Vancouver/CMEDIA: A more streamlined, efficient and transparent process would reportedly be available to internationally educated professionals to get their credentials recognized in B.C.
“The Premier gave me the task to get the International Credentials Recognition Act…I’m happy to say we’ve done it…For too long, skilled professionals from around the world..find roadblocks in their way…these regulations…means simpler, fairer rules so these professionals…providing the services our communities need,” said Ravi Parmar, Parliamentary Secretary for International Credentials.
Led by the parliamentary secretary for international credentials following significant consultation with 18 regulatory bodies, the International Credentials Recognition Act will come into effect on July 1, 2024.
Requiring regulatory bodies to reduce red tape and remove barriers in 29 professions, the act will make it easier, more transparent and quicker for professionals to pursue and achieve credential recognition, no matter where they were trained and qualified, also enhancing fairness under the act to charge similar fees for international and domestic applicants, eliminating redundant English-language testing requirements.
Eliminating the catch-22 of unnecessary Canadian work experience requirements for experienced internationally trained professionals is one major change which disabled them to work in Canada because of the lack of Canadian work experience.
The professions include engineers, social workers, veterinarians, paramedics, early childhood educators, teachers, biologists, land surveyors, architects and more.
With enforcement tools to ensure compliance with the act would ensure accountability and transparency to the public through new data collection and reporting requirements.
Working with regulators on implementation and compliance for the new regulations, a superintendent of international credential recognition would be appointed by the Province to oversee the fair recognition of international credentials, addressing any systemic or procedural issues with the authority under the act to issue orders for compliance and impose administrative penalties as needed.
