FCRO initiatives

International Qualifications Network (IQN)

In support of the Government of Canada’s priorities on foreign credential recognition, the Foreign Credentials Referral Office is developing the International Qualifications Network (IQN) website to catalogue successful practices on foreign credential recognition for both regulated and non-regulated occupations. The IQN will provide a comprehensive source for past and present foreign credential recognition activities, programs, projects and tools. This information base will help partners and stakeholders avoid costly duplication and strengthen their own foreign credential recognition initiatives.

Federal Internship for Newcomers Program

The Federal Internship for Newcomers (FIN) Program provides participants with valuable Canadian work experience through temporary internships in a variety of federal government departments, agencies and private sector organizations. These internships help newcomers integrate into the Canadian labour market  by provid ing career development and training opportunities, and by helping to expand a newcomer’s networks of contacts. Additionally, this program supports public service renewal and diversity objectives across the federal government.

The FIN Program works with immigrant serving organizations in targeted communities to ensure that candidates are screened for language ability and employment readiness before they are referred to the program.

In 2008, two similar immigrant internship initiatives were created: the Immigrant Internship Pilot Project at HRSDC, and the Young Newcomers Internship Program at CIC. In 2010, the two programs were merged into one and were re-branded as the Federal Internship for Newcomers (FIN) Program, to be lead by CIC’s Foreign Credentials Referral Office.

In 2011, the Program was expanded from Ottawa to the Toronto and Vancouver/Victoria areas, and offered over 60 placements across 20 departments and agencies.

Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications

In order to fully benefit from the talents of immigrants, federal, provincial and territorial governments have committed to taking coordinated action to advance the integration of internationally trained workers into the Canadian labour market.

The Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications is a joint commitment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to work together to improve processes for assessing and recognizing foreign credentials in Canada. Through the Framework, governments agree on the ideal steps and processes, based on the guiding principles of fairness, transparency, timeliness and consistency, to address challenges in processing applications and in providing educational and employment opportunities to internationally trained workers.

One of the goals under the Framework is that within one year, an individual will either know whether their qualifications will be recognized; be informed of the additional requirements necessary for registration; or be directed toward related occupations commensurate with their skills and experience.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Health Canada and Service Canada each play distinct but complementary roles in supporting foreign credential recognition processes and initiatives across the country.

In-person service at Service Canada

Service Canada provides in‑person and dedicated telephone services on behalf of the Foreign Credentials Referral Office in Canada to give newcomers information on foreign credential recognition and to refer them to useful resources soon after they arrive. Once you are in Canada, find a Service Canada office near you. Find out more about the FCRO’s partnership with Service Canada.