• Occupation-specific ESL or FSL training;
• Training on Canadian workplace culture and communications;
• Technical upgrading specific to the Canadian requirements for the profession; and,
• Credited practical attachment or a co-op type of arrangement that would provide newcomers with Canadian workplace experience and contacts.

To date, bridging or transition programs offered by colleges and institutes across the country have focused on professions such as nursing and other health professions, engineering and technology related fields such as instrumentation, and the trades. The provinces of Alberta, Ontario and Quebec are most active in funding bridging programs for foreign-trained professionals. Some examples of these bridging or transition programs are described below.

Bridging programs for Foreign-trained Nurses

In Alberta, Norquest College is becoming involved in a practical nurse program to fast track immigrant practical nurses into the Canadian workforce. The program will prepare students to apply for licensure as a Canadian Licensed Practical Nurse.

In Ontario, the following colleges and institutes have received funding from the provincial government to deliver training programs for foreign trained nurses that facilitate their licensing process and integrate more smoothly into nursing positions within Ontario health facilities:

• Algonquin College has a Foreign-Trained Nurse Project that is delivered jointly by its School of Health and Community Studies and Language Institute, funded by CIC.
• Centennial College and George Brown College are partnering with Ryerson University, three community centres and four hospitals in Toronto to deliver the CARE Project for Nurses which provides educational and professional support for internationally trained nurses so that they may access employment in Ontario.
• George Brown College delivers the Computer Programmer (Health and Financial Services) Diploma for Internationally-Educated Professionals. This program provides alternate career paths for engineers, technologists, technicians and other foreign-trained professionals who possess some computer training and experience.
• The Michener Institute and George Brown College are partnering with six professional associations and regulatory bodies to deliver a project entitled Access and Options for Internationally-Trained Health Care Professionals which offers customized, modular programs leading to employment and licensing in critical health care professions such as medical radiation technology, medical laboratory technology and respiratory therapy.

In Quebec, Cégep du Vieux-Montréal has received funding from the provincial government to work in collaboration with a Montreal settlement organization and the Ordre des infirmières du Québec to deliver a bridging program for foreign trained nurses in order to prepare them to write the provincial licensing exams and facilitate their entry into the job market.