Ontario bridging programs for the training of internationally-trained professionals
Bridging programs are for all immigrant newcomers (and not just refugees) who already have a combination of international post-secondary education and work experience, as well as a high level of English proficiency.
As described on an Ontario government website, bridge training programs in Ontario are designed to offer “fast access to training and support” so that an internationally-trained, professional newcomer can get a licence or certificate and find employment. The newcomer must usually have a post-secondary certificate or degree from outside Canada and have international work experience in a profession or trade. The minimum CLB English language requirement varies between CLB 5 and CLB 8.
Sometimes, the term “bridging” is used to describe a program for newcomers that is not officially recognized on the Government of Ontario website. As an example, Woodgreen Community Services in Toronto offers “bridging programs” in office administration, IT, finance & accounting, and health care, which require English language proficiency of only CLB 5. Programs such as these, as well as those offered in construction by Skills for Change (which are listed on the government website), do not require post-secondary education.
The programs are designed to “bridge” a newcomer’s international training, education and experience with what is needed to practice in Ontario. Programs are offered in the following fields:
- Accounting & finance
- Architecture
- Biotechnology
- Business
- Conservation & environmental science
- Construction
- Employment Counselling
- Engineering
- Financial Services
- Health Care
- Human Resources
- Information Technology
- Media & communications
- Project Management
- Sales and Marketing
- Social work
- Supply Chain management & logistics
Training programs are run by not-for-profit organizations including:
- Universities and publicly-funded colleges;
- Occupational regulatory bodies;
- Community agencies; and
- Employer organizations.
Bridging programs offer:
- an assessment of education and skills;
- clinical or job placements to help get Canadian workplace experience;
- skills or academic training;
- licence or certification exam preparation;
- language training related to the profession or trade; and
- learning plans to see if more training is needed.
Visit the Programs & Events section of this website, where you can filter for “Bridging programs” under “type”, as well as by location, sector, and minimum CLB level of English proficiency.
While our Programs & Events database should be checked for up-to-date information, including with respect to new and discontinued programs, as of October, 2019, following bridging programs were included:
| Sector | Program | Provider(s) |
| Accounting and finance | Bridging Programs for Internationally Trained Individuals – Finance/Accounting | Woodgreen Community Services |
| Accounting and Finance | Bridging Program for Internationally Trained Accounting Professionals | CPAC, Ryerson University, Seneca College |
| Accounting and Finance | The Professional Excellence in Financial Services (EFS) Bridging Program | Seneca College |
| Architecture | IPLAN Information Online | JVS Toronto, Ryerson University |
| Architecture | IPLAN Practice | JVS Toronto, Ryerson University |
| Architecture | IPLAN Employment | JVS Toronto, Ryerson University |
| Banking & finance | Financial Services Connections | ACCES Employment |
| Business | Bridging Program for IEPs – Business | York University |
| Business | Workplace Communications in Canada (WCC) Program | Ryerson University |
| Business | Business Edge for Internationally Educated Professionals | University of Toronto |
| Conservation, Environmental science | Professional Access into Employment (PAIE) | Toronto and Region Conservation Authority |
| Conservation, Environmental science | Green Economy Bridging Program | Ryerson University |
| Conservation, Environmental science | Building Environmental Systems (BES™) Bridging Program | Seneca College |
| Construction, Electrician | Trades Win Support Bridging Program – Electricians (construction maintenance and industrial) | Humber College, Skills for Change |
| Construction, Engineering | Engineering Skills Enhancement | Humber College |
| Construction, HVAC | Trades Win Support Bridging Program – HVAC | Humber College, Skills for Change |
| Construction, Millwrights | Trades Win Support Bridging Program – Millwrights | Humber College, Skills for Change |
| Construction, Plumbing | Trades Win Support Bridging Program – Plumbing | Humber College, Skills for Change |
| Construction, Welding | Trades Win Support Bridging Program – Welding | Humber College, Skills for Change |
| Engineering | Electrical Engineering Connections | ACCES Employment, Humber College |
| Engineering | Engineering Connections | ACCES Employment, Humber College, Seneca College |
| Engineering | Internationally-Educated Engineers Qualification Bridging (IEEQB)- ELT | Ryerson University |
| Engineering | Bridging Programs for International Engineering Graduates (IEGs) | Ontario Society for Professional Engineers |
| Engineering | Licensing International Engineers into the Profession | University of Toronto |
| Health care | Healthcare Connections | ACCES Employment |
| Health care | Bridge to Healthcare Alternatives | Job Skills |
| Health care | International Skills Applied for Geriatrics (ISAGE) Bridge Training Program | JVS Toronto |
| Health care | Bridge to Registration and Employment in Mental Health (BREM) | Mennonite New Life Centre |
