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1 Confirm your occupation

Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers (4164)

Description

Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers conduct research, develop policy and implement or administer programs in areas such as consumer affairs, employment, home economics, immigration, law enforcement, corrections, human rights, housing, labour, family services, foreign aid and international development. They are employed by government departments and agencies, industry, hospitals, educational institutions, consulting establishments, professional associations, research institutes, non-government organizations and international organizations or they may be self-employed.

Skill Level A

Skill Type 4

National Occupational Classification (NOC)

Other titles

Aboriginal affairs development officer
Aboriginal affairs officer
Aboriginal employment policy officer
Aboriginal employment program officer
Aboriginal issues lobbyist
adoption project officer
adviser for the integration of persons with disabilities
adviser, public assistance
affirmation action advisor
analyst, occupational supply
analyst, social policies
child care licensing officer
child welfare policy analyst
child-care programs planning officer
child-care services liaison officer
citizenship officer
community organizer
community policing program consultant
community social development officer
consultant, social policy
consultant, social services
consultant, social services planning
consumer advisor
co-ordinator, public rights
co-ordinator, women's shelter program
correction rehabilitation program co-ordinator
correctional service policy consultant
employment equity adviser - social policy
employment equity consultant
employment equity policy analyst
employment initiatives co-ordinator
employment insurance policy analysis officer
employment insurance policy analyst
employment insurance services adviser
employment standards specialist
evaluation officer, job creation and employment services
experimental home economist
extension home economist
family violence prevention program adviser
field representative - housing
food consultant - home economics
home economics consultant
home economist
home economist - consumer association
housing officer, public housing
housing policy analyst
Human Rights Commission officer
Human Rights Commission officers supervisor
human rights officer
human rights officer - government services
human rights specialist
immigrant settlement liaison officer
immigration and demographic analysis officer
immigration consultant
immigration policy advisor
immigration policy analyst
immigration policy consultant - non-government
immigration settlement practitioner
income maintenance program officer
international aid and development project officer
international aid and development researcher
international relations specialist
job creation and employment services evaluation officer
labour affairs officer - labour policy
labour market analyst
labour market information officer
labour market policy officer
labour mobility policy consultant
labour policy analyst
labour policy officer
labour standards analyst
liaison officer, child-care services
lobbyist, Aboriginal issues
lobbyist, Native issues
multiculturalism project officer
Native affairs officer
Native employment program officer
Native issues lobbyist
occupational supply analyst
officer, Aboriginal employment program
officer, employment insurance policy analysis
officer, human rights
officer, Human Rights Commission
officer, immigration and demographic analysis
officer, social programs
peace activist
peace researcher
planning officer, child-care programs
policy analyst, child welfare
policy analyst, housing
policy analyst, immigration
policy analyst, status of women's directorate
policy consultant, correction services
policy consultant, employment equity
policy consultant, labour mobility
policy consultant, women's employment
policy officer, labour
policy officer, visible minorities
political organizer
pollster
poverty researcher
program adviser, family violence prevention
program consultant, community policing
program officer, income maintenance
program officer, Native employment
program officer, refugee affairs
program planner, social services
project officer, international aid and development
project officer, multiculturalism
psychology assistant (except university)
public assistance adviser
public housing officer
public housing policy analyst
public opinion survey researcher
public rights co-ordinator
race relations officer
refugee affairs program officer
research home economist
research officer, social welfare
researcher, international aid and development
settlement counsellor
settlement liaison officer
settlement practitioner
social and community care licensing officer
social assistance advisor
social assistance policy analyst
social development officer
social issues researcher
social policy advisor
social policy analyst
social policy consultant
social policy planning consultant
social policy researcher
social program officer
social researcher
social science researcher
social service program officer
social services consultant
social services planner
social services planning consultant
social services program officers supervisor
social services program planner
social survey researcher (except statistician)
social survey researchers supervisor
social welfare advisor
social welfare research officer
socio-economic research and planning officer
specialist, employment standards
status of women's directorate policy analyst
supervisor, Human Rights Commission officers
supervisor, social services program officers
supervisor, social survey researchers
supervisor, welfare policy analysts
textile and clothing consultant - home economics
visible minorities policy officer
welfare policy analysts supervisor
women's employment policy consultant
women's issues lobbyist
women's program co-ordinator
women's shelter program co-ordinator
women's status policy consultant
workers' compensation officer
workers' compensation policy analyst

Related Occupations

2 Confirm the occupational regulations

Regulations and laws

Regulations and laws governing specific occupations are fixed by provincial and territorial governments around specific occupations.

This occupation is not regulated in Canada. This means that you are not required to be registered with one of the provincial or territorial regulatory authorities to be authorized to practise this occupation in Canada.

	Regulated		Non-regulated
	Mandatory certification, licence, or registration		Voluntary certification, licence, or registration	No certification, licence, or registration exists
	Exclusive right to practise	Reserved title	Available	None
Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Nova Scotia
Northwest Territories
Nunavut
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon

Definition

Regulated occupation:

An occupation controlled by provincial and territorial (and sometimes federal) law, and governed by a regulatory body. About 20 per cent of jobs are in regulated occupations. These include regulated professions (e.g., nursing) and skilled trades (e.g., plumbing).

The law requires you to obtain a certificate, licence, or registration to use the reserved title for the occupation or obtain the exclusive right to practise the occupation. These regulations are intended to protect the health and safety of Canadians by ensuring that professionals meet the required standards of practice and competency.

There are two types of regulation:

Exclusive right to practise: A profession whose members are the only ones who can engage in the profession’s activities and use the title allowed them by law. The law defines, among other things, the professional activities strictly reserved for the members of each regulatory body.
Reserved title: A profession where only members of a regulatory body can make use of specific titles and abbreviations allowed them by law. Individuals who are not members of that regulatory body may practise the occupation, but they may not use any of these titles or allow others to believe (by using a similar title or abbreviation) they are members of a regulatory body.

Non-regulated occupation:

A profession or trade for which there is no legal requirement or restriction on practice with regard to licences, certificates, or registration.

Voluntary certification, licence, or registration: The province or territory in which voluntary certification, licensing, or registration is available but not required by law..
No certification, licence, or registration exists

3 Learn about credential assessment and recognition

Some organizations in Canada responsible for the recognition of academic credentials may not have the capacity to assess the international academic credentials you are presenting to them. This may be the case when you apply for a job with an employer in a non-regulated occupation.

These organizations may sometimes rely on external academic credential assessment services to support their internal process. Six members of the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada (ACESC) can provide this service.

Upon completion of an academic credential assessment for general purposes, you would receive an assessment report, which in turn could be provided to the organization responsible for the recognition of your international academic credentials.

Get more information on how to obtain an assessment for general purposes under the Additional information tab listed below.

Occupational assessment

Get more information on how to obtain an assessment for general purposes under the Additional information tab listed above.

Immigration

Immigration to Canada

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is the department responsible for immigration to Canada.

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) - Express Entry

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is an immigration program administered by IRCC. If you intend to immigrate to Canada under the FSWP and obtained your academic credentials outside Canada, one of the requirements is to obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for immigration purposes.¹ For more detailed information on IRCC's requirements for this immigration program, visit their Web site.

^1.A requirement for immigration purposes ONLY

It is important to note that obtaining an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is a requirement for immigration purposes only.

It is separate from the process of obtaining a licence to practise from the relevant regulatory authority.

Obtaining a licence to practise is not required to apply to IRCC's FSWP.

Additional information

Before undertaking an academic credential assessment for general purposes, it is extremely important to verify that the regulatory authority, or employer requires and will accept an assessment report issued by one of the six members of the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada (ACESC).

If so, contact one of the academic credential assessment services below to obtain detailed information on:

application forms;
how to submit your international academic credentials for assessment;
timelines and fees for obtaining an academic credential assessment report.

An academic credential assessment for general purposes can take between several weeks to several months to obtain. It is strongly recommended that you begin this process prior to your arrival in Canada.

Although assessment services offer expert advice on how qualifications obtained outside Canada compare with those obtained in Canada, their assessments are advisory only. In Canada, they do not guarantee recognition of your qualifications for:

admission at an educational institution;
certification, licensing, or registration in an occupation; and/or
general employment.

All six members of the Alliance adhere to the Pan-Canadian Quality Assurance Framework for the Assessment of International Academic Credentials, and their assessments are used by many organizations. For more information on the Alliance, please visit its Web site, or use the information below to connect directly with its members.

