Practitioner’s Corner

By Agnes Manasan, Settlement Counsellor, Catholic Community Services of York Region

Congratulations on the new additions to the Contact Point Webpage. The Occupational Fact Sheets in the Helping Foreign Trained Professionals section of Contact Point contain important and helpful information on the registration and licensing processes and other steps established by the regulatory bodies which are needed by foreign-trained professionals who would like to work in their field in Ontario.

Having this information on-line will enable potential immigrants with access to the internet make an informed decision, knowing beforehand what is required to be able to practice and pursue their career in the province. Hopefully, they will come prepared with the needed documentation for registration, or at least be ready psychologically and financially to deal with the disappointments and frustrations normally faced by so many professional immigrants who arrive here expecting Canadian employers to embrace them wholeheartedly.

As a Settlement Counsellor, I’ve used the information found in the Occupational Fact Sheets quite often. I’ve even brought some printed copies during my recent trip to the Philippines, which my friends and family members found helpful. Now, all they have to do is surf the internet to Contact Point for this information.