Bridging Programs and Employment
First Steps as a Landed Immigrant in Canada
The following are important steps that will help you start your life in Canada
Moving to Canada is an exciting opportunity but also a great challenge for many so it is important to find the information and resources that will help you get settled while learning about living in Canada.
Get to know Canada
Weather, laws, human rights, provinces and territories, family law and your rights and duties living in Canada.
Health care
Here you will find information about Provincial and Territorial Ministries of Health, how to obtain a health card, health insurance and health coverage for protected people and refugees
Find a place to live
Explore the different types of housing options that you can find in Canada. Information is provided about temporary housing, renting and buying a home, basic services and furnishing your home
Plan your finances
Financial planning is an important element that will help you keep track of what you spend. You will find information about Canadian currency, exchanging foreign money, cost of living, preventing fraud, tipping, banks, and taxes
Enrol your children in school
Enrolling your children in school requires that you know information about the different education ministries, types of schools, classrooms, registering your children, assistance with adjusting to school and getting involved
Transportation
This section provides information about how to get your driver’s license, traveling between cities and getting around cities and towns
Improve your English and French
Find out how to improve your language skills for work and how to register for language classes and language tests. Includes link to Government funded language classes.
Connect with people in your community
Feeling a sense of belonging is an important part of settlement in Canada. Therefore, making good connections with your community will enable you to feel at home. Visiting or engaging with the following services can make these connections: Immigrant-serving organizations, volunteering, community centres, sports teams, social clubs and places of worship
Celebrate being Canadian
Canada is a diverse nation with a vibrant cultural atmosphere and this is celebrated through citizenship activities, multiculturalism, contests and awards
More information can be found on the following links:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/live/index.asp
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/before-canada.asp
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/before-cost.asp
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/after-health.asp
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/after-housing.asp
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/community-connections.asp
http://settlement.org/firstdays/
Employment Programs For Internationally Trained Professionals
You will need to have the education, work experience or professional credentials you received outside Canada assessed if you are immigrating to Canada as:
- A Federal Skilled Worker
- Coming to Canada to work in specific professions or trades
- Coming to Canada to study
Getting you foreign credentials assessed will help you in the following ways:
- See whether your credentials are equal to the standards set for Canadian workers
- Find out whether you need more training, education or Canadian work experience
- Understand the types of jobs for which you might be qualified
- Help employers understand your qualifications
You can start the credential assessment and recognition process before you arrive in Canada. This takes time and costs money. Find out how to get your credentials assessed and get the process started
More information can be found on the following links:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/credentials/index.asp
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/credentials/next-steps.asp
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/index.asp
http://cicic.ca/938/University_professors_and_lecturers.canada?id=77
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/assessment.asp
Bridging Training Programs
International Educated Professionals (IEP) will face different barriers when trying to find work in Canada which includes the following:
- Lack of Canadian work experience
- The lack of knowledge about Canadian workplace practices
- Limited professional networks
- Systemic challenges related to professional regulatory bodies and credential assessment
- Employer’s inability to correctly interpret and assess an IEP’s prior education and work experience
Bridging Programs help to overcome these challenges and each bridge training program is different and may provide you with:
- An assessment of your education and skills
- Clinical or workplace experience
- Skills training or targeted academic training programs
- Preparation for a licence or certification examination
- Language training for your profession or trade
- Occupation-related language training that ensures that you will be ready for the workplace culture in your professional field.
- Individual learning plans to identify any added training you may need
- Some bridge training programs offer mentoring opportunities with established professionals to help you become certified or registered in your field.
Am I eligible to enroll in Bridging Programs?
To be eligible for Bridging Programs participants (includes Canadian citizens, permanent residents and convention refugees) must have
- An international post-secondary degree and international work experience
- Language proficiency CBLT 7-8
- Have their Credential Assessment
Bursaries for Bridging Programs
The Ontario Bridging Participant Assistance Program provides bursaries of up to $5,000 to internationally trained individuals participating in eligible Ontario Bridge Training programs offered by Ontario colleges and universities. This bursary is offered through the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.
These bursaries cover participants’ direct education costs not covered by the Ontario Student Assistance Program. These costs can include tuition, books and equipment.
For more information about Bridging Programs, including a list of who is eligible for Ontario Bridge Training programs, visit the OBPAP webpage here.
For more detailed information, you can forward your questions via Ask an Expert.
If you work in a regulated profession or trade and you are interested in a bridge training program, please refer to either the list of regulated professions or regulated trades.
For programs aimed at other professions and trades or that is not specific to any particular occupation, please refer to this list of other bridge training programs.
Bridging programs in the Greater Toronto Area
The following links provide a list of some of the institutions in Greater Toronto Area that provides bridging programs to internationally trained professionals:
Ryerson University bridging programs for internationally trained professionals
Seneca College Bridging Program
Humber College Bridging Program
York University’s Bridging Program
For more information about institutions offering Bridging Programs in regulated and unregulated professions please visit:
http://www.ontarioimmigration.ca/en/working/OI_BRIDGE_NONREGS.html
http://www.ontarioimmigration.ca/en/working/OI_BRIDGE.html
