Skip Breadcrumb Links

Are there financial supports for internationally trained professionals?

Many support services exist to help internationally trained people establish their careers in Canada. These can include loans for credential recognition programs and training to help you gain the qualifications needed to work in your chosen field.

The Accelerating Career Advancement (ACA) program, funded by the Government of Canada’s Foreign Credential Recognition Program (FCR), can help you get a loan to pay for your professional training-associated costs and provide career counselling to re-establish your career. As a qualifying internationally trained individual, you can use the loan towards your training and upskilling within Canada to help you secure employment in your chosen career.

Many newcomers and internationally trained individuals have difficulty navigating the employment landscape. You may be a newcomer in this situation and be interested in obtaining certification, training, or upskilling your profession, but financial barriers often hinder these aspirations. The Accelerating Career Advancement program at Achēv helps you overcome these challenges by giving you access to a microloan to be used towards career training-associated costs, one-on-one guidance and support throughout the credential evaluation and recognition process, job search assistance and career counselling resources.

How the Program Works

The Accelerating Career Advancement loan program is designed specifically for trained individuals living in Ontario to help you obtain a competitive interest microloan of up to $30,000 through a credit union.

The ACA can help you:

change careers
upgrade skills
pursue the licensing/credentialing process in Canada
secure meaningful employment

Unlike traditional bank loans that may have high interest rates, theACA microloan has a very competitive, low-interest rate with fast approvals within 10 business days. It’s open to applicants with no credit history, making it accessible if you are just starting your financial journey in Canada. It also includes personalized career support and expert mentorship.

Program Features:

Microloans up to $30,000
Repayment Terms of 1-5 years
Competitive Interest Rate
Guidance with Accreditation
One-on-One Career Counselling

Qualifying Expenses include:

Accreditation Costs
Licensure and Certification
Tuition, Books, and Course Materials
Examination and Fees
Bridging Programs
Association Memberships
Living Expenses

To qualify for the ACA, you must meet the eligibility criteria of the Canadian government's FCR program. You must:

be a Resident of Ontario
be either a Convention Refugee, a Permanent Resident, or a Canadian Citizen
be Internationally Trained
show proof of employment, household income, or guarantor cosigner (for loan suitability)

How do I apply?

If you’re interested in obtaining an educational loan and career counselling services, complete the Eligibility Form to see if you qualify. The form takes less than three minutes to complete. After completing the form, an ACA Career & Training Counsellor will follow up with you directly within 48 hours.

What can I expect from the program?

If you're eligible for the program, you'll receive personalized career and financial guidance—including one-on-one coaching, resume and interview support, budgeting advice, and financial planning tools—designed to help you confidently pursue your professional goals and build long-term financial stability.

For more information or if you have questions about the program, please contact [email protected]

Presented by: Achēv