1 Confirm your occupation

Biologists and related scientists (2121)

Description

Biologists and related scientists conduct basic and applied research to extend knowledge of living organisms, to manage natural resources, and to develop new practices and products related to medicine and agriculture. They are employed in both laboratory and field settings by governments, environmental consulting companies, resource and utilities companies, chemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnical companies and health and educational institutions.

Skill Level A

Skill Type 2

National Occupational Classification (NOC)

Other titles

agricultural scientist
agrogeologist
algologist
anatomist
animal ecologist
animal geneticist
animal nutritionist
animal taxonomist
aquatic biologist
astrobiologist
bacteriologist
bacteriologist - animal health
bioinformatician
biological scientist
biologist
biologist, enzymology
biologist, medical parasitology
biologist, parasitology
biologist, protozoology
biologist, veterinary parasitology
biomedical nanotechnology research scientist
botanist
bryologist
cell biologist
cellular physiologist
crop scientist
crop-research scientist
cytochemist
cytogeneticist
cytologist
cytologist-microbiologist
dairy bacteriologist
dairy scientist
descriptive toxicologist
developmental biologist
developmental geneticist
domestic animal scientist
ecobiologist
ecologist
economic botanist
embryologist
entomologist
entomologist, apiculture
environmental and occupational toxicologist
environmental biologist
environmental toxicologist
enzymologist
enzymology biologist
etiologist
fishery bacteriologist
fishery products bacteriologist
food bacteriologist
food products bacteriologist
food products scientist
food research scientist
food scientist
forest ecologist
forest pathologist
geneticist
helminthologist
herpetologist
histologist
histopathologist
human physiologist
hydrobiologist
ichthyologist
immunologist
industrial bacteriologist
insect physiologist
interpretative naturalist
invertebrate zoologist
laboratory immunologist
limnologist
malariologist
mammalogist
marine biologist
marine hydrobiologist
marine mammal trainer
mechanistic toxicologist
medical parasitology biologist
microbiologist
molecular biologist
molecular geneticist
molecular physiologist
mycologist
naturalist
nematologist
ornithologist
osteologist
parasitologist
parasitology biologist
park naturalist
pathologist, forests
pathologist, plants
pharmaceutical bacteriologist
pharmacologist
physiological biophysicist
physiologist
physiologist-biochemist - nuclear medicine
phytobiologist
phytopathologist
plant anatomist
plant breeder
plant ecologist
plant nematologist
plant pathologist
plant physiologist
plant population biologist
plant scientist
plant taxonomist
population geneticist
poultry scientist
protozoologist
protozoology biologist
public health bacteriologist
regulatory toxicologist
research biologist
rural ecologist
serologist
soil bacteriologist
staff toxicologist
systematist, biology
systems biologist
taxonomist, biology
toxicologist
veterinary parasitology biologist
virologist
wildlife biologist
wildlife helminthologist
wildlife naturalist
zoologist

Related Occupations

2 Confirm the occupational regulations

Regulations and laws

Regulations and laws governing specific occupations are fixed by provincial and territorial governments around specific occupations.

Biologists are regulated in Alberta and British Columbia. In order to use one of the reserved titles, you must be registered with one of the provincial regulatory authorities in Alberta or British Columbia to be authorized to practise as a biologist.

Note that the use of one of the reserved titles is not required in order to practise in Alberta and British Columbia, and therefore, certification is voluntary.

Registered professional biologist (RPBio), registered biology technologist (RBTech), and professional biologist (P. Biol. and P Biol) are the titles used in regulations governing this occupation.

	Regulated		Non-regulated
	Mandatory certification, licence, or registration		Voluntary certification, licence, or registration	No certification, licence, or registration exists
	Exclusive right to practise	Reserved title	Available	None
Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Nova Scotia
Northwest Territories
Nunavut
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon

Definition

Regulated occupation:

An occupation controlled by provincial and territorial (and sometimes federal) law, and governed by a regulatory body. About 20 per cent of jobs are in regulated occupations. These include regulated professions (e.g., nursing) and skilled trades (e.g., plumbing).

The law requires you to obtain a certificate, licence, or registration to use the reserved title for the occupation or obtain the exclusive right to practise the occupation. These regulations are intended to protect the health and safety of Canadians by ensuring that professionals meet the required standards of practice and competency.

