Glossary

Financial self-sufficiency

For the period from January 1 to December 31, 2010, single persons must have at least $2,748 at their disposal to meet their basic needs for the first three months following their arrival in Québec. In addition to this sum, they must have at their disposal an additional amount for each family member accompanying them (spouse or de facto spouse and children). For example, a household with two adults and two children under 18 years of age must have at least $4,872 at their disposal for the first three months. The following table indicates the essential needs of main family units.

Basic needs of main family units for the three-month period after arrival in Québec   One adult Two adults No children $2,748 $4,030 One child (-18 years) $3,692 $4,514 Two children (-18 years) $4,168 $4,872 Three children (-18 years) $4,644 $5,230

Note : Amounts (in Canadian dollars) in effect from January 1 to December 31, 2010.

Work experience

Recognized experience

• in the five years preceding the date of submission of an application for a selection certificate
• in an occupation with a skill level above “D” as defined by the National Occupational Classification (NOC)
• legally in the country concerned.

The following experience, which respects the aforementioned conditions, is recognized:

• experience that was acquired full time or part time in remunerated jobs
• full-time or part-time work internships as part of an apprenticeship, training or specialization recognized by a diploma, both remunerated and non-remunerated.

Inadmissibility of skill level “D” occupations

Intership

This constitutes experience acquired:

• full time or part time
• as part of remunerated internships (for non-remunerated internships recognized by a diploma, experience must be acquired during an apprenticeship, training or specialization)
• in the five years preceding the date of submission of the application for a selection certificate.

Training

Education

Education is only considered if the candidate completed a diploma program. The foreign diploma is evaluated based on its correspondence to the Québec education system.

Education level

To be eligible for selection, candidates must, at a minimum, hold a diploma corresponding to a general or vocational high school diploma in Québec.

Québec diploma

This is:

• a diploma issued by the Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport (MELS), for secondary or college studies, or by a Québec university. The training can have been received in Québec or abroad; OR
• an Attestation of Collegial Studies issued by a college recognized by the MELS. The training must have been received in Québec full time over a period of more than one year.
  
  

And treated as a Québec diploma:

• a Canadian diploma (if it is issued by the minister responsible for education or by a university of a Canadian province or territory);
• a foreign diploma recognized as equivalent by a Québec regulatory body, except if it is a medical diploma;
• a foreign diploma or training leading to the practice of a regulated profession or trade in Québec, if you have already received authorization to practise this occupation in Québec;
• a training certificate that falls under a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) concluded within the framework of a mutual recognition agreement regarding professional qualifications with another government, for the practice of a profession governed by a professional order in Québec. You must possess the legal ability to practise required under this arrangement and this arrangement must have been implemented. Note that France is the only country with which such an agreement has been concluded;
• a foreign diploma or training that falls under an MRA that allows for the practice of a regulated occupation in Québec, if the Québec regulatory body attests that you meet the required training conditions and, if applicable, the professional experience required to practise this occupation.

The colleges recognized by the MELS are listed on the MELS website:

Area of training

The assessment of a candidate’s training is based on the List of areas of training. This list contains high school vocational training programs, vocational college programs (minimum three years of study) and university programs that lead to a diploma recognized by Québec universities. For each of the areas of training on the list, the assessment varies according, in particular, to job prospects and the requirements for practising the occupation in question. It also varies according to if the candidate holds a foreign diploma or a Québec diploma or a document considered as such.

To be assessed, the candidate must have received training similar to the training indicated on the list. It is possible that candidates, whose training is included on the list, will have to follow upgrading courses after their arrival in Québec. In addition, if their training leads to the practice of a regulated trade or profession, candidates will have to fulfill the requirements of the regulatory body in question in order to be able to practise in Québec.

Useful links

• National Occupational Classification
  For more information on the type of occupation you wish to practise in Québec and to find the corresponding NOC code.
• Emploi-Québec
  To find the title corresponding to your profession or trade in Québec.