KenA

My wife is optometrist
She has double degrees in optometry from Manchester, UK and Melbourne, Australia.
She has been working in this field for more than 15 years.

We got the Canadian PR and now looking for how she can practice in canada

What we found is that there is only one place that can do that which is University of Waterloo and will cost $47,326

What the...

to get both degrees she got it did not cost that much

besides University of Melbourne has way higher ranking than University of Waterloo..

She will give up her career just because of these insane terms

Dorothy

Many of us had to change career when we chose to immigrate to another country. Myself included. IMO it's part of the price we pay for the decision to make another country home.

KenA

It is disappointing,
she got her qualification assessed and got extra points in immigration application for being optometrist and now she is just going to throw this away just because of greedy un-justified university fees

this is monopoly, no any other institute can do the bridging other than Waterloo Uni.

This is really frustrating.

Siouxie

Are you sure she has to undertake the bridging program - as I read it, that is only necessary if she didn't pass the assessment and needed further training (although I may well have that wrong).

Has she taken the assessment yet? Touchstone Institute │ Optometry Exam (IGOEE)

Applicants who have been identified by the Registration Committee of the relevant province to require further education or training, prior to registration, will be permitted to apply to the International Optometric Bridging Program (IOBP).
https://www.collegeoptom.on.ca/regis...nal-graduates/
Touchstone

Ontario: https://www.collegeoptom.on.ca/regis...nal-graduates/
Did she get her qualifications assessed by FORAC ? http://forac-faroc.ca/

DigitalGhost

These problems are unfortunately all to real much of the time. I've personally heard of Indian heart surgeons pumping gas in Canada. The cynic in me says that it provides a way to boost the earnings of the Canadian HE sector but for sure it's extremely wasteful.

Pollyana

bats

Im sure you're right Siouxie. I had a similar prixess for X ray teching, most qualications need reassessing and then either write the exam or go back to school.

Aviator

The upside is to stay in Australia where she can work, unless there is some overwhelming requirement to move to Canada.

Jerseygirl

The Vet I use had to deliver pizza while he requalified as a veterinarian You choose to live in a different country you have to accept that’s the way it is.

DigitalGhost

Of course you're right however Canada is actively recruiting people from overseas only to then often refuse to allow them to practice the trade that got them into the country in the first place. That seems a little wasteful IMHO and must be a major factor in low immigrant retention levels.

KenA

Indeed it is wasteful

She will probably stop practicing in Canada and I (IT specialist) will be working ( she is the main applicant for the visa)

Australian standard are higher than Canadian beside (again) Melbourne Uni has higher ranking than Waterloo, so it is common sense to expect that you need to pay around $50,000 to practice your job which you got your visa for and you are certainly qualified, an exam can show if you are qualified or not.

one of my wife's colleagues came from Canada and she had to do was to take exam.

The whole study cost $60,000, but the bridging program for qualified optometrist (with double master degrees) cost $50,000 add to that ther other exams she has to go through and that will end more than 60,000!!!!!!

There must be something wrong here

Piff Poff

My Husband had to re qualify to be able to do his job - mechanic, Lorry drivers have to retake tests etc. I used to work with an accountant, in my current job as a salad maker, he can't get the re qualification he needs as the terminology is baffling him, but for him living here is better than where he's from.

Am I saying it's fair, no but it is the way it works. I would double check the information you have been given to see if you have been misinformed - it happens A LOT. Surely you knew this from the start?

BristolUK

There's the answer then. In Canada the mechanical parts of vehicles are on opposite sides and they drive on the other side of the road.
The obvious explanation for heart surgeons having to re-qualify is that over here, hearts are on the other side too.

Dorothy

Same thing as when Canadians move to Australia. I studied and worked as an ophthalmic technician for 20 years in Canada, working with top notch retinal specialists in major teaching hospitals. I now work in Australia as a typist because Australia doesn't recognise my qualifications. It's a part of the sacrifice of moving to a new country.

bats