British Columbia has made it easier for professionals to work in their respective fields. 

The new International Credentials Recognition Act which took effect this July saw the removal of certain barrier such and the Canadian work experience requirement.

Cliff Belgica of the Philippine Nurses Association in BC was among the Filipino representatives invited by the government to discuss the new law.

He said this will also assign a superintendent to oversee 18 regulatory bodies to ensure the faster recognition of international credentials.

“It's a step forward,” he said. “Hopefully, it's a start [that] there will be more professions that will go under this.”

Architects, engineers, and lawyers, previously had to work at entry level jobs in their field to gain Canadian work experience.

Under the new law, English language tests which expired due to long processing times would still be accepted.

“Those who have already submitted the English requirement before,” said immigration consultant Kaede Kikumoto. “The processing time is long, so that is also part of reducing the waiting timelines.”

Kikumoto also said that professionals can have their licenses assessed in their home countries. 

If these are comparable to Canadian standard, the license will be recognized in BC. 

This means that professionals like teachers, early childhood educators, and paramedics, no longer must study again to get a license in the province.

BC estimates that a million jobs will open in the province in the next decade, many of which would be filled by internationally trained professionals.

This is why the province wants to ensure that there will be support for these professionals.