There are over 2 million Internationally Trained Workers (ITWs) in Canada – including skilled immigrants and Canadians with international training or education. For many ITWs, a lack of foreign credential recognition is a significant barrier to achieving employment and effective labour market integration. Foreign credential recognition is the process of verifying that the education and job experience obtained in another country is equal to the standards established in Canada.
The Internationally Trained Worker Loan Program provides ITWs (residing in southwestern Ontario) access to the funds necessary to achieve foreign credential recognition and employment outcomes commensurate with their international education, skills and experience. Loans operate as a flexible line of credit to assist ITWs in covering the direct and indirect costs related to foreign credential recognition, including:
- Qualification assessment
- Exam and Licensure fees
- Tuition fees for training and skills upgrading
- Books and course materials
- Professional association fees
- Other costs relating to obtaining accreditation/training as required
Eligibility
Eligible applicants must:
- be a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident
- be a resident of southwestern Ontario
- be recommended by the Access Centre for Regulated Employment
- have proof of a professional credential/designation obtaining in a country other than Canada
- be deemed credit worthy by the lending institution (Libro Financial Group)
To be recommended for a loan, applicants must:
- have an identified occupational goal
- possess a training/licensure plan outlining all costs directly related to achieving credentials and/or employment
- document that training and or assessments are being provided by a credible educational institution with a history of providing quality training
- demonstrate that occupational goal is in high demand and in a growth industry
Cost of Borrowing
- rate of interest on the loan will accrue at Prime rate plus 1.0% per annum
- a flexible repayment plan with only monthly interest payments required during the training period
- regular montly principal + interest payments will begin when employment is obtained, when training has been completed or when the loan recipient is no longer enrolled in training (whichever comes first)
How to Apply:
Applicants must submit a completed application package containing a recommendation from the Access Centre for Regulated Employment to the financial institution, including:
- proof of Canadian citizenship or Permanent Residence
- a copy of the applicant's training/licensure plan with updated resume
- if employed, proof of employment such as a pay stub or reference letter
- information on the training or assessment program in which the applicant wishes to enroll or proof of acceptance into the program
The ITW Loan Program is a pilot program funded by the Government of Canada in partnership with WIL Employment Connections. Loan applications are processed through the program’s delivery partners – the Access Centre for Regulated Employment and Libro Financial Group.
This project is funded by the Government of Canada's Foreign Credential Recognition Loan Pilot Program
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