2006:01PU - Helping Foreign-Trained Professionals Access Accreditation
Whereas:
- In 2003, the National Council of Women of Canada adopted the policy entitled “Helping Foreign-Trained Health Care Professionals Access Accreditation”;
- Other foreign-trained professionals besides health care workers (e.g., engineers, Information Technology professionals, teachers) face difficulties finding jobs in their fields because professional licensing organizations do not accept foreign credentials and work experience;
- Although standard tests for accreditation exist, their fees are often high and unaffordable for many immigrants;
- Foreign-trained professionals find it challenging to obtain necessary Canadian experience in their fields; and
- Foreign-trained women professionals face additional barriers, such as a lack of affordable and available childcare.
Resolved:
- The National Council of Women of Canada adopts as policy that the accreditation process for all professionals trained in other countries be made more accessible and affordable while ensuring a uniform standard of competence across Canada.
- The National Council of Women of Canada urges the Government of Canada to work with provincial/territorial governments, professional organizations, and licensing bodies to make accreditation accessible and affordable for all foreign-trained professionals while maintaining uniform standards by:
- Ensuring loans and other resources are available for qualifying exams and upgrading;
- Developing academic assessment tools and testing;
- Ensuring re-testing is accessible and affordable;
- Increasing opportunities for foreign-trained professionals to gain Canadian experience under supervision;
- Accelerating accreditation and retraining processes through English and French language training, including immersion programs; and
- Addressing barriers faced by women, such as a lack of childcare.
- The National Council of Women of Canada urges its Provincial and Local Councils to request governments to:
- Ensure loans and resources are accessible and affordable for exams and upgrading;
- Develop academic assessment tools/testing;
- Ensure re-testing is accessible and affordable; and
- Increase opportunities for supervised Canadian experience for foreign-trained professionals.