Expand your competencies with our new streams!

  • Skilled Trades &
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
    • 📊 Sector Specific Insights: Gain industry orientation and local labour market trends.
    • 🧭 Career Navigator
    • 🎯 Recommendations and more
  • AI Basics for New Canadians
    • Practical Case Studies
    • AI Portfolio
    • Prepare Interviews and more

Métiers spécialisés Launching in August 2026!

This stream provides an understanding of the Canadian skilled trades landscape, certification pathways, and employment opportunities. Participants gain sector-specific information, guidance and clarity about navigating trades occupations, considering provincial regulations.
Un métier spécialisé est un métier ou un métier particulier qui implique un travail pratique pour produire un produit ou offrir un service. Les métiers spécialisés au Canada peuvent être appelés professions libérales, métiers techniques, métiers spécialisés ou métiers d'apprentissage.
In Canada, there are more than 200 designated trades. Skilled tradespersons typically work in four sectors of industry. These include:

  • Construction
  • Transportation
  • Manufacturing
  • Service

 

Some skilled trades are formally recognized and regulated, meaning skilled tradespersons must complete training and receive certification before they are able to work in that occupation. For example, an experienced, internationally trained power engineer will need a provincial or territorial license to work in Canada.

Some skilled trades are non-regulated and do not require a certificate for employment.

Carpenters and automotive service technicians may not require certification in some provinces to be employed. However, many employers prefer workers with a Certificate of Qualification provided by the industry training authorities from each province.

Important: Some trades in Canada are Red Seal trades. The Red Seal certification is recognized throughout Canada and this means that those with Red Seal certificates do not have to pass additional exams if they move to another Canadian province or territory.

Register in the waitlist here.

Biotechnologie et sciences de la vie

This stream introduces Canada’s biotechnology and life sciences sector. FAST participants will complete competency assessments to gain an understanding of their workplace readiness and competencies within the Bioeconomy employment context, and can submit a BioSkills Recognition Portfolio for free.

Le secteur canadien de la biotechnologie et des sciences de la vie est un contributeur important à l'économie de l'innovation du Canada et l'une des industries à la croissance la plus rapide du pays.

Le Canada est un chef de file mondial en biotechnologie (la bioéconomie) et possède un vaste réseau d'hôpitaux de recherche, d'universités, de laboratoires et d'entreprises qui travaillent dans quatre grands secteurs :

  • Bio-health
  • Bio-energy
  • Bio-industrial technology
  • Agri-biotechnology

 

The Canadian biotechnology sector is comprised of occupations that can range from research, development and manufacturing industries within the sector.

Small and medium-sized companies across the country that develop diagnostics, biopharmaceuticals, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, as well as global companies with sales, research, development and manufacturing operations in Canada are all included within the bio-economy.

The average educational requirements to work in the biotechnology and life sciences sector in Canada are as follows:

  • Completion of an undergraduate degree or program in biological sciences (biology, biotechnology, biochemistry, microbiology), applied chemistry, or a related field
  • • Diplôme d'études supérieures en recherche professionnelle.
  • • La certification auprès des associations provinciales est disponible mais volontaire.

ICT Information and Communication Technology

Updated Stream!

This stream provides an introduction to Canada’s ICT sector, workplace expectations, and professional standards. Participants can assess their competencies through a Career Navigator, evaluate their employment readiness, and receive personalized recommendations and actionable next steps to support their career success in Canada.

According to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada There are over 48,390 companies in the Canadian Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) sector and the large majority (over 44,870) fall within the software and computer services industries. In 2024, more than 802,900 individuals were working in the ICT sector, accounting for 3.9% of the Canada’s total employment.

The ICT sector is characterized by a knowledge-intensive workforce, with 60% of its workers holding a university degree, compared to 35% across all Canadian industries.

Overall, most Canadian immigrants employed in the IT industry have completed post-secondary studies in a related area such as information technology, science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM).

AI Basics for New Canadians

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a rapidly growing field that involves using digital tools and technologies to analyze data, solve problems, and optimize workplace tasks. In Canada, AI competencies offer rewarding career paths across every industry as businesses modernize their operations.

This new stream helps participants learn how to use artificial intelligence strategically throughout their job search. Participants build practical AI skills, develop a professional AI portfolio, and create interview preparation materials to help them stand out to Canadian employers.

Applications & Workplace Expectations

  • Strategic AI Integration: Many professional roles now expect workers to use AI strategically to improve productivity. For example, business professionals often use prompting and AI work modes to streamline employer research, personal branding, and daily task management.
  • Standard Workplace Tools: While basic productivity tools do not strictly require a formal tech certification for employment, many Canadian employers strongly prefer hiring candidates who can confidently demonstrate practical AI skills. Building a professional AI Portfolio is an excellent way to showcase these capabilities during the job application process.

The fundamental skills built through the AI Basics training, such as advanced prompting, resume customization, and interview preparation, are highly transferable. This means that once you master these core AI competencies, you can apply them to enhance your employment opportunities in any sector across any province or territory in Canada.

