The reality...
My husband graduated from high school and took a two year course to become an electrician in the DR. He had several years' work experience and a college diploma when he arrived in Canada but that really meant nothing. After a year of studying English in Canada he had to go to a COSTI centre in Toronto and write a trade equivalency test. Despite his credentials, his experience and his learned English, he did not pass the test by about 5% points (you need 70% to pass. The problem was his English is not quite fluent enough to write a test here to understand the lingo in his trade and also the fact that our regulations re the electrical trades are much stricter than what he was used to. Despite this, he obtained another job making great money but still hopes to re-write the test once he perfects his English and learns more of the requirements here in Canada (you can call the testing authority for each specific trade to get a study guide).
I disagree with people who say the test is too hard. Canada has much stricter guidelines than in the DR or other countries and applicants should have to meet the same requirements that a Canadian canidate would have to meet. I mean, I have see electricians putting in new wires in the DR using an aluminum ladder accross a pool to access wires above. I certainly wouldn't want my husband to think this was safe practice to use here! He agrees and is willing to put in the work required to equalize his education and so should other trades, professionals immigrating to Canada. I agree that language can be a barrier but everyone needs to pass the necessary tests to make their practice in Canada safe to the citizens they service!
|
