool.
All ECAs included in an Express Entry profile will be validated with the issuing organization when an application for permanent residence is submitted for processing.
Apply for your assessment under the Canadian Express entry program.
CanadianExpressEntry.com