Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) is the process of verifying education, training and job experience obtained in another country and comparing it to the standards established for Canadian workers. The term “FCR” also often encompasses the assessment of competencies gained outside of Canada, through mechanisms such as Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR). At times, the term “Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR)” is used broadly to encompass the range of issues associated with the integration of internationally trained workers in the workforce.
In recent years, the issue of FCR has moved to the forefront in many industrialized nations as these countries grapple with labour shortages, the growing need for more skilled workers, the globalization of labour markets, and rapid demographic and technological changes. Effective FCR enables employers to recruit and retain internationally-trained workers to meet their labour needs, and assists in the integration of internationally-trained workers in national economies. Effective FCR is critical to ensuring economic growth, competitiveness, the fostering of innovation, and to improving labour mobility.
The multiple stakeholders, authorities, and service providers involved in FCR makes the issue complicated and daunting to address. Many recent reports on Foreign Credential Recognition in Canada note the need to address the complicated web of licensing and credentialing standards at the provincial and territorial level, and removing ad hoc approaches and varied barriers to integrating internationally trained workers in the Canadian labour force.
Many initiatives are taking place in different parts of Canada to address the challenges of FCR, and all levels of government are coming together to make the process more systematic, coherent and effective. The federal government’s launch of a Canadian Foreign Credentials Referral Office demonstrates serious national commitment to addressing this issue which has frustrated employers and potential employees alike. Many provincial/territorial governments have also launched initiatives to make the FCR process more efficient and to assist the integration of internationally-trained workers into the labour force.