| Health care | Bridging Programs for Internationally Trained Individuals – Health Care | Woodgreen Community Services |
| Health care | Internationally Trained Medical Doctors (ITMD) Bridging Program | Ryerson University |
| Health care | Healthcare program for internationally trained medical doctors | University of Toronto |
| Health care | Academic Pathway for Internationally Educated Nurses Graduate Certificate | George Brown College |
| Health care | Ontario Internationally Educated Nurses | Ontario Internationally Educated Nurses Course Consortium |
| Health care | International Midwifery Pre-registration Program (IMPP) | Ryerson University |
| Health care | Medical Laboratory Science | The Michener Institute of Education at UHN |
| Health care | Radiological Technology | The Michener Institute of Education at UHN |
| Health care | Ultrasound Scanning Evaluation | The Michener Institute of Education at UHN |
| Health care | Ontario Internationally Educated Physical Therapy Bridging (OIEPB) Program | University of Toronto |
| Health care | Bridge Training for Internationally Educated Pharmacy Graduates | University of Toronto |
| Human resources | Human Resources Connections | ACCES Employment, Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA), OTEC (Ontario Tourism Education Corporation), Sheridan College |
| Human resources | Bridge to HR Online | Job Skills |
| Human resources | Bridging Program for IEPs – HR | York University |
| IT (Information technology) | Information Technology Connections | ACCES Employment, Ryerson University |
| IT (Information technology) | Cybersecurity Connections | ACCES Employment, Seneca College |
| IT (Information technology) | IT Infrastructure Bridging Program | Humber College |
| IT (Information technology) | Bridging Programs for Internationally Trained Individuals – IT | Woodgreen Community Services |
| IT (Information technology) | Coach Connect Program | Information and Communications Technology Council |
| IT (Information technology) | Bridging Program for IEPs – IT | York University |
| Logistics, Supply chain management, Purchasing | Supply Chain Awareness and Employment Bridging Program | Humber College |
| Media and communications | Bridge to Employment in Media and Communications | Mennonite New Life Centre |
| Office administration | Bridging Programs for Internationally Trained Individuals – Office Administration | Woodgreen Community Services |
| Sales and marketing | Sales & Marketing Connections Bridging Program | ACCES Employment, Humber College |
| Social work | Internationally Educated Social Work Professionals (IESW) Bridging Program | Ryerson University |
| Supply chain management | Supply Chain Connections | ACCES Employment, OTEC (Ontario Tourism Education Corporation), Sheridan College |
The following bridging programs are offered within the Greater Toronto Area in French:
| Sector | Program | Provider(s) |
| Business | Bridge Training for Francophone Internationally-Educated Professionals in Business and Administration | York University – Glendon Campus |
| Health care | Programme de Formation Relais – Navigateurs en santé | Collège Boréal |
| Sales and marketing | Business Connections en Français | ACCES Employment, Collège Boréal |
| Supply chain | Programme de Formation Relais – Logistique et Chaîne d’Approvisionnement | Collège Boréal |
Ontario Bridging Participant Assistance Program
The Ontario Bridging Participant Assistance Program (OBPAP) is a one-time bursary of up to $5,000 available to internationally trained professionals with financial need, to cover tuition, books and equipment costs. At the time of writing this description in October, 2019, the government website was still only showing deadlines and approved programs for the 2017-2018 academic year, ending in March, 2018. However, the program was continued for the 2018-2019 academic year and there was an indication on the website page that it had last been updated in October, 2019.
To qualify for a bursary, the program must have been approved by the Ministry as being eligible. Not all programs described by providers as “bridging” are eligible for these bursaries. Newcomers should check with the providers of the programs in which they are inetrested.
If a program has been declared eligible, the internationally trained professional must then apply to the financial aid office of the approved college or university. Applications for this financial assistance must be submitted before or during the bridge training or by March 31, whichever comes first.
The OBPAP website notes that “Priority is given to students with the greatest financial need, which is determined by your college or university’s student aid policies.”
Loans for newcomers to cover training expense
In addition to bursaries that may be available to pay the cost of eligible bridging programs, as described above, there are organizations that make loans of up to $15,000 on very favourable terms to cover licensing or training expenses for newcomer tradespeople, skilled workers and professionals. See our post, A guide to loans for newcomers to cover licensing and training. Windmill Microlending, ACCESS Community Capital Fund, and The Centre for Education & Training. are three non-profit organizations making such loans within the Greater Toronto Area. Windmill Microlending has even more favourable loan provisions for refugee newcomers and its loans are available to newcomers across Canada.
Other training programs for newcomers
See our more comprehensive post on Training programs in various occupations, for information on other training programs which may be of interest to newcomers.