Who regulates what — federal vs provincial
Lesson 3 of 8 in Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) 101 · 22 minutes
Most professions in Canada are regulated by the province, not by Ottawa. Here's a clear map: which level decides what, and where to look first.
What you'll learn
- Distinguish a federal regulator from a provincial regulator
- Locate the right regulator for the most common newcomer professions in each province
- Explain why moving provinces can mean re-applying for a licence
From the lesson
Canada has two levels of government for most things: federal (the whole country) and provincial (each province or territory). FCR is mostly provincial. Read carefully.
One country, fourteen rule-makers
Why this confuses newcomers
Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories. For most professions, each one has its own regulator. That's 10 to 13 different organisations for the same profession. Plus the federal level for a few things. So when a newcomer Googles 'how to be a nurse in Canada', the right answer depends on the province they will live in. There is no single Canadian nursing licence.
What the federal government does
Federal organisations only decide a small number of things in FCR. They…