Effective Jan. 1, 2026, certain regulated professionals licensed elsewhere in Canada will be able to work in Ontario within 10 days of applying to the applicable Ontario regulatory authority. This will make it considerably easier for Ontario employers to hire skilled workers from anywhere in the country in a variety of regulated occupations and enhance flexibility to staff short-term projects.
According to the Government of Ontario, the goal is to build a unified Canadian workforce that can stand up to U.S. tariffs and economic uncertainty. The Regulation,Ontario Labour Mobility Act, 2009, will apply to professions covered by more than 50 regulatory authorities and 300 certifications (see below).
To whom does the regulation apply?
The Regulation applies to “an occupation for which an Ontario regulatory authority is authorized … to grant a specific authorizing certificate to an individual.” This generally includes all regulated professions outside the healthcare industry. Many in-demand jobs, such as electricians, architects, early childhood educators, and skilled trades, fall under this definition.
Deemed certification within ten days
Under the Regulation, if a worker certified in a regulated occupation in another province applies for certification in Ontario, that worker will be deemed certified in Ontario within ten days of applying to the appropriate Ontario regulatory authority. The deemed certification lasts for a one-time period of six-months. This period is non-renewable and if an applicant wishes to continue working in Ontario, in that regulated profession, they must complete all licensing requirements within that timeframe.
Deemed certification will end prior to the expiration of the six-month period if the regulatory authority:
- Certifies the individual in the occupation; or
- Denies the application (and any right of appeal is extinguished); or
- Determines any information provided by the individual in the application was not accurate at the time it was provided or is no longer accurate.
An applicant must submit their authorizing certificate from the other province and any additional information or payment required by the Ontario regulatory authority. This may include an application fee, successful completion of a proficiency exam, evidence of English language proficiency, police or credit check, confirmation of professional insurance, etc.
Once an application is submitted, the Ontario regulatory authority has ten days to provide the applicant with a “notice of receipt” or inform the applicant if the application is incomplete or cannot be processed. If the notice of receipt confirms the application is complete, the applicant is considered certified in Ontario for that occupation for a one-time period of six months.
Regulatory authority must post information about deemed certification
Every Ontario regulatory authority must publish, on a publicly accessible website, a statement confirming that the deemed certification process is available, an explanation of how the process works, and the information required to meet the application requirements.
Skilled Trades Ontario is on the list of Regulatory Authorities Covered by the Regulation.
For more information or assistance contact Sherrard Kuzz LLP or info@sherrardkuzz.com.