Everything You Should Know About the Recognition of Acquired Competencies

It’s a story we’ve all heard: An immigrant who was a doctor in his home country moves to Canada and can’t find anything better than a job as a cook in a fast-food chain. Indeed, this type of situation occurs more often than we would like, but it’s far from the only scenario awaiting newcomers to Quebec. Immigrants can obtain official recognition of their skills in order to practice their profession here. Read on to understand everything about the recognition of prior learning and skills!

What Is It for?

The Recognition of prior learning and skills (RAC) is a process that provides official recognition of an immigrant’s work and educational background based on the standards established here. This acknowledgment is important, even essential, to position someone in relation to the requirements to practice a profession because it grants full or partial equivalence, either in the form of an entire program or part of its components (units or credits). The recognition is then registered on an official document such as a diploma or certificate. If you have it, you likely won’t have to study again what you have already studied elsewhere, and your education in Quebec will be shortened.

Recognition also encompasses your experience by making the professional skills you have acquired abroad official. If you have been practicing your profession for ten years, for example, you’re probably familiar with some of the teachings that are included in the competencies required to complete a diploma in Quebec. These could be recognized so you wouldn’t have to go back to school to learn them. Ultimately, you would complete your education faster and become a more popular candidate in your job searches.

By formalizing your acquired skills, you will meet the requirements set in Quebec and will be able to obtain an official diploma and enter the labor market. You will also be able to improve your working conditions and enjoy more recognition from your peers. It’s better to get it than not!

How Does It work?

Want to get a job that matches your experience and skills? To obtain recognition of prior learning and skills and not have to follow a traditional course of study, you will need to complete an application with the Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur (MEES). The analysis of your file will be followed by an interview which will determine what your academic career entitles you to. This will allow you to complete your studies much faster. Some lucky ones don’t even have to go back to school!

Although this is a relatively straightforward journey, some people may find it intimidating, especially when it comes to putting their file together. Fortunately, PROMIS’s immigrant employment assistance services include support for prior learning recognition. Don’t hesitate to contact us to benefit from this professional advantage!