Federal government funds help for internationally trained engineers

Engineers Canada has received $785,000 to help foreign trained engineers get jobs in Canada faster. The announcement was made December 5 by Canada’s Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, the Honourable Diane Finley. Engineers Canada is the national body representing the provincial professional licensing organizations.

A press release said: “Verifying work experience can be a significant barrier to employment for foreign-trained professionals. With the support of the Foreign Credentials Recognition Program, Engineers Canada will compare foreign work experience with Canadian standards so applicants can demonstrate that they have the experience necessary to obtain a provincial or territorial licence. This builds on the progress that Engineers Canada has already made to help foreign-trained engineers get jobs in their fields faster.”

In 2010, the Canadian government established standards to help internationally trained professionals in eight priority occupations — including engineers — to have their qualifications assessed within a year anywhere in Canada. It is working with the provinces and territories under an agreement called the Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.