Many educational qualifications and trade skills obtained in the UK and other provinces can be transferred so that you can work within BC. However, there are some areas where it is necessary to obtain BC certification. Make sure you understand exactly what is involved in becoming ticketed within the province for your particular trade or profession. There is no point in moving here if you are not interested in attending school or completing course work as you will not earn a certified persons income until you are qualified in BC.
An excellent source of information is the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials at www.cicic.ca - you will find help regarding transferring qualifications, having them recognized in Canada and specifically BC, applying for education credits and more. Human Resources and Skills Development Canada also has information on this subject. Visit their website at www.hrsdc.gc.ca – under the A-Z index you’ll see the Credential Recognition tab which leads you to details of government initiatives to improve recognition of foreign credentials.
Talking to employers and employment agencies will also be a good way to check what paperwork you will need to achieve your maximum earning potential upon arrival in BC. Another useful source of information about industries, their employment levels and skill requirements is www.workfutures.bc.ca.
And don’t forget to browse through the higher education section of our own Education page – you’ll find a list of colleges in the region offering trades training, university transfer courses and more.