If you received your training and credentials outside of Canada, then you will probably need to obtain Canadian credentials, or a certificate which validates that your training is equivalent to that offered in Canada, in order to work within your professional field. If you had your international credentials assessed in another province in Canada by one of the federally recognized Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada (ACESC) offices, there is no need for re-assessment in Alberta.
The City of Calgary asks applicants to provide proof of qualifications, when offering them a position. When a candidate's educational credentials are from outside of Canada, the candidate must provide proof of equivalent qualifications to those in Canada.
You, the individual, must apply directly to IQAS to have your foreign credentials assessed for Alberta equivalency. The assessment required is a Basic Assessment which will have a fee associated with it. If you would like to speak to an individual about IQAS, you can obtain information and the IQAS application at one of the
Alberta Service Centres in Calgary.
For tradespersons, many trades in Alberta are compulsory. To work in these trades, you must have a recognized trade certificate or be a registered apprentice in the trade.
Tradesecrets completes the assessments, and all tradespersons in compulsory trades must obtain a relevant Alberta Qualification Certificate.
For other professions, you can use
The Working in Canada tool to determine if your profession is regulated in Alberta. Enter your professional title into the program, and continue to the end of the screens, at which point the coordinates of the relevant regulating body will be provided.
Note: If you are accepted for a position with The City of Calgary, but you have not yet obtained your Canadian certification equivalency, you may be offered the position. However, it will be stated in your confirmation letter that continued employment is conditional upon proof of Canadian educational equivalency.
United States credentials
If you received your training and credentials from the United States, then you may not need to obtain Canadian credentials, if your training institute is accredited. A list of accredited American programs and institutions is available at the U.S. Department of Education.
Cross-Canada credentials
The Province of Alberta is a signatory to the federal Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) and the New West Partnership Trade Agreement (NWPTA) between British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. In accord with this new legislation, the City of Calgary will accept extra-provincial qualifications which are recognized by Alberta regulatory authorities. You may not be able to commence work in your profession in Alberta until you are licensed or certified by the provincial accreditation body – engineers should contact APEGGA and tradespersons should contact Tradesecrets to determine their status. The City of Calgary recognizes only accredited Canadian institutions.
