Canada Helps Foreign Credential Holders

Are you Internationally trained? Need information to get your foreign credential assessed and recognized more quickly? The Government of Canada’s new Foreign Credential Referral Office (FCRO) helps internationally trained find the information and resources they need to have their credentials assessed and recognized.

The services would be a great help for internationally trained individuals looking forward to work in Canada. The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, while inaugurating the services said, “Internationally-trained individuals can now walk into Service Canada centres across the country and receive in-person help on how to get their credentials assessed and recognized. Newcomers want to contribute to our country by working in the fields for which they’ve been trained, and we want to help them do that.” In addition to the in-person services, the FCRO’s approach also includes:

• a dedicated toll-free phone service in Canada provided by Service Canada
• (1-888-854-1805 or TTY 1-800-926-9105);
• an interactive website at www.credentials.gc.ca that helps internationally-trained individuals identify occupations in Canada for which they may be qualified, provide them with detailed labour market information, and refer them to the appropriate regulatory body;
• overseas orientation programs where foreign credential and labour market information is provided to prospective immigrants outside of Canada early in the immigration process; expanded orientation sessions are being delivered in India, China and the Philippines.
• increased employer awareness of the processes for, and benefits of, hiring internationally-trained and educated professionals.

As of November 30 2007, FCRO services are available at 320 Service Canada centres, at http://www.credentials.gc.ca/ or by calling 1-888-854-1805 (TTY: 1- 800926-9105).