Are your overseas credentials limiting your employment opportunities? Get certified for success

You made your decision. You said your goodbyes. Now you’re here in Canada, full of optimism and searching for work.

Chances are you arrived with a post-secondary degree, experience in your field and good references.

But if you’re like many newcomers to Canada, you may initially find it difficult landing a job in your chosen profession. Even the most qualified new immigrants can experience challenges convincing potential employers to hire them.

This happens when an individual’s academic or professional credentials — no matter how impressive to employers back home — are unfamiliar to Canadian firms, or require validation to be recognized by a Canadian professional body.

Fortunately, your overseas credentials don’t have to hold you back.

Immigrants to Canada can enroll in a continuing education program at a school like the University of Toronto to obtain validation for their foreign credentials. Once they’re able to prove that their credentials have Canadian equivalency, they can approach the professional association governing their field and get certified.

To support this process, the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies works collaboratively with professional associations, ensuring that its courses are relevant to the needs of industry, employers and the demands of a global economy. All told, the school — which is an integral part of U of T, the number one ranked university in Canada — offers more than 80 specialized certificate programs, including project management, accounting and engineering.

Academic credential assessments

The School is committed to helping newcomers gain traction more quickly in Canada. Through its Comparative Education Service (CES), it can provide you with a formal credentials assessment report on how your academic credentials from abroad compare to those offered by Canadian institutions. This report can be used when applying for employment or professional certification, pursuing further education, dealing with immigration matters, or, simply, for general information.

As a bonus for individuals who take advantage of its service, CES offers a one-time $200 tuition discount toward any course available at the school.

600 non-degree continuing education courses

Not having the appropriate professional certification upon arrival in Canada is a major problem among new immigrants, but another big issue is career inertia. For a variety of reasons, including a lack of basic industry knowledge specific to Canada and unfamiliarity with Canadian customs, immigrants may find it difficult to move up in their careers.

The School of Continuing Studies is well positioned to help these workers as well. Through more than 600 non-degree courses, delivered by instructors who are recognized leaders in their fields, it offers a wide range of educational experiences designed specifically for adult learners. No matter what work skills you’re looking to enhance, you can find a suitable program and get started. In no time, you’ll be able to transfer your new learning to the workplace, impressing your boss and opening the door to new opportunities.

Flexible study

For some newcomers, the question isn’t whether they need to upgrade their credentials, it’s how and when they can do so. To ensure its courses fit into busy lives, the school offers classes both “in person” in evenings and on weekends and online via computer. In addition, students can choose a hybrid course model, which combines face-to-face learning with an online component.

Currently, one in five courses is offered online, and the school has tripled its hybrid course offerings since 2014.

The University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies is conveniently located at three campuses: U of T Mississauga, U of T Scarborough and downtown St. George. Learners can mix locations — as well as in-class, online and hybrid formats — to create a flexible learning plan that works best for them.

Visit learn.utoronto.ca to learn more about how to further your career and advance your lifelong learning.