Canada’s strong economic growth drives a high demand for skilled professionals, which impacts Canada PR requirements. Its multicultural population helps fill labor gaps across provinces, but adapting to the Canadian workplace is essential. Fluency in English is crucial for professional success and career advancement in Canada.
Importance of English Fluency
In professions ranging from a plumber or carpenter to an accountant, proficiency in English is essential. As a common language, it connects individuals from different nationalities and is often a requirement in workplaces.
Standardized Language Tests
For non-native English speakers, the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is widely accepted for its standardized evaluation. The CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program) and TCF or TEF for French are also recognized tests.
Demand for Accountants in Canada 2024
Accountants are in high demand across Canada, particularly in 2024. The finance and accounting sector will see continued growth, and skilled accountants play a vital role.
Points System for Express Entry
When applying through Express Entry under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, you need 67 points to be eligible for immigration to Canada. The point distribution is as follows:
- Language Skills: Up to 28 points
- Age: Up to 12 points
- Work Experience: Up to 15 points
- Education: Up to 25 points
- Adaptability and Job Offer: Up to 10 points
Required Bands for Accountants
To immigrate to Canada as an accountant, besides work experience, job offers, and education credentials, good language skills are essential. Understanding these requirements will facilitate your journey towards achieving Canada PR and boosting your career prospects as an accountant.
IELTS Band Requirements
There are 4 modules in which you need to score well on an average. As an accountant, you will need to score a minimum of 7.0 in each module of your IELTS scores. These are:
- Reading
- Writing
- Listening
- Speaking
The NOC skill level for accountants can be both A or B due to their roles encompassing technical, professional, and managerial tasks.
NOC Skill Level A
For those applying under NOC A, which includes Chartered Accountants, you need to achieve a minimum CLB level of 10. This requires:
- Listening: 8.5 to 9.0
- Speaking: 7.5 to 9.0
- Reading: 8.0 to 9.0
- Writing: 7.5 to 9.0
Specific desired scores can be as follows:
- Listening – 8.0
- Speaking – 7.0
- Reading and Writing – 7.0 each
Job Prospects for Accountants in Canada (2024)
Canada provides optimistic career prospects for accountants, foreseeing the creation of approximately 88,000 and more job openings by 2024, notably in the realm of financial accounting.
Province-wise Breakdown:
- Quebec: Leads with 409 job positions.
- British Columbia and Alberta: Follow with 102 and 49 job postings available respectively.
For these positions, either a university degree or completion of chartered accountant training is requisite. Additionally, auditors must undergo education or training similar to that of chartered accountants.
Each province or territory in Canada requires licensing, certification, and registration through respective regulatory bodies.
NOC Skill Level B
Bookkeepers and accounting technicians, classified under Skill Level B, are deemed acceptable with a minimum CLB level of 6, featuring relatively lower band score requirements.
- Listening: 5.5
- Speaking: 5.5
- Writing: 5.5
- Reading: 5.0
For comprehensive details regarding band scores and the employment process for accountants in Canada, you can explore the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada website.