There are two types of regulation:

Exclusive right to practise: A profession whose members are the only ones who can engage in the profession’s activities and use the title allowed them by law. The law defines, among other things, the professional activities strictly reserved for the members of each regulatory body.
Reserved title: A profession where only members of a regulatory body can make use of specific titles and abbreviations allowed them by law. Individuals who are not members of that regulatory body may practise the occupation, but they may not use any of these titles or allow others to believe (by using a similar title or abbreviation) they are members of a regulatory body.

Non-regulated occupation:

A profession or trade for which there is no legal requirement or restriction on practice with regard to licences, certificates, or registration.

Voluntary certification, licence, or registration: The province or territory in which voluntary certification, licensing, or registration is available but not required by law..
No certification, licence, or registration exists

3 Learn about credential assessment and recognition

It is strongly recommended that you gather all supporting documents and arrange for them to be sent while you are still in the country in which they were issued. It is very important to submit documents for assessment following the specific process required by the provincial/territorial regulatory authority (see list below). This will greatly facilitate the assessment and recognition process.

Use the tabs below to find information on credential assessment and any mobility agreements in place.

Occupational assessment

Biologists who qualified in Canada

Provincial regulatory authorities are responsible for:

assessing your qualifications; and
issuing a licence to practise.

For information on the documents that you must submit to obtain a licence to practise as a biologist, contact the regulatory authority in the province you wish to work in.

Internationally trained biologists

Any member of the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada (ACESC) is responsible for:

assessing your qualifications.

For information on the documents that you must submit to complete the assessment process, contact one of the six members of ACESC.

As a second step, provincial regulatory authorities are responsible for

issuing a licence to practise.

For information on the documents that you must submit to obtain a licence to practise as a biologist, contact the regulatory authority in the province you wish to work in.

Additional certification (voluntary)

The Canadian College of Microbiologists (CCM) and the Canadian Environmental Certification Approvals Board (CECAB) offer voluntary certification to use one of the following designations:

Academic Research Microbiologist (ARM);
Environmental Professional (EP);
Fellow of the Canadian College of Microbiologist (FCCM);
Registered Microbiologist (RM);
Specialist of the Canadian College of Microbiologists (SCCM).

Immigration

Immigration to Canada

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is the department responsible for immigration to Canada.

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) - Express Entry

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is an immigration program administered by IRCC. If you intend to immigrate to Canada under the FSWP and obtained your academic credentials outside Canada, one of the requirements is to obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for immigration purposes.¹ For more detailed information on IRCC's requirements for this immigration program, visit their Web site.

^1.A requirement for immigration purposes ONLY

It is important to note that obtaining an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is a requirement for immigration purposes only.

It is separate from the process of obtaining a licence to practise from the relevant regulatory authority.

Obtaining a licence to practise is not required to apply to IRCC's FSWP.

Additional information

Whether or not you obtain certification and/or licensure to pursue work in your occupation, if you later choose to pursue work in a non-regulated occupation, employers may request that you provide them with a formal assessment of your academic credentials.

Before undertaking an academic credential assessment for general purposes, it is extremely important to verify that the employer requires and will accept an assessment report issued by one of the six members of the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada (ACESC).

If so, contact one of the academic credential assessment services below to obtain detailed information on:

application forms;
how to submit your international academic credentials for assessment;
timelines and fees for obtaining an academic credential assessment report.

An academic credential assessment for general purposes can take between several weeks to several months to obtain. It is strongly recommended that you begin this process prior to your arrival in Canada.

Although assessment services offer expert advice on how qualifications obtained outside Canada compare with those obtained in Canada, their assessments are advisory only. In Canada, they do not guarantee recognition of your qualifications for:

admission at an educational institution;
certification, licensing, or registration in an occupation; and/or
general employment.

All six members of the Alliance adhere to the Pan-Canadian Quality Assurance Framework for the Assessment of International Academic Credentials, and their assessments are used by many organizations. For more information on the Alliance, please visit its Web site, or use the information below to connect directly with its members.

