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About 20 per cent of Canadians jobs are "regulated occupations" that require individuals to be licensed, registered or certified before they can legally begin working. Regulated occupations are governed by a regulatory body or college that sets standards of practice, registers or licenses qualified applicants and disciplines members when necessary. The regulatory body is also responsible for assessing and evaluating the credentials of applicants.
Most health professions are governed by regulatory bodies. Some examples are doctors, dentists, nurses, dietitians, midwives, pharmacists, opticians, physiotherapists, naturopaths, psychologists and chiropractors.
Some examples of regulated professions include:
The majority of jobs in Canada are "non-regulated occupations" that don't require workers to be licensed or registered. Non-regulated occupations range from jobs requiring a lot of education and responsibility to little formal training. Some examples of non-regulated jobs are computer programmers, waiters, office managers, journalists, graphic designers and housekeepers.
Newcomers often choose to work in a non-regulated job while they become licensed in a regulated occupation. The Working in Canada Tool can be used to determine if your occupation is regulated or non-regulated.
Workers must be certified to work in certain trades in Ontario; in other trades, certification is voluntary. Certification means you have passed a provincial examination and earned a Certificate of Qualification to work in a particular trade. Before writing the exam, you must prove that you have experience in the trade and provide a number of documents, including a Social Insurance Number (SIN) card, letters from previous employers or a current employer, letters from unions, certificates, diplomas, licences and official school transcripts.
Examples of certified trades include:
Examples of trades in which certification is voluntary are: baker, painter, cabinetmaker, cement mason, chef, automotive painter, machine engine technician, locksmith, draftsperson, drywall finisher, powerline technician, roofer, educational assistant, early childhood educator and welder.
Many employers and unions ask for a Certificate of Qualification even though certification is voluntary. To apply for certification, contact the Employment Ontario Network in person, online, or by calling the toll-free line 1-800-387-5656 (TTY 1-866-768-1157). Service is available in 25 languages.
It is a good idea to join a professional or trade association in your field. These associations are a good source of information about jobs and other information related to your trade. Members are usually required to pay annual fees or dues.
Note: The Canadian government has designated some trades as Red Seal trades. If you are certified in one of these trades, you can practise anywhere in Canada, including Ontario. Some examples of Red Seal trades are carpenter, welder and cook.
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