Occupational Licensing and Educational Accreditation in Ontario

A number of occupations are regulated within Ontario by provincial public and private statute for purposes of ensuring competence and protecting the public interest with respect to health, safety and welfare. The following links point to sites which discuss and clarify occupational licensing procedures, the nature and roles of regulatory bodies in qualification recognition and processes of educational accreditation within the province.

• New Provincial Credential Assessment Service 
  World Education Services (WES) has been contracted by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to establish and operate a self-financing Academic Credential Assessment Service (ACAS) for the province. The new service will assess the secondary and post-secondary academic qualifications of individuals educated outside Canada and will convert these credentials into their Ontario equivalents. The government of Ontario has created this service to assist foreign educated individuals in obtaining recognition of their educational qualifications and to provide an equal opportunity for immigrants seeking employment, professional licensing or further education.

• Access to Professions and Trades 
  Ontario receives more than half of all immigrants to Canada, many of them highly educated and trained. The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, Access to Professions and Trades Unit, undertakes a range of partnership initiatives, including support for bridge training projects, to assist qualified immigrants to employ their skills more quickly in the Ontario economy.

• Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials 
  The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials An organization sponsored by the federal and provincial governments which provides information on Canadian postsecondary studies, diplomas and degrees needed to promote mobility and the recognition of qualifications in Canada.

• Research Network on Labour Market Issues for Foreign-Trained Professionals and Tradespeople 
  Toronto Research Network on labour market issues for foreign-trained professionals and tradespeople sponsored by the Joint Centre of Excellence for Research on Immigration and Settlement, University of Toronto.

• Fulfilling the Promise Database 
  The Fulfilling the Promise database is a resource identifying ideas and initiatives for improving labour market access for skilled immigrants compiled by the Maytree Foundation.