Credential Recognition for Refugees and Immigrants: Country-by-Country Pathways
Introduction
One of the most significant barriers to refugee and immigrant employment is credential recognition. A qualified doctor, engineer, or teacher may arrive in a new country only to find their qualifications are not recognised, forcing them into low-skilled work far below their capability. This guide provides country-specific pathways for credential recognition. Fees and processing times change often, so always check the current figures with the organisation concerned.
United States
General Academic Credentials
- World Education Services (WES): Describes itself as the leading provider of credential evaluation services in North America. Its reports are used by licensing boards, academic institutions and employers.
- Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE): Another foreign credential evaluation service.
- Both produce evaluation reports comparing foreign qualifications to US standards.
Regulated Professions
- Medicine: International medical graduates need ECFMG Certification. It is required to enter ACGME-accredited residency or fellowship programmes, to take Step 3 of the three-step United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), and by US medical licensing authorities for an unrestricted licence.
- Engineering: Professional engineering licensure is granted by state and territory licensing boards; requirements vary, so check with the board where you plan to practise.
- Nursing: The NCLEX is the US nurse licensure exam. TruMerit (CGFNS) provides credentials evaluation for internationally educated nurses.
United Kingdom
General Credentials
- UK ENIC (previously UK NARIC): The official organisation for the recognition and comparison of international qualifications, managed by Ecctis for the UK government. It issues a Statement of Comparability showing how international qualifications compare to the UK education systems.
Regulated Professions
- Medicine: Doctors register with the General Medical Council (GMC); most doctors with refugee status will need to take the PLAB test. The GMC pays primary source verification fees for doctors with UK refugee status, and the BMA Refugee Doctor Initiative offers a package of free benefits to refugee and asylum-seeking doctors.
- Engineering: The Engineering Council sets the standards for professional titles such as Chartered Engineer (CEng).
- Teaching: There are four routes to qualified teacher status (QTS) for teachers trained outside the UK, including the Department for Education's professional recognition digital service and assessment-only QTS.
- Nursing: Nurses and midwives trained outside the UK usually take the NMC's two-part Test of Competence: a computer-based test (CBT) and an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).
Germany
The anabin Database
anabin is the German information portal for foreign qualifications. It helps authorities, employers and individuals place a foreign qualification within the German education system.
The Recognition Act (Anerkennungsgesetz)
The federal Recognition Act entered into force on 1 April 2012:
- IQ network (Integration through Qualification): Free counselling on recognition is available, including through IQ counselling centres.
- Process: Apply to the competent authority for your profession — this can also be done from abroad.
- Cost: Varies greatly by profession; the procedure can cost several hundred euros, plus costs for translations and certifications. Financial support is available, for example from the Federal Employment Agency and the federal recognition grant.
- Timeline: The procedure normally takes three to four months.
- Compensation measures: Where substantial differences exist in a regulated profession, the authority can specify an adaptation period, aptitude test or knowledge test to close the gap.
Regulated Professions in Germany
- Medicine: The licence to practise (Approbation) requires equivalence of your qualification, German at B2 level and usually a specialist language exam at C1 level. If your qualification is not equivalent, you can take a knowledge test (Kenntnisprüfung).
- Engineering: In most cases you can work as an engineer without recognition, but the professional title "Ingenieur" is protected and may not be used without recognition.
Canada
- Educational Credential Assessments (ECAs): Required for Express Entry immigration; World Education Services is one of the organisations designated by IRCC to issue them.
- Provincial and territorial regulatory authorities govern regulated professions and compulsory trades — contact the authority for your occupation, ideally before you arrive.
- Foreign Credential Recognition Loans: Loans of up to $30,000 can help with licensing and exam fees, training and more.
Australia
- Overseas Qualifications Units (OQUs): State and territory government OQUs can assess an overseas qualification in general terms for employment purposes. The Department of Education does not assess qualifications for migration.
- Skills assessments: Required for skilled visas and carried out by assessing authorities — for example Engineers Australia for engineers, and VETASSESS for many other occupations.
France
- ENIC-NARIC France (part of France Éducation international): Issues attestations of comparability for foreign qualifications. A fee normally applies, but the service is free for refugees, asylum seekers and beneficiaries of subsidiary or temporary protection.
- Regulated professions: Specific recognition processes through the relevant authorities.
Netherlands
- Nuffic: Evaluates foreign general secondary and higher education qualifications through IDW (international credential evaluation), showing the comparable Dutch level.
- SBB: Evaluates qualifications comparable to Dutch vocational education (MBO and VMBO).
- BIG-register: Healthcare professionals with a non-European diploma must have it officially recognised before they can work in their profession.
Tips for Employers
- Do not dismiss foreign qualifications — ask about them and support recognition
- Fund credential recognition costs as part of your hiring process
- Allow time for recognition processes (which can take months)
- Offer bridging employment while recognition is in process
- Partner with recognition support organisations in your country
Resources
- WES: wes.org
- UK ENIC: enic.org.uk
- anabin (Germany): anabin.kmk.org
- Recognition in Germany: anerkennung-in-deutschland.de
- IDW / Nuffic (Netherlands): idw.nl
- ENIC-NARIC Network: enic-naric.net