I usually receive emails from Internationally Educated Engineers who are Practicing Engineers in the Philippines or in the Middle East. The most common questions they ask me are with regard to how their profession can be recognized in Canada and eventually be able to practice as Professional Engineers here. It is my advocacy to inform our “kababayan” on the process of Professional Licensing in Canada and it is not my desire to encourage or discourage them from migrating to Canada. Below are the typical questions and inquiries I usually receive, and my answers are in the succeeding paragraphs.

Question: I saw your information on one site and learned how you help Filipino Engineers in Canada. We’re a couple who aspire to have careers in Canada. My husband is an Electrical Engineer with more than 10 years of experience, whereas I am an Electronics and Communication Engineering graduate with more than 6 years of experience in the manufacturing industry.

Wondering if you can give us your best advice and perhaps help on how we can proceed with our journey to Canada.

Answer: Thank you for your email. Moving to Canada for a Professional like you is a great option. For sure you will be successful here. But as I always say to most Filipino Engineers who choose to move to Canada, you must have a realistic and correct plan – equipped with correct knowledge not just from good stories of Filipinos living here and not from the typical immigration agents there that will tell you only the good stories of “Living in Canada”.

I will not discourage nor encourage you to move here – you have to fully decide for yourself and your husband if you truly want to immigrate. You have to decide after knowing what is like living here, your present situation, your knowledge of getting a job in your profession, and a concrete “Plan B” if you face struggles and challenges at the time you move.

For Engineers – the typical way to solve problems as we study in University was applying the “Scientific Method”. Never proceed in solving an Engineering problem by just knowing what is given and the required variables. You must understand the problem and solve it by a definite process, not just by relying on the formula. Immigrating to a different country is not a problem, but it should be carefully considered using Scientific Methods.

1. Define Purpose – you must be true to your purpose. There is a very slim way of turning back. You have to be ready for whatever the result may be.

2. Construct Hypothesis – draw a possible outcome if you move here. What are the positive and negative outcomes? What are the things that you will give up? Weigh those against the possible things that you can gain.

3. Test the Hypothesis from your collected Data – from your plans, check if those are realistic from the information you obtained. That information must not be one-sided. You have to research how your education will be evaluated and how your experience will be treated here so that you can land a job in your profession. Check the job market.

4. Analyze data. – From the information you gather, check if the timeline for your move is doable. Check if you have enough resources. Check if the information you gather is enough for you to have a definite conclusion.

5. Draw a conclusion. If you are convinced that you have the correct information, draw a conclusion from the matrix of pros and cons that you have constructed. This will give you a better picture of everything and will help you reach a “decision” that you will not regret in the future.

6. Communicate results. Form your conclusion. You have a plan and need to start from step 1. Take time to accomplish each task in the soonest possible time because as you draw from your plan, this must be time-bounded. In your plans, you must identify your resources and the correct pieces of information.

I know this is quite a complicated process and can be stressful. Take note, immigrating to a different country will not only change your life but the lives of your children and their children’s children. Your little move today will affect the next generations of your future family. So – it is worth planning. If indeed your conclusion is to stay in the Philippines and not proceed to immigrate to another country, that is your decision and you must not regret it. You have the correct information and you have reached your conclusion from that correct information.

As I always reply to my emails regarding Professional Recognition in Canada, it pays to know the process. Understand your situation and decide on all available information. I hope this article will inform others if they finally decide on their “Big Move”.