More than 1,450 people gave feedback through wide-ranging public engagement on the international credential-recognition progress in BC this year.
In spring 2023, the Province asked internationally trained professionals, educational institutions, immigrant-serving organizations, business associations, health-care associations, regulatory authorities and members of the public for their feedback about international credential recognition through a series of roundtables and an online survey.
“We’ve heard from regulators, post-secondary institutions and internationally trained professionals that the system isn’t working,” said Andrew Mercier, Minister of State for Workforce Development. “This is a question of fairness and about making sure that internationally trained professions have the supports they need to succeed and practise in B.C.”
British Columbians participated in this public engagement through roundtables and an online survey about how to improve the credential recognition process and remove unnecessary barriers for newcomers to Canada.
The “what we heard” report identified eight themes for improvement:
- streamlining complex processes and shortening timelines;
- improving the accessibility, consistency and transparency of information about the licensure process and requirements;
- exploring alternative pathways for credential recognition;
- exploring more flexible approaches to demonstrate language proficiency;
- introducing performance standards for data and reporting;
- increasing financial and other supports for internationally trained professionals and regulatory authorities;
- improving co-ordination between government and regulatory authorities at the provincial and federal levels; and
- strengthening collaboration between regulatory authorities, educational institutions, employers and immigrant-serving organizations to support licensure and integration.
Feedback gathered from the public engagement is being used to help streamline the international credential-recognition process and work toward new legislation.