Overview

In Ontario, the government sets rules and laws for over 100 professions and trades in the province. This helps to protect the health and safety of workers and the public.

We can help you get the qualifications you need to practice your profession or trade in Ontario through:

Definitions

Here are some terms you should know about professions and trades in Ontario.

Regulated professions

If your profession or trade is regulated, it means that to work and use your job title, you must:

  • have a license or certificate
  • be registered with the proper regulatory body

Check with the regulatory body for your profession or trade to find out if you’re allowed to do some work without a license or certificate.

Regulatory bodies

A regulatory body is an organization that oversees a regulated profession or trade. You must apply to one if you want to work in that profession or trade.

Regulatory bodies:

  • set the standards that all workers need to meet
  • assess the qualifications and credentials of applicants
  • register qualified applicants
  • discipline members who break the rules

Non-regulated professions and trades

Professions not regulated by law may have professional associations that you can join. These are not  mandatory to join.

These provide certification courses and registration that might allow you to find work more easily.

Programs and services

Ontario Bridge Training Program

Bridge training programs are for immigrants who have international training and experience.

These programs are designed to “bridge” your international training, education and experience with what you need to work in Ontario.

They help you get fast access to training and support so you can get a licence or certificate and find employment.

Find bridge training programs

Trade equivalency assessment

If you have work experience and training in a skilled trade from another country, you can have your experience and skills compared to an apprenticeship program in Ontario.

The Trade Equivalency Assessment process assesses your skills based on one of the more than 140 Ontario apprenticeship programs. If you meet all the training requirements of that apprenticeship, you will qualify to apply for certification in your trade.

Apply for an assessment

Health Force Ontario

Health Force Ontario serves internationally educated health care professionals.

They help you integrate into the Ontario health care system, with the goal to help you become trained, licensed and employed in your profession or an alternative career.

Visit Health Force Ontario

Global Experience Ontario

Global Experience Ontario (GEO) is an information and referral centre. They can help you learn how to become licensed or certified to work in a regulated profession or skilled trade if you’ve been trained in another country.

Global Experience Ontario does not include health care-related professions, such as nurses, doctors and dentists. Visit Health Force Ontario’s Access Centre for information and assistance.

Who should use Global Experience Ontario

Contact Global Experience Ontario (GEO) if you’re an immigrant in a regulated profession or skilled trade, before or after you arrive in Ontario.

Service providers who work with internationally trained immigrants can also contact Global Experience Ontario for information and support.

Services

Global Experience Ontario (GEO) offers webinars and workshops covering topics like:

  • the licensing or certification process for professions and trades
  • assessment of your credentials
  • employment and training programs
  • financial assistance
  • English and French language training
  • professional networks
  • mentorship and internship programs

Find GEO webinars

Contact us

Global Experience Ontario provides services by email at geo@ontario.ca or by phone:

You can also visit our Facebook page for more information.

Resources related to your profession, trade or sector

This resource list contains the names of regulatory bodies, organizations that oversee a profession or trade.

Under additional resources, you’ll find resources that explain the steps to become licensed or certified, such as webinars, career maps and fact sheets.

This list does not include all professions or trades. Search the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials directory for more. You can also check out bridge training program resources.