Alberta

International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)

9th floor, 9942 108 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5K2J5 Canada

Telephone : (+1) 780-427-2655

Fax : (+1) 780-422-9734

British Columbia

International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES)

3700 Willingdon Avenue Burnaby, British Columbia V5G3H2 Canada

icesinfo@bcit.ca

Telephone : (+1) 604-434-5734

Fax : (+1) 604-435-7033

Northwest Territories

International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)

9th floor, 9942 108 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5K2J5 Canada

Telephone : (+1) 780-427-2655

Fax : (+1) 780-422-9734

Ontario

World Education Services - Canada (WES)

1400 - 2 Carlton Street Toronto, Ontario M5B1J3 Canada

Telephone : (+1) 416-972-0070

Fax : (+1) 416-972-9004

Comparative Education Service (CES)

162 St. George Street, University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies Toronto, Ontario M5S2V8 Canada

ces.info@utoronto.ca

Telephone : (+1) 416-978-2400

Fax : (+1) 416-978-2185

International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS)

102 - 100 Stone Road West Guelph, Ontario N1G5L3 Canada

info@icascanada.ca

Telephone : (+1) 519-763-7282

Fax : (+1) 519-763-6964

Quebec

Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et Intégration du Québec (MIFI)

Service de l’analyse des diplômes internationaux (SADI), 285 rue Notre-Dame Ouest, 4e étage Montréal, Quebec H2Y 1T8 Canada

Telephone : (+1) 514-864-9191

Saskatchewan

International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)

9th floor, 9942 108 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5K2J5 Canada

Telephone : (+1) 780-427-2655

Fax : (+1) 780-422-9734

Mobility

International mobility

Find out more about international mobility and MRAs.

Financial assistance

Internationally trained professionals may have access to financial assistance to complete the assessment process that will allow them to work in their intended occupations. These micro-loan programs are offered to citizens or permanent residents of Canada who were trained outside Canada and do not have sufficient credit history to borrow from a Canadian financial institution.

To learn about participating provinces and territories, and determine your eligibility, use the information below to find an organization close to you offering micro loans.

Windmill Microlending
Suite 709, 7015 Macleod Trail SW
Calgary Alberta
T2H2K6 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 403-228-9981
Suite 2020 (Scotia Place Tower 1) 10060 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton Alberta
T5J3R8 Canada
Bureau 710, 5455 Avenue de Gaspé
Montréal Quebec
H2T3B3 Canada
220 - 20th St W. Suite 219, Second Level
Saskatoon Saskatchewan
S7M0W9 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 306-974-4856
Suite 300, 165 Avenue Rd
Toronto Ontario
M5R3S4 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 416-360-4445
Suite 709, 7015 Macleod Trail SW
Calgary Alberta
T2H2K6 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 403-228-9981
Suite 2020 (Scotia Place Tower 1) 10060 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton Alberta
T5J3R8 Canada
Bureau 710, 5455 Avenue de Gaspé
Montréal Quebec
H2T3B3 Canada
220 - 20th St W. Suite 219, Second Level
Saskatoon Saskatchewan
S7M0W9 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 306-974-4856
Suite 300, 165 Avenue Rd
Toronto Ontario
M5R3S4 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 416-360-4445
Suite 709, 7015 Macleod Trail SW
Calgary Alberta
T2H2K6 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 403-228-9981
Suite 2020 (Scotia Place Tower 1) 10060 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton Alberta
T5J3R8 Canada
Bureau 710, 5455 Avenue de Gaspé
Montréal Quebec
H2T3B3 Canada
220 - 20th St W. Suite 219, Second Level
Saskatoon Saskatchewan
S7M0W9 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 306-974-4856
Suite 300, 165 Avenue Rd
Toronto Ontario
M5R3S4 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 416-360-4445
S.U.C.C.E.S.S. - Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Loan Project
238 - 8131 Westminster Hwy
Richmond British Columbia
V6X 1A7 Canada
Supporting Employment and Economic Development (SEED Winnipeg) Inc. SEED
80 Salter Street
Winnipeg Manitoba
R2W4J6 Canada
Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia ISANS
ISANS Desmond, Bayers Road Professional Centre, 7071 Bayers Road, Suite 164 (Desmond Avenue entrance)
Halifax Nova Scotia
B3L2C2 Canada
Main office, 2120 - 6960 Mumford Road
Halifax Nova Scotia
B3L4P1 Canada
ISANS Joseph Howe, 2717 Joseph Howe Drive, Second Floor
Halifax Nova Scotia
B3L4T9 Canada
WIL Employment Connections - Internationally Trained Workers
141 Dundas Street, 4th Floor
London Ontario
N6A 1G3 Canada
Canada Microcredit Educators Group - Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Pilot Project
420 University Ave, Suite 200, P.O. Box 1551
Charlottetown Prince Edward Island
C1A 7Z5 Canada
Microcrédit Montréal
319 - 3680 rue Jeanne Mance
Montreal Quebec
H2X 2K5 Canada

