Backgrounder: Foreign Credential Recognition Program

The Foreign Credential Recognition Program (FCRP) improves the integration of internationally trained newcomers into the workforce. The Program provides funding to and works with the provinces and territories and other stakeholders—including non-profit organizations, regulatory bodies, post-secondary institutions, sectoral stakeholders and employers—to implement projects. There are three areas of focus under the FCRP.

1. Simplify and harmonize national credential recognition processes for newcomers.
   
   Foreign credential system modifications: Projects done in collaboration with regulatory bodies and other stakeholders that implement changes to credential recognition processes and systems and help speed up the credential process for newcomers. For example, standardized national exams, centralized information portals and alternative assessment processes.
   
2. Provide loans to offset the costs related to having foreign credentials recognized including support services, which help newcomers to navigate the recognition processes.
   
   FCR Loans projects: Overcoming financial barriers to foreign credential recognition is important to help newcomers to Canada join the labour market. The Government of Canada allocates $7 million annually under the FCRP to provide loans and support services such as career and financial counselling to newcomers, so they can address barriers they face. Overall, 11 projects have been launched to help 8,000 skilled newcomers over 4 years.
   
3. Test the most effective and efficient ways to help highly skilled newcomers gain their first Canadian work experience in their profession and field of study.
   
   Canadian Work Experience Pilot Project: Helps newcomers eliminate barriers due to a lack of first Canadian professional work experience and help them enter the job market faster. The Government of Canada is investing approximately $3.5 million in the Canadian Work Experience Pilot Project, helping highly skilled newcomers, of which 50% are women, over a period of 27 months.
   

Call for concepts – FCRP Innovation and Skilled Newcomer Employment

Employment and Social Development Canada closed a call for concepts in April 2019. Eligible stakeholders (e.g. regulatory bodies, professional associations and unions) submitted proposals. This will lead to the design and implementation of innovative employment supports for highly skilled newcomers to improve foreign credential recognition processes here in Canada.