You hit the nail on the head ... Canada needs professional immigrants, but local professional bodies protect their members' interests with a passion.

I can't think of a profession where you don't need to requalify ... the real issue is that Brits make up a tiny proportion of immigrants ... while Brit qualifications *may* be at least equal or possibly superior to Canadian ones, you have to jump through the same loopholes as every other foreign qualified professional.

After three years in Canada, that's starting to make sense to me ... I admit that I look for Brit or Canadian professionals first ... if I can't find either, I like to make sure that whoever I am using is actually qualified to do the job in Canada.

It's tough on wannabe expats, but it's part of the cost of coming here ... don't believe anyone with a vested interest in attracting you to Canada ... including the government.

While I agree that various professional bodies are very protectionistic and there is a need for various types of workers in Canada, couldn't the difficulty of solicitors immigrating to Canada also be that there is not shortage of lawyers in Canada? To be honest, I've never heard of a cry for more of them.

It doesn't seem to be too bad for me, as a physiotherapist.

I qualified before degrees were thought of, so I fully expected the credentialling organisation to insist I upgrade to a degree. However, after about 10 months consideration, and a few letters flying to and fro, they've accepted my equivalency with no further study!

The only thing I do have to take is the professional competency exam, so I need to revise for that, but this is something every physio in Canada has to undertake, regardless of where they qualify, plus I can get paid employment "under mentorship" until I pass it!

We're just waiting for visas now! (12 months since we sent off skilled worker application)

Good luck everybody who's struggling, and a Happy New Year to all!

Morw

We came over in the days of the required occupations list, before the system was overhauled ... lawyers didn't even get a look in back in those days.

Awesome ... maybe physios are more popular than lawyers

Thanks...I hope so!

There's a pun about 'pains in the neck' somewhere in this... but I'm not awake enough to fish it out.

I know what you mean ... the lawyer gives the pain and the physio takes it away ... there must be a funny way to wrap that concept up.

Nope ...... I don't believe there is!

It's been tried many, many times believe me, and it seldom is anything but rather unfunny, and possibly a little sad!

Some UK qualifications are accepted in Canada, albeit with a few hoops required.

I think the real problem with getting accredited in Canada is not so much the need to do an exam or two, but more restrictive issues such as needing to re-do an apprenticeship or articleship, or being forced to take the exam at a particular university on a full time basis, or one with very few places.

The US requires exams for most UK professionals too but the process itself seems to be a lot easier. That's the difference.

Australia and New Zealand seem friendlier (although not entirely without obstacles - depends on profession) to those with qualifications from the UK.

Jeremy