Helping Internationally Trained Individuals on their Professional Path

OCASI November 15, 2012

Presentation Outline

• Global Experience Ontario• Snapshot of Immigration to Ontario• Challenges Newcomers Face When Settling in Ontario• Key Words• 14 Non-Health Regulated Professions• Health Regulated and Other Professions• 22 Compulsory Trades• Career Maps• The Licensing Process• Programs and Resources

Immigration – Ontario ContextBetween 2007 and 2011:

• 546,601 immigrants came to Ontario from more than 200 countries.

• Nearly 78% intended to settle in the Greater Toronto Area

• 73% indicated language ability in at least one of Canada’s two official languages

Canada and Ontario receive immigrants from more than 200

countries, demonstrating a unique breadth of diversity among all the

major immigrant accepting countries.Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Global Experience Ontario (GEO) Global Experience Ontario (GEO)

• GEO is an Access Centre which provides information and assistance on:

– How to become registered to work in 14 non-health regulated professions

– Internship and mentorship programs

• GEO serves:– Internationally trained individuals– Stakeholders who work with internationally trained individuals

• Language instructors• Social service and employment workers• Community agencies• Job Fairs and conferences

The 14 Non-Health Regulated Professions Include:

1. Architecture

2. Certified Engineering Technician and Technologist

3. Certified General Accounting

4. Certified Management Accounting

5. Chartered Accounting

6. Early Childhood Education

7. Forestry

8. Land Surveying

9. Law (including Paralegal)

10. Professional Engineering

11. Professional Geoscientist

12. Social Work and Social Service work

13. Teaching

14. Veterinary Medicine

Challenges Faced by Internationally Trained Individuals (ITIs)

• Common Challenges– Gaining Canadian Work experience– Finding employment in their field– The need to upgrade their language ability requirements– Difficulty in building a network or professional circle

• Challenges during the professional licensing process

– Finding information about how to get licensed in their field– Difficulty in providing original documents such as transcripts and degree from

their country of origin on arrival– Finding information about alternative careers while pursuing their license– Paying examination/licensing/registration fees

Health-Regulated Professions

Health Regulated Professions:

• HealthForceOntario (HFO) is an Access Centre that helps Internationally Educated Health Regulated Professionals with free information, advice, and support on the licensing process to practice in Ontario.

• Contact HFO:

163 Queen Street East, 2nd Floor, Toronto, Ontario

Telephone: 1-800-596-4046

E-mail: accesscentre@healthforceontario.ca

Website: http://www.healthforceontario.ca/Jobs/AccessCentre.aspx.

.

Licensing Process

• Regulatory body• Registration • General eligibility• Language requirements• Academic credentials review• Practical and/or Canadian work experience • Examination and/or practise requirements• Additional courses• Fees and financial support

Strategies to help internationally trained individuals along their path

1. Stay connected to the regulatory body or related professional association.

2. Check regularly:• Regulatory body and related professional/networking websites • www.ontarioimmigration.ca

3. Identify services, programs and tools that can help you:• Bridge Training • English and French as a Second Language• Occupational Specific Language Training• Mentoring Programs• Internship Programs• Professional Immigrant Networks (PINs)• Volunteering

4. Find a Career Map, fact sheets or other useful guides5. Municipal Immigration Portals:

http://www.ontarioimmigration.ca/en/living/OI_HOW_LIVE_CITIES.html

The Trades

Trades in Ontario

• There are over 150 trades in Ontario. Trades can be Compulsory or Voluntary

• Currently 22 trades are Compulsory by legislation

• What does compulsory mean?– You must obtain a Certificate of Qualification to practice in a

compulsory trade in Ontario

• What does voluntary mean?- You don’t need to be certified, but certification may give you many

benefits.

The 22 Compulsory Trades

1. Electrician: Construction and Maintenance

2. Electrician: Domestic and Rural

3. Hoisting Engineer: Mobile Crane Operator Branch 1

4. Hoisting Engineer: Mobile Crane Operator Branch 2

5. Hoisting Engineer: Tower Crane Operator

6. Plumber7. Refrigeration and Air

Conditioning Systems Mechanic

8. Residential Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic

9. Residential (low-rise) Sheet Metal Installer

10. Sheet Metal Worker

11.Steamfitter12.Alignment and Brakes Technician13.Auto Body and Collision Damage

Repairer Branch 114.Auto Body Repairer Branch 215.Automotive Electronic Accessory

Technician16. Automotive Service Technician17. Fuel and Electrical Systems

Technician18. Hairstylist19. Motorcycle Technician20. Transmission Technician21. Truck and Coach Technician22. Truck Trailer Service Technician

How to get started in the trades:

• There are two pathways for working in the trades in Ontario:– Certification

• If you have already worked in a trade, you can apply to write a Certificate of Qualification Exam which will enable you to work in a compulsory trade. It may help if you gather your documentation before you arrive in Ontario.

