englishrose1

Has anyone on here had to have their qualifications evaluated. I am looking for advice from anyone who has considered doing this and if it was of any benefit to them?

Aviator

Depends what you do. I never bothered and it made no difference to me. My licenses were recognised in Canada and just had to be be swapped over. Easier and faster than getting my drivers license.

Paul_Shepherd

English rose,

I had my qualifications evaluated in the hope Canadian employers would be more likely to know "what theyre getting" so to speak.

I have an BTEC Higher National Certificate in mechanical engineering, many Canadian employers wouldnt recognise this and may over look my application.

So I used a company called WES (World Education Services) theyre based in Toronto and will equal your British qualifications to the relevant Canadian one. My HNC was recognised as an Ontario 3 year diploma in mechanical engineering technology.

This only applies to unregulated proffessions of course.

I can't say if its been of any benefit to me yet tho, as unfortunately I am stil unemployed, however I feel this is down to the dire ecomomic climate at present, I do believe it will be of benfit to me at some point.


Paul

sheadboy

I'm using them too, as I also have a HND

markbev

Hi Paul,

What area of Engineering are you looking for work in? I am a mechanical Engineer and will be starting to look at vacancies this time next year hopefully. Have you found being an immigrant has gone against you or does lack of Canadian experience not matter?
Looking at the amount of big companies in Missasauga I was hoping that I would find something reasonably quickly.

Good luck with your job hunting.

Mark

englishrose1

I have had a look at WES today. I have a BA degree, Foundation Degree, City in Guilds all in the same subject. I have a professional membership qualification with letters after my name. Plus 7 GCSE's. I was thinking by making it easier for any prospective employer, and it will stand me in better stead in the job market in the current climate.

Yelkcub

One option is to find a Canadian institute / professional body that covers the same profession as you have at home. Some will assess your eligibility to join based upon academic qualifications / work experience. A friend of mine who is a quantity surveyor got the CIQS (Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors) to access him and they advise the level that he would achieve based upon his membership of the RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors).

Paul_Shepherd

Hello Mark,

My previous role was as a design draughtsman for a company that were manufacturers of weighing and packaging machinary for the food industry, and I have worked in other areas of manufacture, so basically my area is engineering draughting for the manufacturing industry.

As manufacturing has been very badly hit globally, that probably explains why I cant get work, ive even put forward propositions to construction companies - suggesting I could transfer my common skills, as there is no shortage of work in architectual draughting or in building services such as HVAC design, but theyre not interested unless you already have a background in that.

Your comment regarding lack of Canadian experience...at first I didnt think that would be an issue, as I had my qualifications recognised to the Canadian equivalent, however as jobs in the manufacturing industry are very few and far between, im beginning to think that Canadian experience is a major factor. I dont think being an immigrant is a problem after all Canada is a nation of immigrants, but experience I feel could be an issue.

By the time you start looking at vancancies, next year... the economy might well be on the up again, its got to....machines wear out and need to be replaced. I certainly hope things pick up soon, for everyone.

Paul

JAJ

Is your HNC accredited by the Engineering Council -UK? If so, it should be acceptable by the equivalent Canadian institute (possibly under the Sydney Accord).

Paul_Shepherd

JAJ,


Im not sure, that is something I have never looked into, I assumed that would be a higher level of education such as a degree.

At the time I just wanted to get my qualifications "translated" if you like, into something a Canadian employer would instantly recognise, im not sure if a HNC is accredited by the Engineering council UK?

At the moment it seems experience and a referal from existing employee is more important than academic qualifications to prospective employers I feel.

Paul

JAJ

perhaps a good idea to start your research at: http://www.engc.org.uk

I'm surprised you have an engineering qualification and have never taken any interest in whether it is professionally accredited. Some qualifications are accredited, some are not. How the universities and education institutes get away with offering unaccredited qualifications is another question, but then if no-one asks about it ...

bzriddell

On arrival in Canada I didn't think to have have my qualifications evaluated, but three months on - yes it is worth it. I used IQAS (cic website). It does cost though.
I found in applications for jobs that I didn't satisfy the basic requirement of a K12 Diploma as in the UK we sit national externally moderated exams at 16/17/18. Doesn't matter what else you may hold (I hold a Masters degree).

JAJ

If you have A-Levels these are usually accepted as the equivalent of Canadian high school education. And if you have a degree, who even cares?

Paul_Shepherd

Well yes its worth looking into, altho Im sure Id have known before now if it was am accredited qualification. I always believed that only holders of a "degree" in Engineering were eligible for registration. I have friends that hold the same qualification as me, and its something that none of use have ever discussed.