Special Bridging Programs in Canada - For Immigrant Workers

It is nice to know that bridging programs in Canada have been designed to help international students and immigrant workers who want to study and work in Canada but cannot meet specific Canadian requirements.

Moreover, picking up a program to study in Canada is lovely, yet applying to work in Canada is excellent, but that is achievable when there is no gap between your qualifications, documents, work experiences, and that which the Canadian schools and working permit required.

Otherwise, bridging programs in Canada is the best and most necessary option to achieve your aim as an immigrant.

In addition, moving to Canada can open the door to exciting career opportunities, but unfortunately, many professional certifications earned abroad aren’t recognized in Canada.

Some newcomers to Canada find out they need additional training or education to continue their careers in Canada. Hence bridge programs help with this.

Despite that, bridging programs assist newcomers with post-secondary international education, work experience, and a high level of English proficiency to get the support and training they need to get a license or certificate in Canada and ultimately find work.

Meaning of Bridging programs

Bridging programs have meaning to international students who want to study in Canada and also to immigrants who wish to work in Canada.

For international students

It is a program or course that enables a student to take up a new subject or course by covering the gap between the student’s existing knowledge and the skills required for the subject or course.

Moreover, bridge programs are transitional programs designed to help students move into their next education phase. They’re offered at the undergraduate level for students new to college life and current students who want to have the best shot at transitioning onto another level of education once they finish.

For immigrant workers

A bridging program is a program that helps trained workers address the gap between the knowledge and experience they have and what they need to work in their preferred job or field.

Who needs Bridging Programs?

Knowing that bridging programs are designed to “bridge” your international education, training, and experience with a new study place or working place, there are two categories of people that need bridging programs. They are:

International students
Immigrant workers.

On a general note

Bridging programs are required for international students and/or immigrant workers who want to further their studies and/or work in Canada.

On a specific note

Immigrants whose job falls under the regulated category in Canada need a bridging program
Immigrants who don’t have Canadian work experience need a bridging program
Immigrants who want to prepare for a license or certification exam in Canada.
Immigrants who do not have specific skills to meet the requirement for their desired occupation
International students who want to further their course but have a knowledge gap.
International students who wish to transition from one course to another.

Benefits of Canada Bridging Programs

Bridging programs in Canada give multiple opportunities and greatly help people, mostly international students, and immigrant workers. Therefore, the benefits of Canada’s bridging programs are:

#1. Fill a knowledge gap

A bridge program will fill any gaps in knowledge or skills so that you can quickly earn certification and continue your career in Canada.

#2. Switch careers in Canada

If you want to find work in a different but related field to your current one, bridge programs can help update your education and credentials.

For instance, if you are currently an internationally-licensed doctor, a bridging program can help you switch to a non-licensed role in the Canadian healthcare field, such as in health research or healthcare management.

#3. Prepare for the Canadian job market

Bridge programs will help you transfer your valuable skills and experience to a new job in Canada. The programs benefit those seeking work in regulated fields, such as nursing, accounting, plumbing, and architecture. Still, they can also help newcomers seeking employment in non-regulated fields in Canada.

#4. It helps to build a network in Canada

In Canada, most job roles are filled through people’s networks before they are even posted on job boards. This is often referred to as the Hidden Job Market. Bridge programs recognize this and often provide networking opportunities in order to operate in this hidden job market.

#5. Prepare for industry certifications or license exams

Bridging programs also focus on preparing you for Canadian-specific certification and license exams. As well it will fill any gaps in knowledge or skills so that you can quickly earn certification and continue your career in Canada.

RPN to RN Bridging Programs

Nurses are in high demand and are expected to remain so for quite some time. Therefore, Canadian college nursing bridging programs may be the right option for you in the nursing field.

These programs provide the education needed for Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) to get BScNs and become Registered Nurses (RNs). Secondly, internationally trained nurses must get certified for work in Ontario, Canada. And also for RNs to improve their current skills in Canada.

Moreover, if you are interested in furthering your nursing education, what you need to know is that Nursing Bridging programs provide you with in-depth knowledge and an enhanced learning experience for RPNs and RNs.

Program lengths will vary, but all programs will consist of different nursing courses that allow students to enter Bachelor of Science Nursing programs if a certain academic level is achieved. Course subjects in lectures and lab practice may include:

Ethics
Research
Technology in health care
Health assessment

Some nursing bridging programs offer clinical placements, where students will gain real-life experience by applying the skills they have learned in the program.

Bridging programs for internationally trained professionals

Internationally trained professionals who are newcomers to Canada must have acquired a post-secondary certificate or degree from outside Canada and have international work experience in a profession or trade.

However, bridging programs are designed to bridge the immigrant’s international education, training, and experience with access to the support you need to get a license or certificate to work in your profession or trade in Canada.

Moreover, these programs can help you if you already have a career in your home country and would like to work in the same or similar field in Canada.

