Internationally trained professionals  now have an easier path to working in their chosen careers and filling crucial skills shortages in BC.

The International Credentials Recognition Act received royal assent this week and is now law.

The act will increase fairness, efficiency, transparency, and accountability in the credential recognition process, requiring 18 regulatory bodies to remove barriers in 29 professions and make it easier and quicker for qualified professionals to seek credential recognition, regardless of where they were trained.

The professions include engineers, social workers, veterinarians, paramedics, early childhood educators, teachers, biologists, land surveyors, architects and more.

The act eliminates the catch-22 of requiring Canadian work experience prior to being accredited in Canada. Further, it will remove redundant language-testing and give government the authority to set caps on processing times.

To see the full release, visit Government of British Columbia.