B.C.’s International Credentials Recognition Act is now in force — with the legislation taking effect on July 1, 2024.
The new legislation aims to simplify the process for skilled workers to have their credentials recognized across 29 professions, enhancing fairness, transparency, and efficiency in the credential recognition process, the provincial government said.
The act targets a wide range of professions, including engineers, social workers, veterinarians, paramedics, early childhood educators, teachers, biologists, land surveyors, and architects, among others. By removing obstacles that previously hindered qualified professionals, the government hopes to make it easier for individuals trained outside Canada to contribute their skills to B.C.’s workforce, it said.
A key feature of the new law is the appointment of a superintendent of international credential recognition. This role is designed to ensure the fair recognition of international credentials and to address systemic or procedural issues that may arise. The superintendent will have the authority to issue orders for compliance and impose administrative penalties when necessary.
“The International Credentials Recognition Act is a result of extensive public engagement and consultation with regulatory bodies,” stated a press release from the B.C. government. “It complements ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Health to create new pathways for health-care workers entering Canada.”
This legislative move is expected to benefit not only the professionals seeking credential recognition but also the broader B.C. economy by filling critical skill shortages and enhancing the diversity of the workforce, it said.
For more information on the International Credentials Recognition Act and its implications for professionals trained abroad, visit the B.C. government’s official website at https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/post-secondary-education/international-credentials