Improving your qualifications
There may be several ways you can improve your chances of obtaining employment in Alberta. Contact an immigrant-serving agency about qualification assessment services. They can help you decide if you should have your credentials assessed and direct you to the appropriate organization. You may also want to:
Improve your English language skills by enrolling in an English as a Second Language program (for more information, click on English as a Second Language).
Acquire more training or education in your field of work if your current education and experience does not qualify you to work in Alberta. For information about upgrading programs, talk to a counsellor at an immigrant-serving agency or see the Learning section of the ALIS website. Alberta Works can help you get academic upgrading, take English as a Second Language courses or obtain job skills to find and keep a job. You may also be eligible to have the cost of your tuition, books and supplies covered. If you are in an approved full-time studies program, you may also qualify for Income Support to cover basic costs of living and health coverage. To find out if you are eligible, call Alberta Works at 1-866-644-5135 toll-free or 780-644-5135 in Edmonton or get more information at their Alberta Employment and Immigration's Alberta Works website.
Do volunteer work that gives you Canadian work experience and a chance to practice your English language skills and meet people who may provide references and help in your work search. For more information, see the publication Volunteering: How to Build Your Career by Helping Others published by Alberta Employment and Immigration. To order your free copy, call the Alberta Career Information Hotline at 780-422-4266 in Edmonton or 1-800-661-3753 toll-free. You can also download or order a copy on-line from the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) eCareerShop catalogue.
If there is an Alberta professional association or organization for your occupation or trade, contact them and ask about international qualification assessment services. An assessment of how your credentials compare to credentials earned in Alberta can go a long way toward assuring potential employers that you have the desired qualifications. Some associations assess qualifications themselves. Other associations refer people to Alberta Employment and Immigration's International Qualification Assessment Service (IQAS), which assesses international education documents and compares them to education credentials in Canada. For more information, see the IQAS website or call (780) 427-2655 in Edmonton. You can call toll-free from elsewhere in the province by dialing 310-000, then 780-427-2655 after the prompt.
Take certification or registration examinations to qualify for professional or trade certification in Alberta. If there is an Alberta professional association related to your occupation visit their website or contact the organization directly. For information about certification in a trade, see Alberta Advanced Education and Technology's Apprenticeship and Industry Training website.
If all of this does not work in your circumstances and you cannot find work in your occupation, you might consider changing occupations.
Date Updated: Sep 30, 2008
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