Atlantic Immigrant Career Loan Fund generating positive lived experience among immigrants seeking credential recognition.
Success today is often measured in numbers, especially when it comes to program development. How many people came or participated? What was the economic impact? Percentage growth and productivity increases are metrics we use to say something works.
What often gets lost in all these numbers are the voices of the actual people involved. Did they find the program helpful? Did it change their lives in any way? This kind of lived experience is an equally important and, in many cases, even more fundamental way of describing success.
So, what are people saying about the Atlantic Immigrant Career Loan Fund (AICLF), an Atlantic-wide credential-recognition program administered by Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS)? Here are just a few comments:
“If it were not for the AICLF, it would not have been possible to pass my MCC [Medical Council of Canada] board exams.”
“I am forever grateful for the opportunity…”
“My husband and I received support and help from AICFL in 2023 and it has been an essential step… to continue growing as healthcare professionals here in Canada.”
“I’m truly grateful for the help that AICLF has extended in my pursuit of a more suitable career…”
The AICLF is a federally funded program that helps internationally trained or educated immigrants overcome financial barriers when trying to get their credentials recognized as they enter the Canadian workforce. Many want to pursue the same careers they had before immigrating to Canada, but need to meet new criteria, pass examinations, acquire further qualifications, or re-certify. Each of these steps involve additional fees, which can be challenging for newcomers to pay. However, through the AICLF, those with permanent resident status or citizenship can access microloans to overcome these financial barriers.
Jay Lapitan began his journey toward becoming a Certified Professional Accountant (CPA) while living in Fredericton, New Brunswick. He credits the team at the Multicultural Association of Fredericton, one of ISANS’ partners in the AICLF, with introducing him to the program.
“The Atlantic Immigrant Career Loan Fund was an absolute turning point in my journey towards achieving my CPA designation in Canada,” Lapitan says. “Being an immigrant, I confronted numerous financial barriers and uncertainties while pursuing my dream career in accounting. This fund came to my rescue, providing the vital financial support necessary to cover tuition fees, exam expenses, and study materials.”
Lapitan’s career has since led him out of the Atlantic region to British Columbia, but he says he will never forget the role the AICLF played in helping him to get to where he is today.
“Today, as a proud CPA contributing to the Canadian workforce, I can unequivocally say a significant part of my success is attributed to this incredible initiative. The AICLF not only provided the financial means, but also opened doors of opportunity in my new home country, for which I am profoundly thankful.”
Newcomers seeking credential recognition aren’t the only ones impacted by the program. The team behind the AICLF say their own lives are changed by working with program participants.
Mohja Alia, manager of employment and bridging at ISANS, says she remembers many of the clients she worked with over the years and occasionally still hears from them. There’s the ophthalmologist she helped transition into optometry who is now a sought-after consultant in her field, and there’s also the construction worker who became a crane operator and is now earning more than $140,000 per year. There’s even one participant that completed his training as a dentist who now runs his own dental practice. He also gives back by helping other newcomers through ISANS’ many programs.
One client in particular stands out for Monique Lee, a coordinator for the AICLF.
“We had one participant who was facing a lot of personal troubles and domestic issues at home,” Lee recalls. “Yet she overcame all that to complete the program, repay the loan, and is now a physiotherapist.”
The microloans that AICLF provides can cover a variety of expenses related to credential recognition. They can be used for professional registration fees, licensing-examination fees, training and tuition fees, travel and accommodations to take a course or exam, books and study materials, and work tools and equipment.
Arranged through the Royal Bank of Canada, the microloans are designed to consider the fact that many newcomers don’t have jobs when first moving to Canada, have little if any credit history in Canada, and have little in the way of collateral to secure the loan. The loans are offered at a low interest rate (prime plus one per cent), require only interest payments during the study period, and only go into full repayment six months after clients complete their certification journey.
The loans are released in stages as the study period develops, which means clients only pay interest on the amount they are currently using and not the entire loan amount all at once. The loans can also be repaid in full at any time without any penalty for early repayment.
If the AICLF sounds like the kind of assistance you’ve been looking for, visit www.aiclf.ca to find out more and fill in our eligibility questionnaire.
