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.

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 or use a protected title, you will likely need to:

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

A protected title is a professional title that can only be used by those who receive the designation from the 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 and other rules you should be aware of.

Please note that not all professions and trades are regulated.

Regulatory bodies

A regulatory body is an organization that oversees a regulated profession or trade. You will likely need to apply to a regulatory body if you want to work in that profession or trade or use a protected title.

Check whether there is a regulatory body for your profession, and visit their website to learn about the requirements to work in your profession.

Regulatory bodies:

  • set the standards that all workers need to meet to work in a regulated occupation
  • 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.

Internationally-trained workers

If you were trained in another country, we can help you get the qualifications you need to practice your profession or trade in Ontario through:

Ontario Bridge Training Program

The Ontario Bridge Training Program helps skilled newcomers find jobs that match their international qualifications by providing:

  • occupation-specific training
  • supports to obtain a license or certificate in your occupation
  • assistance finding employment in your profession or trade

Find bridge training programs

Trade equivalency assessment

If you have work experience and training in a skilled trade gained outside of Canada, you can have your experience and skills assessed by Skilled Trades Ontario.

The Trade Equivalency Assessment process assesses your skills and experience based on the apprenticeship program for more than 80 trades in Ontario that have a certifying exam. If you meet all the requirements of the training standard for a trade, you will qualify to challenge the certifying exam for that trade. If successful in the exam, you would pay a fee to be issued a Certificate of Qualification in that trade, commonly referred to as a licence.

Apply for an assessment

Health Force Ontario

Health Force Ontario serves internationally educated health care professionals.

The HFO Access Centre for Internationally Educated Health Professionals can help you integrate into the Ontario health care system, with the goal of helping you become trained, licensed and employed in your profession or an alternative career.

Visit Health Force Ontario

Global Experience Ontario

Global Experience Ontario (GEO) provides information and referrals to help internationally trained individuals learn how to become licensed or certified to work in a non-health regulated profession or skilled trade in Ontario.

Who should use Global Experience Ontario

Contact GEO if you’re an internationally trained immigrant in a non-health regulated profession or skilled trade, before or after you arrive in Ontario.

Service providers who work with internationally trained immigrants can also seek information from GEO.

Contact Global Experience Ontario

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

Workers trained in another Canadian province or territory

If you're already licensed to practise a regulated occupation in another Canadian province or territory, you may be eligible to obtain a licence to work in Ontario without additional training or testing.

Learn more about labour mobility within Canada.

List of regulated professions and compulsory trades

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

For information on the full list of regulated professions, you can search the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials directory.

Profession, trade or sectorRegulatory/professional body
AccountingChartered Professional Accountants of Ontario
Agrology/Agriculture/Agri-foodOntario Institute of Agrologists
Alignment and Brakes TechnicianSkilled Trades Ontario
ArchitectureOntario Association of Architects
Audiology and Speech-Language PathologyCollege of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario
Auto Body and Collision Damage RepairerSkilled Trades Ontario
Auto Body RepairerSkilled Trades Ontario
Automotive Electronic Accessory TechnicianSkilled Trades Ontario
Automotive Service TechnicianSkilled Trades Ontario
BiotechnologyNot regulated
BusinessNot regulated
Chiropody and PodiatryCollege of Chiropodists of Ontario
ChiropracticCollege of Chiropractors of Ontario
Dental HygieneCollege of Dental Hygienists of Ontario
Dental TechnologyCollege of Dental Technologists of Ontario
DentistryRoyal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario
DenturismCollege of Denturists of Ontario
DietitianCollege of Dietitians of Ontario
Electrician - Construction and MaintenanceSkilled Trades Ontario
Electrician - Domestic and RuralSkilled Trades Ontario
Employment CounsellorNot regulated
Engineering: Engineering and Applied Science Technicians and TechnologistsOntario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians & Technologists
Engineering: Professional EngineeringProfessional Engineers Ontario
EnvironmentSome are regulated. Contact Global Experience Ontario for more information.
Financial ServicesSome are regulated. Contact Global Experience Ontario for more information.
ForestryOntario Professional Foresters Association
GeoscienceProfessional Geoscientists Ontario
HairstylistSkilled Trades Ontario
Hoisting Engineer - Mobile Crane Operator 1Skilled Trades Ontario
Hoisting Engineer - Mobile Crane Operator 2Skilled Trades Ontario
Hoisting Engineer - Tower Crane OperatorSkilled Trades Ontario
HomeopathyCollege of Homeopaths of Ontario
Human ResourcesHuman Resource Professional Association
Information TechnologySome are regulated. Contact Global Experience Ontario for more information.
KinesiologyCollege of Kinesiologists of Ontario
Land SurveyingAssociation of Ontario Land Surveyors
Law (Lawyer and Paralegal)The Law Society of Ontario
Massage TherapyCollege of Massage Therapists of Ontario
Medical GraduatesCollege of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO)
Medical Laboratory TechnologyCollege of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario
Medical Radiation TechnologyCollege of Medical Radiation and Imaging Technologists of Ontario
MidwiferyCollege of Midwives of Ontario
Motorcycle TechnicianSkilled Trades Ontario
NaturopathyCollege of Naturopaths of Ontario
NursingCollege of Nurses of Ontario
Occupational TherapyCollege of Occupational Therapists of Ontario
OpticianryThe College of Opticians of Ontario (COO)
OptometryCollege of Optometrists of Ontario
Personal Support WorkerHealth and Supportive Care Providers Oversight Authority
PharmacyOntario College of Pharmacists
PhysiotherapyCollege of Physiotherapists of Ontario
PlumbersSkilled Trades Ontario
Project ManagementNot regulated
PsychologyCollege of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario
PsychotherapyCollege of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems MechanicsSkilled Trades Ontario
Residential (Low Rise) Sheet Metal InstallerSkilled Trades Ontario
Residential Air Conditioning Systems MechanicSkilled Trades Ontario
Respiratory TherapistThe College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario
Sales and MarketingNot regulated
Sheet Metal WorkerSkilled Trades Ontario
Social Service WorkOntario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers
Social WorkOntario College of Social Workers & Social Service Workers
Sprinkler and Fire Protection InstallerSkilled Trades Ontario
SteamfitterSkilled Trades Ontario
Supply Chain/LogisticsNot regulated
TeachingOntario College of Teachers
Teaching: Early Childhood EducatorsCollege of Early Childhood Educators
Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and AcupuncturistsCollege of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario
Transmission TechnicianSkilled Trades Ontario
Truck and Coach TechnicianSkilled Trades Ontario
Truck-Trailer Service TechnicianSkilled Trades Ontario
Veterinary MedicineCollege of Veterinarians of Ontario