Moving to a Canada is a very rewarding and exciting experience that comes with a number of challenges. One of those challenges is entering the workforce in a totally foreign country that speak a different language than you on top of everything else. Ideally, you want to not only enter the workforce, but also find a gainful and enjoyable employment that will allow you to show off your skills that you have acquired in your home country and continue working in your field. Bridging programs are a great way for you to do just that!
You have a couple of options here. Depending on the occupation of your choice, you can find what licences and credentials you need to have in order to qualify for these jobs. You can start from scratch and patiently obtain all the required credentials. This might be a very long and expensive process.
Another option is to get you internationals credentials assessed and recognized in Canada and top them off with obtaining credentials you are lacking if any. Again, depending on the occupation you are interested in and the area you live in, getting your credentials recognized by a regulatory body comes with a fee. In addition to that, your international credentials might not meet Canadian standard.
Bridging programs are specifically designed to help you make use of your international work experience and education, paving the bridge to a rewarding job in Canada. In fact, there are over 30 Bridge Training programs available for newcomers just in Ontario alone, and many of them come with bursaries of up to $5,000 to help you cover direct education costs, such as tuition and books.
Here are 5 main reasons immigrants can benefit from enrolling in a bridging program:
1. Your job falls under the regulated category
Instead of going through the expensive process of credentials assessment and recognition, a bridging program will continue building your skills based on what you have already acquired in your home country until you are ready to meet Canadian standard for a particular occupation.
2. You don’t have Canadian work experience
It is a well-known fact that employers are looking for a Canadian work experience, even more so in a sense of understanding how Canadian workplaces operate and what soft skills are required to succeed. A bridging program help to fill this gap and ease your way into the Canadian workforce.
3. You are struggling with language requirements in your trade or profession
Some occupations can use very technical language that you might not be familiar with. Bridging programs, altered to your needs, can help you with this skill.
4. A bridging program can prepare for a licence or certification exam
If we are talking about regulated occupations, there is a high chance you need to pass an exam to be eligible to work. Bridging programs are designed to help you succeed in it.
5. You are missing a specific skill to meet the requirement for your desired occupation
What bridging programs specialise in is skills training and targeted academic training that will help you to acquire that one skill that stands between you and your dream job.
What we also want you to know is that every bridging program starts with an extensive assessment of your existing skills, credentials, and experience. As an outcome, the program that is offered is always altered to your specific needs and goals. That alone makes it very attractive for the new Canadians.
