Uni degrees

[MathewA]

I think I've said earlier that my days as a cabinetmaker are pretty well over and I'm thinking of heading back to uni. I've heard a few things that have me wondering though. And that is that degrees in Australia are not considered degrees overseas. I've noticed that some degrees here only take 3 years and others are the standard 4 years, veterinarians here only need 5 years schooling as opposed to seven in North America. Is it the three year programs that are not considered degrees overseas or is it all Aussie degrees that are suspect. I have to look at this because even though this is a place I don't plan on ever leaving it still may happen that I end up back in Canada and if that were to happen I'd like to know my years back at uni wouldn't be wasted.

[Clinton1]

Nothing is certain without checking with the relevant Canadian authority, they will be able to give the 100% answer, and also let you know about converting the qual. if needed.
It may be a case of working under supervision and dong 12 months of night classes...who knows. I don't think it will be a blanket answer though.

[derekcohen]

Hi Matthew

Take these as comments from one with knowledge limited to one specific profession.

I think that it is not that all Australian degrees are considered less acceptable overseas, but that most countries set up specific criteria for each profession, and it is the individual nature of this that is relevant.

For example, if I wished to practice (as a clinical psychologist) in the USA I would have to meet the registration requirements of the state in which I wished to work. By contrast, an Australian degree (my degrees are not Australian) would be accepted without any difficulty in other Commonwealth countries (UK, South Africa, New Zealand, etc).

The shoe is on the other foot when it comes to the medical profession, and all non-Australian degreed professional are required to write board-certifying exams to work in Australia. This also holds for dentistry and pharmacists.

I know that they are many different systems of law around the world, and the ability to work as a lawyer in any country depends more on the nature of the content of one's studies than on the country in which you studied it. The bottom line is whether you have the relevant expertise.

I suspect that the same might go for accounting as well.

Just my 2c.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[woodbe]

Derek is right.

Not sure what the situation is with Veterinarians, but I do know that Aussie Vets have no problem getting work just about anywhere in the world, including US, Europe and Canada. Quite a few do just that as a post-degree working holiday.

On the other hand, Vets from more obscure areas (parts of South Africa, Some eastern European countries), are required to pass an exam, do a make-up course, or work under a qualified Vet to get work here in Australia.

Every country has it's own rules regarding foreign qualifications. The best source of information is the registration body in the country you think you might go to, and probably the Aussie Uni running the course.

woodbe.

[Grunt]

My lak ov ejakshun never hurt me nune

[DPB]

Derek's comments are generally correct. However, Canada is a commonwealth country but does not necessarily recognise Australian qualifications.

When we moved to Australia 18 years ago, my daughter enrolled in university and took a teacher's training degree. I was concerned, because I was aware that most Canadian young people wishing to become teachers do a 4 year BA then two more years to obtain a BEd. The course my daughter took was three years. I encouraged her to do some research when she visited Canada during the break between her 2nd and 3rd year.

She was devastated with her finding. Not only would her Australian qualifications not be recognised, but none of her training would obtain her any dispensation should she try to make up the education in Canada. In other words, the Canadian teaching profession gave her zero credit for her two years training.

Unfortunately, this so upset her that she returned to Canada to get, what she called, a "real education".

[jonb]

I'm a public servant who used to work in a related area. What I found out is that nothing is straightforward in international recognition of qualifications. It's bad enough in interstate recognition, although that's improved a lot.

If you are trying to find out, then definitely check it out at the Canadian end and do thorough research (eg I don't even know if qualifications recognition is a province level thing or a national thing there - in Oz it's done at the state level. Would it be accepted in all provinces?). Don't assume anything, when you are thinking of spending years studying.

Tips on finding out who to contact in Canada are of course the Net but also it may be worth approaching your own state Overseas Qualifications Unit (at least that's what it used to be called in Vic a few years ago) who would probably at least have some idea who to speak to over there. The Feds also have a similar area I believe. The uni might also be able to point you in the right direction on who to contact.

And as is in all these things, get it in writing if possible!

[Krunchy]

Hi MatthewA,

I think that Derek is spot on the mark.

When my wife got her teaching exchange to the US, we had to send over the synopsis of every subject that she did in her teaching degree. The board of the county that we went to had to check that she had done sufficient "study" to be considered a teacher in that county.

I think that international recognition depends on what it is you want to study - this seems to especially apply in disciplines that have some sort of board/industry accreditation (ie. Medicine, engineering etc) and whether or not the accreditation is recognised in other countries.

Krunchy