Alberta

British Columbia

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. - Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Loan Project
238 - 8131 Westminster Hwy
Richmond British Columbia
V6X 1A7 Canada

Manitoba

Supporting Employment and Economic Development (SEED Winnipeg) Inc. SEED
80 Salter Street
Winnipeg Manitoba
R2W4J6 Canada

New Brunswick

Multicultural Association of Fredericton
28 Saunders Street
Fredericton New Brunswick
E3B 1N1 Canada
Multicultural Association of the Greater Moncton Area
22 Church St, Suite C170
Moncton New Brunswick
E1C 0P7 Canada
YMCA of Greater Saint John
191 Churchill Blvd.
Saint John New Brunswick
E2K 3E2 Canada

Newfoundland and Labrador

AXIS Career Services, Association for New Canadians
A/S Association for New Canadians, 10 Smithville Crescent, P.O.Box 2031, Stn. C
St. John's Newfoundland and Labrador
A1C 5R6 Canada

Nova Scotia

Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia ISANS
ISANS Desmond, Bayers Road Professional Centre, 7071 Bayers Road, Suite 164 (Desmond Avenue entrance)
Halifax Nova Scotia
B3L2C2 Canada
Main office, 2120 - 6960 Mumford Road
Halifax Nova Scotia
B3L4P1 Canada
ISANS Joseph Howe, 2717 Joseph Howe Drive, Second Floor
Halifax Nova Scotia
B3L4T9 Canada

Ontario

Windmill Microlending
Suite 709, 7015 Macleod Trail SW
Calgary Alberta
T2H2K6 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 403-228-9981
Suite 2020 (Scotia Place Tower 1) 10060 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton Alberta
T5J3R8 Canada
Bureau 710, 5455 Avenue de Gaspé
Montréal Quebec
H2T3B3 Canada
220 - 20th St W. Suite 219, Second Level
Saskatoon Saskatchewan
S7M0W9 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 306-974-4856
Suite 300, 165 Avenue Rd
Toronto Ontario
M5R3S4 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 416-360-4445
WIL Employment Connections - Internationally Trained Workers
141 Dundas Street, 4th Floor
London Ontario
N6A 1G3 Canada
Ottawa Community Loan Fund OCLF
2211 Riverside Dr., Suite 308
Ottawa Ontario
K1H7X5 Canada
Achēv
Brampton East, 263 Queen Street East, Unit 14
Brampton Ontario
L6W4K6 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 905-595-0722
Brampton South, 7700 Hurontario Street, Unit 601
Brampton Ontario
L6Y4M3 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 905-457-4747
Mississauga - Malton, 7420 Airport Road, Suite 104
Mississauga Ontario
L4T4E5 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 905-677-0007
Mississauga - City Centre, 50 Burnhamthorpe Road West, Suite 300/410
Mississauga Ontario
L5B3C2 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 905-949-0049
Head Office, 90 Burnhamthorpe Road West, Suite 210
Mississauga Ontario
L5B3C3 Canada
Oakville, 690 Dorval Drive, Suite 100
Oakville Ontario
L6K3X9 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 905-875-3851
Pickering, 1099 Kingston Rd, #240
Pickering Ontario
L1V1B5 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 905-420-1919
Richmond Hill,420 Hwy 7 East #204B
Richmond Hill Ontario
L4B3K2 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 855-330-8655
North York, 1090 Don Mills Road, Suite 406
Toronto Ontario
M3C3R6 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 416-444-8744
Toronto, 100 Lombard St. Suite 400
Toronto Ontario
M5C1M3 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 416-964-9797