For new many immigrants matching there skills, experience and certification to the Canadian job market can be one of the most challenging aspects of life in Canada. Lack of Canadian specific work experiences often a significant barrier to employment - even in industries actively looking for employees. In response many 'Bridging Programs' have been developed to help newcomers upgrade their occupation related language skills (English or French), develop skills to match Canadian standards, learn about the local job market, and in some programs get Canadian work experience.

We have provided an overview of some popular bridging programs across Ontario. For more information on bridging programs visit Ontario Immigration.

Colleges and Universities

Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology

• Settlement to Employment Program (STEP) - engineering, financial services, accounting, information technology and the trades
• International Finance and Administration Professionals (IFAP) – training to be come Certified Financial Planners

Contact:
Phone: (613) 727-4723 ext. 5737
Fax: (613) 727-7606
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Centennial College

• Financial Services ESL (FSESL) – training to write industry exams: Certified Financial Planner, Ontario Life Insurance, Canadian Securities Examinations

Contact:
Phone: (416) 289-5000 Ext. 3505
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George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology

• Occupation Specific Language Classes
• Research Commercialization and Innovation Graduate Certificate for internationally trained individuals – research and engineering

Contact:
Occupation specific language
Phone: 416-415-5000 ext. 2873
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Research Commercialization
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Fanshawe College of Applied Arts and Technology
* accounting
* financial services
* insurance industry employment
* nursing
* Occupation Specific Language Training for business, technology & health care fields
Workplace Communications Skills - Health Sciences (Dental Hygiene focus),
Business (Entrepreneurship & Small Business Enterprise focus), Technology (Engineering focus), Business (Business Accounting focus)

Ryerson University
* Bridge to Employment in Financial Services
* Professional Communication for Access to Employment (any profession)
* Prior Learning and Competency Evaluation and Documentation project (PLACED) - nursing, financial services, dietetics, accounting, and social work.

Contact:
Bridge to Employment in Financial Services
Phone: 416-979-5000 ext. 2628
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Professional Communication for Access to Employment
Phone: 416-979-5000 ext 1-2600
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Prior Learning and Competency Evaluation and Documentation
Phone: (416) 979-5000 ext. 7870
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Sheridan College

• Sheridan Centre for Internationally Trained Individuals - credential recognition, a preparatory language training program, an academic program, and work placement (42 weeks).

Contact:
Phone: 905-845-9430 ext. 8191
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Wilfrid Laurier University

• Bridging program – Social work

University of Toronto

• International Pharmacy Graduate (IPG) Bridging Program
• Pathways to Employment in Canadian Project Management (School of Continuing Studies)

Contact:
International Pharmacy Graduate (IPG) Bridging Program
Pathways to Employment in Canadian Project Management
Phone: (416) 946-5946
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University of Waterloo

• Bridging Program - Engineering and Optometry.

Contact:
Phone: 1 (519) 888-4567

Bridging Programs Offered by Other Organizations

 Career Bridge (Toronto)

• Provide paid internships to new Canadians who qualify for a wide range of professional and managerial positions (i.e., technology, engineering, finance and accounting, manufacturing management, international marketing and human resources).

The Centre for the Evaluation of Health Professionals Educated Abroad (CEHPEA)

• Evaluation and orientation programs for Internationally Educated Health Professionals (IEHPs)
• The Pre-Residency Program for candidates who have been successfully matched to a Family Medicine Residency Training Program in the province of Ontario
• The Orientation to Training and Practice in Canada Program, for candidates who have been accepted into a direct entry Specialty Residency Training Program

Collège Boréal (Toronto and Hamilton)

• Centre de formation multidisciplinaire francophone pour nouveaux immigrants - assist new Francophone immigrants in entering the English-speaking labour market.