Alberta

International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)

9th floor, 9942 108 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5K2J5 Canada

Telephone : (+1) 780-427-2655

Fax : (+1) 780-422-9734

British Columbia

International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES)

3700 Willingdon Avenue Burnaby, British Columbia V5G3H2 Canada

icesinfo@bcit.ca

Telephone : (+1) 604-434-5734

Fax : (+1) 604-435-7033

Northwest Territories

International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)

9th floor, 9942 108 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5K2J5 Canada

Telephone : (+1) 780-427-2655

Fax : (+1) 780-422-9734

Ontario

World Education Services - Canada (WES)

1400 - 2 Carlton Street Toronto, Ontario M5B1J3 Canada

Telephone : (+1) 416-972-0070

Fax : (+1) 416-972-9004

Comparative Education Service (CES)

162 St. George Street, University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies Toronto, Ontario M5S2V8 Canada

ces.info@utoronto.ca

Telephone : (+1) 416-978-2400

Fax : (+1) 416-978-2185

International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS)

102 - 100 Stone Road West Guelph, Ontario N1G5L3 Canada

info@icascanada.ca

Telephone : (+1) 519-763-7282

Fax : (+1) 519-763-6964

Quebec

Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et Intégration du Québec (MIFI)

Service de l’analyse des diplômes internationaux (SADI), 285 rue Notre-Dame Ouest, 4e étage Montréal, Quebec H2Y 1T8 Canada

Telephone : (+1) 514-864-9191

Saskatchewan

International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)

9th floor, 9942 108 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5K2J5 Canada

Telephone : (+1) 780-427-2655

Fax : (+1) 780-422-9734

Mobility

International mobility

Find out more about international mobility and MRAs.

Financial assistance

Internationally trained professionals may have access to financial assistance to complete the assessment process that will allow them to work in their intended occupations. These micro-loan programs are offered to citizens or permanent residents of Canada who were trained outside Canada and do not have sufficient credit history to borrow from a Canadian financial institution.

To learn about participating provinces and territories, and determine your eligibility, use the information below to find an organization close to you offering micro loans.

Windmill Microlending
Suite 709, 7015 Macleod Trail SW
Calgary Alberta
T2H2K6 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 403-228-9981
Suite 2020 (Scotia Place Tower 1) 10060 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton Alberta
T5J3R8 Canada
Bureau 710, 5455 Avenue de Gaspé
Montréal Quebec
H2T3B3 Canada
220 - 20th St W. Suite 219, Second Level
Saskatoon Saskatchewan
S7M0W9 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 306-974-4856
Suite 300, 165 Avenue Rd
Toronto Ontario
M5R3S4 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 416-360-4445
Suite 709, 7015 Macleod Trail SW
Calgary Alberta
T2H2K6 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 403-228-9981
Suite 2020 (Scotia Place Tower 1) 10060 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton Alberta
T5J3R8 Canada
Bureau 710, 5455 Avenue de Gaspé
Montréal Quebec
H2T3B3 Canada
220 - 20th St W. Suite 219, Second Level
Saskatoon Saskatchewan
S7M0W9 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 306-974-4856
Suite 300, 165 Avenue Rd
Toronto Ontario
M5R3S4 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 416-360-4445
Suite 709, 7015 Macleod Trail SW
Calgary Alberta
T2H2K6 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 403-228-9981
Suite 2020 (Scotia Place Tower 1) 10060 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton Alberta
T5J3R8 Canada
Bureau 710, 5455 Avenue de Gaspé
Montréal Quebec
H2T3B3 Canada
220 - 20th St W. Suite 219, Second Level
Saskatoon Saskatchewan
S7M0W9 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 306-974-4856
Suite 300, 165 Avenue Rd
Toronto Ontario
M5R3S4 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 416-360-4445
S.U.C.C.E.S.S. - Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Loan Project
238 - 8131 Westminster Hwy
Richmond British Columbia
V6X 1A7 Canada
Supporting Employment and Economic Development (SEED Winnipeg) Inc. SEED
80 Salter Street
Winnipeg Manitoba
R2W4J6 Canada
Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia ISANS
ISANS Desmond, Bayers Road Professional Centre, 7071 Bayers Road, Suite 164 (Desmond Avenue entrance)
Halifax Nova Scotia
B3L2C2 Canada
Main office, 2120 - 6960 Mumford Road
Halifax Nova Scotia
B3L4P1 Canada
ISANS Joseph Howe, 2717 Joseph Howe Drive, Second Floor
Halifax Nova Scotia
B3L4T9 Canada
WIL Employment Connections - Internationally Trained Workers
141 Dundas Street, 4th Floor
London Ontario
N6A 1G3 Canada
Canada Microcredit Educators Group - Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Pilot Project
420 University Ave, Suite 200, P.O. Box 1551
Charlottetown Prince Edward Island
C1A 7Z5 Canada
Microcrédit Montréal
319 - 3680 rue Jeanne Mance
Montreal Quebec
H2X 2K5 Canada

