Re-educating myself in Canada. How to climb the first hurdle in my situation?

Colleges, Universities, and Higher Education
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Re-entering education? What are my options?

(I apologize for this longish post. I hope someone has patience to read it and offer pointers, thanks!)

Background: I am not a new immigrant. I’ve been in Canada for almost 30 years. I’ve had a couple of good permanent jobs earlier (all Toronto), then I went on to manage my own small business (now in Mississauga).

Fast forward. The business has almost come to a halt now & is not sustainable anymore.

I have a Bachelors of Commerce Degree (two years) from University of Karachi, Pakistan from the 1980s. On top of that a ship load of industry/business certificates, honours, accomplishments, etc etc (all mostly obsolete I think.)

All the permanent employments I’ve had in Canada was 20 years ago. I gained those because of my international experience working as a professional in several Middle Eastern and Asian countires (top executive level). Also, no Canadian corporate employer ever asked me to verify my degree, they just took my invaluable experience and skills. So I never bothered to get any credentials certified from the University back then.

I’ve been trying to get back into employment for a while. But obviously since I’ve been out of regular employment, my resume is just a big huge gap. I don’t blame them, I would not hire myself, despite me managing a business and still retaining all the skills, but I guess I’m too old for anyone to consider. No hard feelings, that’s life.

So I have decided to re-educate myself and acquire a new education.

The very first hurdle is getting anyone to recognize that I have some previous education. To Canadians I don’t even have a high school diploma because nothing is verified.

I don’t have anyone back in Pakistan who I can ask, nor can I afford to go just to get my very old degree verified. I have researched the interwebs about services like WES etc, which in turn require me to get it via Higher Education Commission in Pakistan (a body which didn’t even exist when I graduated). The more I dig into it the deeper and darker this Credential Verification hole gets! My deepest admiration to the young people today having to do it all!

So, I think my sanest option is just to do a CAEC or a Canadian high school diploma.

Is that my only choice now? What do you think, suggest?

My goal is to get a renewed education for a field of study of my choice. Am I taking the best route? Is there anything I’m missing?

Thank you very much!

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Hi there,

Thank you for sharing your question and situation with us, we appreciate your interest in this information.

Whether you are looking at re-training, or looking to start fresh with the job search – an employment counsellor at a settlement agency can help you map a path forward regarding career and possible education/training opportunities. To find the nearest settlement agency, call 211. 211 Ontario is a free, confidential service. Their phone service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Here is a link to their live chat if you prefer to communicate online. Their live chat service is available Monday to Friday from 7am-9pm.

Regarding your pursuit of a CAEC, you may find helpful information in the Settlement.Org articles, What is a GED/High School Equivalence Certificate? and Where can I take high school courses as an adult?. Depending on where you are located in Ontario, local school boards might be offering adult classes in the evenings, on the weekends, or during the day to help mature students complete their high school diploma.

The first article, What is a GED/High School Equivalence Certificate? has information on the CAEC test and other high school options, here’s an excerpt:

Do I have other high school diploma options?

Yes, you may be eligible for Prior Learning and Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) for mature students or Mature PLAR.

Your academic records and life experiences are reviewed and compared with the Ontario curriculum expectations and through subject-based assessments. This process may grant you credits towards earning an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). The assessment is free, and you can access it through the adult and continuing education department at your school board.

If you are actively enrolled in a course with the Independent Learning Centre (ILC), you can apply to start the Mature PLAR. The ILC is an online learning partner of the Ontario Ministry of Education.

Another option is the Academic Career Entrance (ACE) program offered by Ontario colleges. This program can help you upgrade your skills and knowledge to meet admission requirements for:

We hope this information is helpful, please follow up with us if you have any further questions.

Sincerely,

Your Settlement.Org Team