Resource list

Profession, trade or sector

Regulatory body

Additional resources

Accounting

Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario

Global Experience Ontario webinar

Agrology/Agriculture/Agri-food

Ontario Institute of Agrologists

None available

Alignment and Brakes Technician

Skilled Trades Ontario

Architecture

Ontario Association of Architects

Career map

Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology

Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists

Practice requirements

Auto Body and Collision Damage Repairer

Skilled Trades Ontario

Auto Body Repairer

Skilled Trades Ontario

Automotive Electronic Accessory Technician

Skilled Trades Ontario

Automotive Service Technician

Skilled Trades Ontario

Biotechnology

Not regulated

None available

Business

Not regulated

None available

Chiropody and Podiatry

College of Chiropodists of Ontario

Practice requirements

Chiropractic

College of Chiropractors of Ontario

Practice requirements

Dental Hygiene

College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario

Practice requirements

Dental Technology

College of Dental Technologists of Ontario

Practice requirements

Dentistry

Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario

Practice requirements

Denturism

College of Denturists of Ontario

Practice requirements

Dietitian

College of Dietitians of Ontario

Practice requirements

Electrician - Construction and Maintenance

Skilled Trades Ontario

Electrician - Domestic and Rural

Skilled Trades Ontario

Employment Counselling

Not regulated

None available

Engineering: Engineering and Applied Science Technicians and Technologists

Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians & Technologists

Career map

Engineering: Professional Engineering

Professional Engineers Ontario

Environment

Some are regulated. Contact Global Experience Ontario for more information

None available

Financial Services

Some are regulated. Contact Global Experience Ontario for more information

None available

Forestry

Ontario Professional Foresters Association

Career map

Geoscience

Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario

Career map

Hairstylist

Skilled Trades Ontario

Health care

More information at Health Force Ontario

Health Force Ontario

Hoisting Engineer - Mobile Crane Operator 1

Skilled Trades Ontario

Hoisting Engineer - Mobile Crane Operator 2

Skilled Trades Ontario

Hoisting Engineer - Tower Crane Operator

Skilled Trades Ontario

Homeopathy

College of Homeopaths of Ontario

Practice requirements

Human Resources

Human Resource Professional Association

None available

Information Technology

Some are regulated. Contact Global Experience Ontario for more information.

None available

Kinesiology

College of Kinesiologists of Ontario

Practice requirements

Land Surveying

Association of Ontario Land Surveyors

Career map

Law (Lawyer and Paralegal)

The Law Society of Ontario

Career map

Massage Therapy

College of Massage Therapists of Ontario

Practice requirements

Medical Graduates

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO)

Practice requirements

Medical Laboratory Technology

College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario

Practice requirements

Medical Radiation Technology

College of Medical Radiation Technologists of Ontario

Practice requirements

Midwifery

College of Midwives of Ontario

Practice requirements

Motorcycle Technician

Skilled Trades Ontario

Naturopathy

College of Naturopaths of Ontario

Practice requirements

Nursing

College of Nurses of Ontario

Practice requirements

Occupational Therapy

College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario

Practice requirements

Opticianry

The College of Opticians of Ontario (COO)

Practice requirements

Optometry

College of Optometrists of Ontario

Practice requirements

Pharmacy

Skilled Trades Ontario

Practice requirements

Physiotherapy

College of Physiotherapists of Ontario

Practice requirements

Plumbers

Skilled Trades Ontario

Project Management

Not regulated

None available

Psychology

College of Psychologists of Ontario

Practice requirements

Psychotherapy

College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario

Practice requirements

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems Mechanics

Skilled Trades Ontario

Residential (Low Rise) Sheet Metal Installer

Skilled Trades Ontario

Residential Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic

Skilled Trades Ontario

Respiratory Therapist

The College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario

Practice requirements

Sales and Marketing

Not regulated

None available

Sheet Metal Worker

Skilled Trades Ontario

Social Service Work

Skilled Trades Ontario

Career map

Social Work

Ontario College of Social Workers & Social Service Workers

Career map

Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer

Skilled Trades Ontario

Fact sheet

Steamfitter

Skilled Trades Ontario

Supply Chain/Logistics

Not regulated

None available

Teaching

Ontario College of Teachers

Teaching: Early Childhood Educators

College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE)

Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists

College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario

Practice requirements

Transmission Technician

Skilled Trades Ontario

Truck and Coach Technician

Skilled Trades Ontario

Truck-Trailer Service Technician

Skilled Trades Ontario

Veterinary Medicine

College of Veterinarians of Ontario

Career map

Information in other languages

If you need the information on this page in another language, email us at geo@ontario.ca to request a copy in the language of your choice. We’ll send you a copy in approximately 10 business days.