So am I right in thinking that any qualification gained in the UK is basically not worth the paper it's printed on and that all jobs will have to be re-trained or re-examined for?

I was looking at training to be a substance abuse counsellor but can't really see the point of training over here only to have to pay to do it again in Canada. Has anyone registered with a college in Canada while still living in the UK and gained an acceptable Canadian qualification? (not neccesarily in counselling but in anything at all??)

Generally jobs *regulated* by the government or a professional body require re-training (laywers, doctors and the like). Most peoples degree's or whatever will be recognized.

Not sure about your specific case tho.

My quals were recognised in Canada and license issued on the basis of my UK license. Took no more than a couple of hours to get the conversion. Licensing is issued by Transport Canada, so a government body. Had to also change my Radio Op license, this involved going into an Industry Canada office, showing my UK one and walking out with a Canadian one.

You are a pilot. I am guessing there is an internationally accepted way to keep one of those things in the air.

I had to re-train at my own expense, as did many on here. Most Canadian social services courses are really easy though, especially in D&A. You could do them in your sleep, the low level at which you can get a pass is quite alarming.

You cannot counsel children (as you would through CAMHS in the UK) or work in a hospital setting without a Masters degree though, and to be a mental health counsellor, you also need a Masters. Any forensics work (in prisons, holding facilities) requires a Masters.

In general, in this field, employers prefer Canadian qualifications. You can do some online, but not the unpaid practicum, so I am not sure how you would swing that. You will encounter a sense of overblown superiority on the Canadian credential front. I learnt the hard way just to keep quiet and do the courses, all you need is that bit of paper at the end. One of my tutors got quite miffed when I gave him documentary proof that what he was teaching was completely wrong, as I had questioned this in a class. He failed my paper, I appealed, and got an A when it was marked by another tutor. It can get quite interesting.

My British qualifications in radiography were accepted as equivalent to the Canadian qualifications. I then had to take the Canadian licensing exam so that I could register and work in Ontario.

In BC, for example, I would be allowed to work without passing the exam as MRTs aren't licensed there. You just get paid less. It all depends on the area and how desperate the employers are.

My mental health counselor although an RN only has a Bachelors degree.

She may have grandfathered in, and it would depend whether you are counselled privately, through AMH or CGH. These days its Masters only, and is the reason I have to finish mine (albeit reluctantly). Take a look at Fraser Health website. They want more and more to do these jobs, I do not understand it to be honest.

It is not so much the flying bit, but the standards and regulations vary a bit. My military experience made quite a bit of difference. The CAA in the UK does not recognise many licenses, such as the Canadian and US licensing. It is way harder to go to the UK with a foreign license than come to North America.

I do wish there was some international standardization for major professions/occupations though. So many people in varying occupations get caught out coming here or going there, it seems so unfair when it could be so easily remedied.

Quite agree. Unfortunately standards vary worldwide in aviation training. The JAA license from Europe is pretty much the highest in the world, so the others would need to come up to that. To get a commercial license in Canada and the US is way easier than Europe. Most airlines have standards and experience requirements so the level of proficiency is pretty high. Ex military are largely of a similar standard, survival depends on it. There is nothing like having a missile boring down on your rear end to focus your attention.

No, you are wrong.

Extent of recognition varies, depends on province, profession and purpose.

Its through Fraser Health Health Unit, but I think she has been doing it for a long while as well.

RN in BC with a 4 year degree vs a 2 year degree back in California, even though from what I can tell based on the program outline at UFV the nursing education isn't any different, more general ed crap.

I think it could be taken a step further in saying that if Canada/or the Province has a shortage of the specific skills set then you’ll find it recognized if it has a strong governing body or an excess of them in the field or such as law has a distinct Canadian flavour then a degree of protectionism may exist

You got that right