Nonetheless, bridging programs vary in length depending on the service provider and can be held in class, online, or a combination of the two. Each program is different and may provide you with:

An assessment of education and skills
Skills training or targeted academic training
A clinical or job placement to help you get Canadian workplace experience
Mentoring or networking with employers
License or certification exam preparation
Language training for your trade or profession
Individual learning plans to identify any added training you may need
Employment supports, like resume preparation, labor market orientation, mock interviews, and job search supports

Online Bridging programs

Bridging programs in Canada are also done online by some universities and colleges.

For example

Grand Canyon University offers online bridging programs. All of GCU’s bridge programs are offered online. You can take advantage of GCU’s convenient online classroom and network with fellow professionals along the way without interrupting your daily activities.

List of Bridging Programs in Canada

There are many bridging programs in Canada which; some of them are:

Accounting & Finance
Architecture
Biotechnology
Business
Conservation & environmental science
Construction (incl. Electrician, plumbing.
millwright, and HVAC)
Cybersecurity
Employment Counselling
Engineering
Financial Services
Health Care
Human Resources
Information Technology
Laboratory sciences
Media & communications
Medicine
Mental health
Nursing
Office Administration
Pharmacy
Physical therapy
Project Management
Sales and Marketing
Social work
Supply Chain Management & logistics.

Some of the Bridging programs in Canada, according to

Sector — Program — School Provider

Accounting and finance —- Bridging Programs for Internationally Trained Individuals –– Finance/Accounting Woodgreen Community Services.
Accounting and Finance — Bridging Program for Internationally Trained Accounting Professionals — CPAC, Ryerson University, Seneca College
Accounting and Finance — The Professional Excellence in Financial Services (EFS) Bridging Program — Seneca College
Architecture —- IPLAN Information Online —- JVS Toronto, Ryerson University
Architecture — IPLAN Practice — JVS Toronto, Ryerson University
Architecture — IPLAN Employment — JVS Toronto, Ryerson University
Banking & Finance Financial — Services Connections — ACCES Employment
Business — Bridging Program for IEPs – Business York University
Business — Workplace Communications in Canada (WCC) Program — Ryerson University
Business — Business Edge for Internationally Educated Professionals — University of Toronto
Conservation, Environmental science — Professional Access into Employment (PAIE) –Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Others include

Conservation, Environmental science — Green Economy Bridging Program — Ryerson University
Conservation, Environmental science — Building Environmental Systems (BES) Bridging Program — Seneca College
Construction, Electrician — Trades Win Support Bridging Program: Electricians (construction maintenance and industrial) — Humber College, Skills for Change.
Construction, Engineering — Engineering Skills Enhancement — Humber College
Construction, HVAC — Trades Win Support Bridging Program HVAC — Humber College, Skills for Change
Construction, Millwrights — Trades Win Support Bridging Program, Millwrights — Humber College, Skills for Change
Construction, Plumbing — Trades Win Support Bridging Program — Plumbing Humber College, Skills for Change
Construction, Welding — Trades Win Support Bridging Program — Welding Humber College, Skills for Change
Engineering Electrical Engineering — Connections ACCES Employment, — Humber College
Health care Internationally Trained Medical Doctors — (ITMD) Bridging Program — Ryerson University
Health care — Healthcare program for internationally trained medical doctors — University of Toronto
Health care — Academic Pathway for Internationally Educated Nurses Graduate Certificate — George Brown College
Health care — Ontario Internationally Educated Nurses Course Consortium
Health care International Midwifery Pre-registration Program (IMPP) — Ryerson University
Health care — Medical Laboratory Science — The Michener Institute of Education at UHN
Health care — Radiological Technology — The Michener Institute of Education at UHN
Health care — Ultrasound Scanning Evaluation — The Michener Institute of Education at UHN
Health care — Ontario Internationally Educated Physical Therapy Bridging (OIEPB) Program — University of Toronto
Health care — Bridge Training for Internationally Educated Pharmacy Graduates — University of Toronto
Human resources Human — Resources Connections ACCES Employment, Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA), OTEC (Ontario Tourism Education Corporation), — Sheridan College
Human resources — Bridge to HR Online Job Skills
Human resources — Bridging Program for IEPs – HR York University
Educated Social Work — Professionals (IESW) Bridging Program — Ryerson University
Supply chain management — Supply Chain Connections ACCES Employment, OTEC (Ontario Tourism Education Corporation) — Sheridan College

Schools that offer bridging programs in Canada

Bridge programs are offered in Canada through provincial government websites or most major colleges and universities, such as

Ryerson University
Humber College
Seneca College
York University
University of Toronto
University of British Columbia
The University of Calgary.

All these universities tend to provide bridging programs based on professions, for example

Accounting
Architecture
Law, business
Plumbing,
Engineering
Construction

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are a number of special bridging programs in Canada that are designed specifically for immigrant workers. These programs can help ease the transition into working and living in Canada and can provide support during the initial phase of settlement. For those looking to immigrate to Canada, these programs are an important tool in making the process as smooth as possible.

Special Bridging Programs in Canada – For Immigrant Workers