Alberta

Windmill Microlending
Suite 709, 7015 Macleod Trail SW
Calgary Alberta
T2H2K6 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 403-228-9981
Suite 2020 (Scotia Place Tower 1) 10060 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton Alberta
T5J3R8 Canada
Bureau 710, 5455 Avenue de Gaspé
Montréal Quebec
H2T3B3 Canada
220 - 20th St W. Suite 219, Second Level
Saskatoon Saskatchewan
S7M0W9 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 306-974-4856
Suite 300, 165 Avenue Rd
Toronto Ontario
M5R3S4 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 416-360-4445

British Columbia

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. - Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Loan Project
238 - 8131 Westminster Hwy
Richmond British Columbia
V6X 1A7 Canada

Manitoba

Supporting Employment and Economic Development (SEED Winnipeg) Inc. SEED
80 Salter Street
Winnipeg Manitoba
R2W4J6 Canada

New Brunswick

Multicultural Association of Fredericton
28 Saunders Street
Fredericton New Brunswick
E3B 1N1 Canada
Multicultural Association of the Greater Moncton Area
22 Church St, Suite C170
Moncton New Brunswick
E1C 0P7 Canada
YMCA of Greater Saint John
191 Churchill Blvd.
Saint John New Brunswick
E2K 3E2 Canada

Newfoundland and Labrador

AXIS Career Services, Association for New Canadians
A/S Association for New Canadians, 10 Smithville Crescent, P.O.Box 2031, Stn. C
St. John's Newfoundland and Labrador
A1C 5R6 Canada

Nova Scotia

Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia ISANS
ISANS Desmond, Bayers Road Professional Centre, 7071 Bayers Road, Suite 164 (Desmond Avenue entrance)
Halifax Nova Scotia
B3L2C2 Canada
Main office, 2120 - 6960 Mumford Road
Halifax Nova Scotia
B3L4P1 Canada
ISANS Joseph Howe, 2717 Joseph Howe Drive, Second Floor
Halifax Nova Scotia
B3L4T9 Canada

Ontario

Windmill Microlending
Suite 709, 7015 Macleod Trail SW
Calgary Alberta
T2H2K6 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 403-228-9981
Suite 2020 (Scotia Place Tower 1) 10060 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton Alberta
T5J3R8 Canada
Bureau 710, 5455 Avenue de Gaspé
Montréal Quebec
H2T3B3 Canada
220 - 20th St W. Suite 219, Second Level
Saskatoon Saskatchewan
S7M0W9 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 306-974-4856
Suite 300, 165 Avenue Rd
Toronto Ontario
M5R3S4 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 416-360-4445
WIL Employment Connections - Internationally Trained Workers
141 Dundas Street, 4th Floor
London Ontario
N6A 1G3 Canada
Ottawa Community Loan Fund OCLF
2211 Riverside Dr., Suite 308
Ottawa Ontario
K1H7X5 Canada
Achēv
Brampton East, 263 Queen Street East, Unit 14
Brampton Ontario
L6W4K6 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 905-595-0722
Brampton South, 7700 Hurontario Street, Unit 601
Brampton Ontario
L6Y4M3 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 905-457-4747
Mississauga - Malton, 7420 Airport Road, Suite 104
Mississauga Ontario
L4T4E5 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 905-677-0007
Mississauga - City Centre, 50 Burnhamthorpe Road West, Suite 300/410
Mississauga Ontario
L5B3C2 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 905-949-0049
Head Office, 90 Burnhamthorpe Road West, Suite 210
Mississauga Ontario
L5B3C3 Canada
Oakville, 690 Dorval Drive, Suite 100
Oakville Ontario
L6K3X9 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 905-875-3851
Pickering, 1099 Kingston Rd, #240
Pickering Ontario
L1V1B5 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 905-420-1919
Richmond Hill,420 Hwy 7 East #204B
Richmond Hill Ontario
L4B3K2 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 855-330-8655
North York, 1090 Don Mills Road, Suite 406
Toronto Ontario
M3C3R6 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 416-444-8744
Toronto, 100 Lombard St. Suite 400
Toronto Ontario
M5C1M3 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 416-964-9797

