Work in your profession or trade
Learn about the services available in Ontario to help you continue working in your profession or trade if you’ve been trained in another country.
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:
- Ontario Bridge Training Program
- Trade equivalency assessment
- Health Force Ontario
- Global Experience Ontario
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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, trades or regulatory bodies. Search the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials directory for more. You can also check out bridge training program resources.
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.