A race against time: successes and challenges of alternative routes to licensing Metropolis Conference Tanya Chute Molina, Policy & Program Adviser Gatineau, March 13, 2014

Office of the fairness commissioner2 Agenda Four perspectives on alternative routes to licensing Research –Tanya Chute Molina, Office of the Fairness Commissioner Immigrant experience –Uche Isiuwe, Internationally educated pharmacist Assessment –Mourad Mohand-Said, Canadian Architectural Certification Board Bridging –Jan Sheppard Kutcher, Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education

Partnering for success “Integration is a sharing process where both newcomer and host society are influenced and in some way both need to change. What immigrants need is the opportunity of the first door.” Leticia, internationally educated psychologist Office of the fairness commissioner3

The race against time For immigrants, the race is to meet licensing requirements before losing currency of practice. –Internationally educated vets take 3-6 years to complete exams. –Internationally educated doctors lose their chance of getting matched to a residency spot after 3 years away from practice. For Canada, the race is to meet skill shortages before immigrant professionals give up or go elsewhere. –Baby boomers are retiring. –Engineering sector is facing a shortage of experienced professionals. Office of the fairness commissioner4

Types of acceptable alternatives Alternatives that allow applicants to demonstrate competencies –Paper-based assessment of education and experience –Direct assessment of knowledge and skills Alternatives that allow applicants to fill gaps in competencies –Self-paced learning –Bridging programs –Transfer credit and advanced standing Regulators may combine several types of assessment. Regulators may offer several options to fill gaps in competencies. Office of the fairness commissioner5

6 Competencies Competencies = knowledge and skills required to practice a profession No one-size-fits-all way to develop or demonstrate competencies Fair access principles –All licensing requirements must be relevant and necessary to the practice of the profession. –Regulators should identify any acceptable alternatives for meeting requirements.

Office of the fairness commissioner7 Challenges related to competency-based alternatives Competencies, like requirements, must be relevant and necessary –“historical study reveals that competencies have moved on and off lists sanctioned by each profession with regularity, partly as a result of advances in the sciences but also for economic, political, and sociological reasons” (Hodges, 2012) Competency-based alternatives for meeting academic requirements can pose challenges related to: –access –affordability –efficiency –sustainability

Paper-based assessment of education and experience Availability: 10 professions (9 non-health, 1 health) Challenges for applicants: –documentation may be difficult to prepare unfamiliar task language fluency –documentation may be difficult to obtain from overseas work samples witnesses Considerations for regulators: –warn applicants that the assessment process is long and complex –provide clear and comprehensive instructions Office of the fairness commissioner8

Direct assessment of knowledge and skills Availability: 16 professions (10 health, 6 non-health) Challenges for applicants: –significant time may be required to study and save for exams –work experience may not be reflected in test performance Considerations for regulators –explore feasibility of practice based assessment approaches, maximizing objectivity through careful attention to assessment criteria and training eg: practice ready assessments, work experience interviews –offer exam preparation materials and seminars Office of the fairness commissioner9

Self-paced learning Availability: 20 professions (14 non-health, 6 health) Challenges for applicants: –filling competency gaps without repeating prior training no access to individual modules without taking full course no access to individual courses without taking full program Considerations for regulators –negotiate access to courses –develop targeted training to address gaps common to many internationally educated applicants Office of the fairness commissioner10

Bridging programs Availability: 13 professions (10 health, 3 non-health) Challenges for applicants: –access (location, wait lists, competitive application) –program length and cost, access to financial assistance –filling competency gaps without repeating prior training Considerations for regulators –encourage bridging providers to explore flexible options such as providing online and distance learning options partnering with professional programs, for greater sustainability and student access to financial assistance developing modular approaches Office of the fairness commissioner11

Transfer credit and advanced standing Availability: 5 professions (3 health, 2 non-health) Challenges for applicants: –limited advanced standing spaces –even with transfer credit or advanced standing, there is usually a high time and cost commitment to complete academic program Considerations for regulators –advocate for formal advanced-standing spots for internationally educated candidates –introduce other acceptable alternatives so that applicants have more than one route to meeting academic requirements Office of the fairness commissioner12

Office of the fairness commissioner13 Recommendations to regulatory bodies Focus on competencies, not credentials. Work with appropriate partners to: –design and implement alternative assessment approaches –ensure access to learning opportunities that allow internationally educated applicants to develop missing competencies –minimize the time and cost associated with acceptable alternatives

Office of the fairness commissioner14 Recommendations to post-secondary educational institutions Focus on teaching competencies, not on maintaining traditional program structures. Strengthen prior learning assessment and introduce flexibility into educational offerings to better meet diverse learning needs. Integrate bridging and bridging-like programs into the regular business of academic departments.

Office of the fairness commissioner15 Recommendations to government Maintain and enhance funding for foreign-credential-recognition initiatives and bridge training. Improve access to financial aid to help internationally educated professionals access the competency based assessment and training opportunities needed to complete the licensing process. Ensure that all relevant departments actively support the successful licensing and employment of immigrant professionals, rather than relying only on departments of citizenship and immigration.

Partnering for success “What immigrants need is the opportunity of the first door. How many of you could contribute to opening that first door?” Leticia, internationally educated psychologist Office of the fairness commissioner16

OFC Contact Info Office of the Fairness Commissioner 595 Bay Street, Suite 1201 Toronto, Ontario M7A 2B Presenter contact info: Office of the fairness commissioner17