Here, you will find some practical tips that apply to immigrants in professions and trades who are planning to settle in Calgary and re-start their career. For specific information about your occupation and associations you need to contact, please see our list of occupations DITPC - Is there a demand for my trade or profession in Calgary?

Need to Know:
Canada is a large country spanning ocean to ocean from the Atlantic to the Pacific, covering six time zones! Each province and territory has different economic conditions, different work opportunities and different education programs and training to respond to local needs.

Need to Do:
If you are planning on continuing you education in Canada, please contact as soon as you arrive the Alberta Government - International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS).

If you are planning to restart your career in Calgary or anywhere else in Alberta, you need to know if your occupation is a regulated occupation/profession or a designated trade. Is my occupation regulated or non-regulated in Alberta? What organization do I need to contact? You can find answers to these questions at the website of the Government of Alberta (Alberta Learning): Certification and Registration Bodies for Professions and Occupations in Alberta. Certain trades and occupations are required to be certified by the Alberta Government - Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training. Please see a list of regulated Trades and Occupations.

. Regulated Trade Occupations
. Regulated Professional Occupations
. Nurses and Non-Regulated Occupations

Regulated Trade Occupations
The Alberta Government - Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training has a list of designated trades and occupations: How do I know if my trade is a designated trade in Alberta?

You can continue to work in your trade in Alberta if you are a registered apprentice or a certified journeyman OR in some trades if you work for an employer who is satisfied that you have the skills and knowledge expected of a certified journeyman. Many-experienced certified journeyman choose to be self-employed and work as independent contractors.

If you need information about how to obtain your trades certificate to earn a higher salary, and find work easier � please read the brochure prepared by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training: Working without your trades certificate? Skilled and Experienced Tradespeople

If you want to learn a trade from the designated trades in Alberta, you need to know that you can start taking course training while they work for an employer as a registered apprentice. Please contact the closest office from a list of Trades and Apprenticeship Centers in Alberta

Regulated Professional Occupations
After arriving in Calgary you need to pick up an application, pay the fee and start the process with the appropriate regulatory association. Each association works under a strict set of rules and each application is reviewed by an examiner and a committee. All the people involved in assessing educational and professional credentials are practitioners in the occupation. Your English language knowledge will be assessed based on standard test results, such as TOEFL or a written sample that you can present to the committee.

If you are interested in reading more about specific requirements, please select your specific occupation from our list to see a description and regulatory requirements information.

If you are a foreign trained nurse the Alberta Association of Registered Nurses and the Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association of Alberta request the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) certification

Nurses and Non-Regulated Occupations
After arriving in Calgary, if you are practicing in a non-regulated occupation or you are a foreign trained nurse (regulated occupation) it is important to bring all your diplomas and certificates with English translations to the Alberta Government - International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS). You will be required to fill in an application and pay the fee - see more information and the application form at the IQAS website

IQAS will release your educational certificate. IQAS assessments are advisory and do not guarantee your admission in an association or school. Please be aware that IQUAS assessments do not guarantee a job in Alberta. In each situation, the association or school or a potential employer have their own criteria and rules for applicants.

Who uses IQAS? Educational institutions, several professional and trades associations, and some Calgary Employers require IQAS. For more information, please use the following lists provided by the Alberta Government:

. List of Professional Associations Using IQAS and
. List of Employers Requiring IQAS