Arts culinaires

Il pourrait y avoir jusqu'à 2,29 millions d'emplois dans le secteur du tourisme et de l'accueil au Canada d'ici 2035. Les projections actuelles montrent qu'environ 240 000 de ces emplois n'auront pas de personnel pour les combler, ce qui laissera aux nouveaux immigrants amplement l'occasion de se bâtir une carrière enrichissante et d'acquérir rapidement de nouvelles compétences et connaissances. responsabilités.

Food and beverage services, hospitality and tourism, and recreation and entertainment employers will be particularly looking for skilled people to add to their teams.

There are five sectors within the tourism and hospitality industry in Canada:

  • Accommodation – hotels, motels, and other short-term and overnight accommodation
  • Food and Beverage – restaurants, pubs, cafes and bars
  • Recreation and Entertainment – tourist attractions, ski hills, museums, sports and entertainment facilities
  • Transportation – passenger and sightseeing transportation by air, water, rail, or vehicle
  • Travel Service – coordinating and planning business and leisure travel, such as travel agents, destination marketing organizations, and visitor services

Comptabilité et Finance

The financial services sector is one of the crucial drivers of the Canadian economy, accounting for as much as 4.5 percent of total employment in Canada and 7.1 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product in 2017.

Additionally, the Federal Government of Canada projected almost 100,000 newly available positions in the role of “financial auditors and accountants”, with a further 80,000 positions available for bookkeepers becoming available from 2017-2026.

Tout le contenu des modules FAST Accounting & Finance a été préparé par Future Skills Centre Project dans le cadre d'un partenariat entre l'Immigrant Employment Council of BC (IEC-BC) et les Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC).

Visit CPA Canada’s International Credential Recognition website to learn more on how newcomers can receive a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation in Canada.

Soins aux personnes âgées

FAST Seniors Care is currently available only to those currently residing in British Columbia.

Alors que la grande majorité des personnes âgées de la Colombie-Britannique – environ 93% – vivent de façon autonome, celles qui ne peuvent plus faire face aux activités de la vie quotidienne en raison de problèmes de santé ou d'une maladie grave doivent trouver des services de soins et de soutien.

Les soins et la vie des personnes âgées se préparent à devenir l'un des secteurs à la croissance la plus rapide de l'économie de la Colombie-Britannique au cours des cinq prochaines années. Cette croissance s'accompagnera de 32 600 créations d'emplois en soins infirmiers et en soins de longue durée au cours des 10 prochaines années.

Le secteur des soins et des résidences pour personnes âgées offre divers cheminements de carrière aux nouveaux arrivants en Colombie-Britannique et au Canada dans des rôles cliniques et non cliniques dans divers contextes de soins, y compris les foyers de soins de longue durée, les résidences-services, les logements avec services de soutien, les résidences pour personnes autonomes, ainsi que que les résidences pour personnes âgées.

Bien que les assistants en soins de santé (HCA), les infirmières autorisées (IA) et les infirmières auxiliaires autorisées (IAA) représentent la majorité des rôles cliniques dans les organisations de soins aux personnes âgées, les professionnels paramédicaux tels que les physiothérapeutes (PT), les ergothérapeutes (OT), les assistants en loisirs thérapeutiques, les assistants en réadaptation, les travailleurs sociaux et les diététistes/nutritionnistes fournissent des services de santé vitaux aux résidents.

In addition to clinical roles, support services workers are also in demand. Healthcare support workers, home health companions, cooks, chefs, dietary aides, janitors, housekeeping, and laundry aides are just some of the roles care homes are looking to hire workers for to better support the delivery of care and support services to their clients.

Les foyers de soins et de vie pour personnes âgées emploient également des employés de bureau comme des réceptionnistes et des adjoints administratifs pour superviser les fonctions administratives quotidiennes sur leurs sites. Il existe également de nombreux rôles commerciaux et administratifs, dans des domaines tels que le marketing, la finance, les ressources humaines, etc.

Prepare for Work in Canada

The ‘Prepare for Work in Canada’ module in Facilitating Access to Skilled Talent (FAST) is designed to give learners an introduction to Canadian workplace culture, employer expectations, and the skills required to successfully integrate into the Canadian labour market. It provides introductory lessons to key information newcomers should know as you begin to work in Canada and plan for your career success.

With FAST’s free Prepare for Work in Canada module, you can:

  • Discover the importance of adaptability in the workplace
  • Learn to recognize the value of knowing your skills
  • Identify the importance of interpersonal skills within occupational success
  • Understand the key legal aspects of working in Canada
  • Help overcome barriers posed by culture unfamiliarity
  • Learn about the best ways to communicate at work

All newcomers to Canada are eligible to accelerate their employment!

Vous ne trouvez pas ce que vous cherchez?

FAST espère continuer à se développer dans d'autres secteurs afin de mieux préparer les immigrants les plus qualifiés à trouver plus rapidement un emploi dans leur secteur ! Nous serions ravis de savoir quels secteurs vous aimeriez voir inclus dans le programme FAST.

Envoyez-nous un courriel à fastcanada@iecbc.ca