Prince Edward Island

Canada Microcredit Educators Group - Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Pilot Project
420 University Ave, Suite 200, P.O. Box 1551
Charlottetown Prince Edward Island
C1A 7Z5 Canada

Quebec

Windmill Microlending
Suite 709, 7015 Macleod Trail SW
Calgary Alberta
T2H2K6 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 403-228-9981
Suite 2020 (Scotia Place Tower 1) 10060 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton Alberta
T5J3R8 Canada
Bureau 710, 5455 Avenue de Gaspé
Montréal Quebec
H2T3B3 Canada
220 - 20th St W. Suite 219, Second Level
Saskatoon Saskatchewan
S7M0W9 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 306-974-4856
Suite 300, 165 Avenue Rd
Toronto Ontario
M5R3S4 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 416-360-4445
Microcrédit Montréal
319 - 3680 rue Jeanne Mance
Montreal Quebec
H2X 2K5 Canada

Saskatchewan

Windmill Microlending
Suite 709, 7015 Macleod Trail SW
Calgary Alberta
T2H2K6 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 403-228-9981
Suite 2020 (Scotia Place Tower 1) 10060 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton Alberta
T5J3R8 Canada
Bureau 710, 5455 Avenue de Gaspé
Montréal Quebec
H2T3B3 Canada
220 - 20th St W. Suite 219, Second Level
Saskatoon Saskatchewan
S7M0W9 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 306-974-4856
Suite 300, 165 Avenue Rd
Toronto Ontario
M5R3S4 Canada
Telephone : (+1) 416-360-4445

4 Contact the regulatory authority

The regulatory authority sets the requirements for certification, licensing, or registration to work in regulated occupations. It is responsible for defining the assessment process described above and for the ultimate recognition of your professional qualifications.

In addition to an assessment of your academic and professional qualifications, you may also have to complete other requirements to obtain a licence to practise or certificate of qualification. These could include:

examinations to test your knowledge and competencies;
proof of language proficiency;
criminal record check;
Canadian work placement or practicum;

reference check or proof of professional standing;
orientation course or bridging program; and/or
additional academic or professional requirements.

Use the information below to contact the regulatory authority in the province or territory in which you wish settle. It can provide detailed information on the requirements to obtain a licence to practise.

Canada

For this jurisdiction, we do not have information on the existence of an organization. To update the information of this profile, please contact us.

Occupational profile

1 Confirm your occupation

Biologists and related scientists (2121)

Description

Other titles

Related Occupations

2 Confirm the occupational regulations

Regulations and laws

Definition

3 Learn about credential assessment and recognition

Occupational assessment

Biologists who qualified in Canada

Internationally trained biologists

Additional certification (voluntary)

Immigration

Immigration to Canada

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) - Express Entry

1. A requirement for immigration purposes ONLY

Additional information

Alberta

British Columbia

Northwest Territories

Ontario

Quebec

Saskatchewan

Mobility

International mobility

Financial assistance

Alberta

British Columbia

Manitoba

New Brunswick

Newfoundland and Labrador

Nova Scotia

Ontario

Prince Edward Island

Quebec

Saskatchewan

4 Contact the regulatory authority

Canada

AB - Alberta

Alberta Society of Professional Biologists

Address(es)

BC - British Columbia

College of Applied Biology

Address(es)

MB - Manitoba

NB - New Brunswick

NL - Newfoundland and Labrador

NS - Nova Scotia

NT - Northwest Territories

NU - Nunavut

ON - Ontario

PE - Prince Edward Island

QC - Quebec

SK - Saskatchewan

YK - Yukon

5 Contact professional associations

Canada

Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists

Address(es)

Canadian Society of Microbiologists

Address(es)

Environmental Careers Organization - ECO Canada

Address(es)

Canadian Environmental Certification Approvals Board

Address(es)

Canadian College of Microbiologists

Address(es)

AB - Alberta

Alberta Society of Professional Biologists

Address(es)

BC - British Columbia

Association of Professional Biology

Address(es)

MB - Manitoba

NB - New Brunswick

NL - Newfoundland and Labrador

NS - Nova Scotia

NT - Northwest Territories

^1.A requirement for immigration purposes ONLY