Credential Assessment Improvement Fund
Last updated on April 30, 2025The Credential Assessment Improvement Fund (CAIF) supports regulatory authorities so they can improve their international credential recognition processes.
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Overview of the Credential Assessment Improvement Fund (CAIF)
The Credential Assessment Improvement Fund (CAIF) helps regulatory authorities with projects that:
- Improve the fairness and efficiency of regulatory processes for assessing credentials for international and labour mobility applicants
- Enhance newcomers’ access to information about regulated occupations so they can make informed decisions about immigration, licensure and employment
The Office for International Credential Recognition (OICR) manages the Credential Assessment Improvement Fund (CAIF).
All B.C. regulators outside government are eligible to apply for CAIF funding. Funding is not limited to regulatory authorities under the International Credentials Recognition Act (ICRA).
Principles of the Credential Assessment Improvement Fund
The Credential Assessment Improvement Fund promotes:
Public interest
- Regulators must establish and maintain occupational standards that protect public health, safety and confidence
- Protecting the public interest also means ensuring B.C. has an inclusive workforce that can deliver the services people need
Fairness
- Professional licensure policies and processes must be fair and non-discriminatory
- All qualified applicants should have a timely pathway to certification
- The application process must not disadvantage any group
Transparency
- Applicants should have access to all necessary information to understand the pathways and requirements for professional licensure
Efficiency
- Applicants have a right to receive regulator decisions without undue delay
- Credential assessment processes should only include steps necessary to inform a regulatory decision, allowing applicants to achieve licensure more quickly
Apply for funding
Learn about eligibility and how regulatory authorities can apply for funding.
Funded projects
As of April 1, 2025, the Credential Assessment Improvement Fund has:
- Invested $4.3 million in projects
- Supported 45 projects with 20 regulatory authorities
- Impacted 35 regulated occupations
These projects have a direct impact on the regulatory experience of internationally trained professionals, removing barriers and enabling quicker integration into B.C.’s workforce.
Funded CAIF projects listed by year of completion / projected completion:
2025 projects
| Organization | Project Title | Occupation(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Applied Science Technologists & Technicians of BC | Certified Technician Certification Exam |
|
| BC College of Nurses & Midwives | Internationally Trained Nurses Preparedness Course |
|
| BC College of Nurses & Midwives | Registered Psychiatric Nurse Assessment Framework |
|
| BC College of Social Workers | Database Reporting and Website Enhancement |
|
| BC Institute of Agrologists | International Credentials Recognition Act Updates to Bylaws, Committee Terms of Reference, Website and Database |
|
| College of Complementary Health Care Professionals of BC | International Credential Assessment Online Application Portal |
|
| Engineers and Geoscientists BC | Enhancing International Credential Recognition Admissions Comprehension |
|
| Engineers and Geoscientists BC | Enhancing Administrative Fairness |
|
| Forest Professionals BC | Gap-Filling Resources List |
|
2024 projects
| Organization | Project Title | Occupation(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Applied Science Technologists & Technicians of BC | Technology Registrations Data Reporting |
|
| Applied Science Technologists & Technicians of BC | Illustrative Materials |
|
| Architectural institute of BC |
Mutual Recognition Agreement with the United Kingdom |
|
| BC College of Social Workers | Improving Assessment Timelines for International Applicants |
|
| Chartered Professional Accountants of BC | International Credential Recognition Act Compliance |
|
| Chartered Professional Accountants of BC | Fact Sheet Translation |
|
| Chartered Professional Accountants of BC | India Pakistan MOU Candidates Support |
|
| College of Applied Biology | Foreign Jurisdiction Scan |
|
| College of Applied Biology | Database Improvements for International Credentials Recognition Act Reporting |
|
| College of Applied Biology | Applicant Self-Assessment Tool Renovations |
|
| Forest Professionals BC | Registration Management System / Database Expansion |
|
| Forest Professionals BC | Redesigning Business Processes for Credential Assessment |
|
| Forest Professionals BC | Revising Professional Forester Standards |
|
2023 projects
|
Organization
|
Project Title
|
Occupation(s)
|
|---|---|---|
| College of Psychologists of BC | Remote/Online Enhancements for Internationally Educated Applicants Process |
|
| Architectural Institute of British Columbia | Oral Review: Offering an Online Version of the Current In-Person Exam |
|
| Forest Professionals BC |
Omnibus Project:
|
|
| BC College of Nurses & Midwives | Enhancing Assessment Fairness for Internationally Trained Nurses Seeking Registration |
|
| College of Dietitians | Knowledge Assessment Review for International Applicants |
|
| College of Opticians BC | Readiness Improvement: Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition |
|
| College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia | Preparing Internationally Educated Physical Therapists for Successful Practice in British Columbia and Canada |
|
| Environmental Operators Certification Program | Career Accelerator for the Water and Wastewater Environmental Operator |
|
2022 projects
|
Organization
|
Project Title
|
Occupation(s)
|
|---|---|---|
| Architectural Institute of BC | Oral Review |
|
| BC College of Nurses & Midwives | Enhancing Access to Competency Assessments for Internationally Educated Nurses |
|
| College of Applied Biology | College of Applied Biology Credentials Training |
|
| College of Occupational Therapists of BC | Modernizing the Jurisprudence Knowledge Assessment Test and Enhancing Supports: Ensuring Internationally Educated Occupational Therapist's Knowledge and Supports for Safe Practice |
|
| College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of British Columbia | Developing an Academic Equivalency Framework for Hearing Instrument Practitioners |
|
| Early Childhood Educator Registry | Digital Application Process and Online Resources |
|
| Teacher Certification Branch | Teacher Certification Enhancement |
|
2021 projects
|
Organization
|
Project Title
|
Occupation(s)
|
|---|---|---|
| Architectural Institute of BC | Online Course Delivery |
|
| Forest Professionals BC | Bridge Training Development |
|
| BC College of Nurses & Midwives | Course: Online Jurisprudence |
|
| BC Society of Landscape Architects | Translation to 6 Languages: Online Application and Bridge to Registration Document |
|
| College of Applied Biology | Online Applicant Self-Assessment Tool |
|
| College of Dietitians | Online Information Portal Access and Website Update |
|
| College of Occupational Therapists of BC | Developing a Risk-Based Approach to Gap-Filling Options for Supporting Internationally Educated Occupational Therapists |
|
| College of Opticians BC | Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition Improvement (Refracting) |
|
| College of Physical Therapists of BC | Supervision and Mentorship Toolkits |
|
| Engineers and Geoscientists BC | Program Development: Professional Placement Pilot |
|
Resources
The following resource provides more information about credential recognition and may help identify project opportunities: