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Canada Makes it Easier for Foreign Architects

The initiative includes a new multilingual Web site.

Mairi Beautyman -- Interior Design, 11/20/2007 12:00:00 AM

The Canadian government is investing in its foreign credential recognition process for faster, more effective service. As part of the initiative, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) will receive over $400,000.

RAIC will use the funds--bestowed through the Government of Canada’s Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) program--to work with provincial licensing bodies to develop a nationally accepted system. The system will be employed to assess the educational qualifications and professional experience of internationally trained architects.

To help streamline the accreditation process, RAIC will launch a multilingual Web site. The site will offer online classes and a detailed overview of the Canadian system of professional qualifications and a brief history of the architecture industry in the country.

"The Government of Canada is committed to creating the best educated, most skilled and most flexible workforce in the world," says Parliamentary Secretary Lynne Yelich, on behalf of Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Monte Solberg. "This project is part of our plan to help new Canadians succeed and will further strengthen our economy by helping internationally trained architects get their credentials recognized faster and by making sure that we have enough architects available to meet the needs of Canadians."