- Apprenticeship• Apprenticeship is a hands-on training program for people who want to work in a skilled trade. About

90 per cent of apprenticeship training is provided in the workplace by employers. Other training may be given in a classroom by a community college.

- There are 25 apprenticeship offices across Ontario where you can register

http://www.findhelp.ca/mtcu/appoff.html• Employment Ontario can help you:

• Decide which pathway is best for you• How to get your credentials assessed• How to apply to become certified, upgrade your skills, or get into apprenticeship

www.ontario.ca/employment

or call

1-800-387-5656

• The College of Trades will be a regulatory body for the skilled trades in Ontario.

• The College will regulate– what is required to work in each of the trades in Ontario– Who can be members– Professional conduct and ethical standards, etc.

The New College of Trades

• GEO will provide information about and referrals to the compulsory trades as part of its mandate.

• The College of Trades website: http://www.collegeoftrades.ca/

Career Maps

• Career Maps explain in detail every step of the registration process including:

• How to apply to be license and which credentials are required

• Work experience requirements including Canadian work experience

• English/French language requirements

• Industry trends and labour market conditions

• Licensing fees

• How long the process may take

• At present, GEO develops and updates over 40 career maps for regulated professions and trades in partnership with regulatory bodies.

• Career Maps are available online at: http://www.ontarioimmigration.ca/en/geo/

From Licensing to Employment

Programs and Resources

Bridge Training Programs in Ontario

What do Ontario’s Bridge Training Programs do? provide training and opportunities to help internationally trained individuals get registered to work in their profession, or to facilitate systemic change help highly-skilled newcomers get jobs in their area of expertise

Programs may include:§ academic and/or skills assessments § clinical or workplace experience § skills training or targeted academic training programs § preparation for a licence or certification examination § occupation-specific language training § individualized learning plans to address specific training needs

Partners:§ employers, post-secondary institutions, occupational regulatory bodies,

community organizations and other levels of government

http://www.citizenship.gov.on.ca/english/index.shtml

ttp://www.ontarioimmigration.ca/en/working/OI_BRIDGE.html

Internship and Mentorship Programs for ITIs

• Mentoring Partnership www.thementoringpartnership.com– Mentoring bring together recent skilled immigrants and established professionals in occupation-

specific mentoring relationships.– Mentors help break down employment barriers by offering industry-specific advice and contacts.– Studies show that newcomers who go through the mentoring program earn more than their

counterparts who do not participate in the mentoring program.

• Ontario Public Service (OPS) Internship Program for Internationally Trained Individuals (ITIs)

www.careerbridge.ca– The OPS Internship Program for ITIs is designed specifically for professional newcomers to

Ontario, so that they can earn valuable Canadian work experience in their professional fields within the OPS.

– The OPS administers the program in partnership with the Career Edge Organization through their Career Bridge Program which serves newcomers across the province.

• Professional immigrant networks (PINs) are organized, volunteer-run member-based associations or networks created by and for immigrant professionals.

• PINs website improves the visibility of these networks and to makes it easier for immigrants, employers and other stakeholders to connect with them.

www.networksforimmigrants.ca

• Features of the website include a searchable directory of networks, communication tools, a resource library and PINs success stories.

• Activities of PINs include networking events, mentoring, information sessions, professional development opportunities such as workshops, speaker events and training and connections to employment opportunities.

Employment

1. Contact Employment Ontario

• www.ontario.ca/employment or 1-800-387-5656

• Resume writing, job interview techniques

• Networking skills

• Skills assessment, training and related jobs

2. Get certified to work in a skilled trade and learn about apprenticeship

• Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities/ Employment Ontario: http://www.findhelp.ca/mtcu/appoff.html  

OntarioImmigration.ca

• Launched in 2006, OntarioImmigration.ca is the province’s web-based information resource for prospective and landed immigrants.

Referral Supports for Internationally Trained Individuals

Employment Ontario

Educational Institutions

Language training

Colleges and Universities

Settlement Agencies

Ontario Public Libraries

Global Experience Ontario

Bridging programs

Mentorship programs

Internship programs

Specialized Language Training

Municipal Immigration Information Online Program

Credential Assessment Services

HealthForceOntario

Provincial Nominee Program

Professional Immigrant Networks

Occupational Regulatory Bodies

How To Contact GEOHow To Contact GEO

• Phone us at : 1-866-670-4094 or 416-327-9694

TTY: 416-327-9710 or 1866-388-2262

E-mail us at: GEO@ontario.ca

Thank You