How to Become a Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant

Working in the field of immigration can mean a dynamic and rewarding career helping people from abroad become new Canadians.

Are you someone who wants to help others? Canada prides itself on building a strong country though immigration programs and citizenship services, but this process can be intimidating for newcomers. As a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC), you can help newcomers navigate this new chapter of their lives.

Did you know that Canada has one of the highest naturalization rates in the world? This means that someone not born in Canada acquires a Canadian citizenship. As of 2021, about 80% of eligible immigrants were citizens.

So, let’s take a look at everything you need to know about becoming a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant.

What is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant?

Immigration consultants are skilled professionals who help people from outside Canada with the process of immigration and naturalization. Immigration consultants typically work for law firms, government agencies, or private firms dealing specifically with immigration cases. Basically, if someone from outside Canada wants to study, work, or live in Canada, an RCIC is the person who can help! And their help doesn’t stop once you’re in Canada. An RCIC can also provide assistance with:

• Citizenship applications
• Family sponsorship applications
• Visitor visas
• Detention reviews
• Study permits

Plus, immigration consultants can expect a median salary of approximately $84,000 CAD per year.

What does a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant do?

The main responsibility of an RCIC is to provide immigration advice. Every RCIC has different levels of expertise and may provide specific services, but in general an RCIC will:

• Explain options for immigration and citizenship
• Recommend the best route for the client
• Help understand and fill out applications for immigration or citizenship
• Communicate with the Government of Canada on the client’s behalf
• Represent a client in any hearings

How to become a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant in four steps

As of 2020, the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) has established a specific pathway for students and new practitioners to enter the practice of immigration consultation in Canada. Here, we'll walk you through the basic steps to becoming an immigration consultant.

Step 1: Bachelor’s degree

As your first step, you'll need to earn a bachelor's degree from an accredited university. Your field of study isn't critical, as you'll be pursuing further education after you graduate, but you may want to consider a program in law or public policy to give yourself a firm grounding for your future studies.

You'll also want to be sure that you earn decent grades and make a good impression on your instructors. To qualify for the next step, you'll need at least a B average — roughly 70% across your courses — as well as receive a good reference from an instructor. You should take advantage of professors' office hours to build a rapport and improve your chances at receiving a good reference.

Step 2: Graduate diploma

Only two schools in Canada are permitted to offer the required graduate diploma program: Queen's University, whose program is taught in English, and Université de Montréal, which teaches in French. Here, we'll focus on the Queen's University program, offered by the Faculty of Law.

The Queen's University Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law is a necessary step on your way to becoming a regulated immigration consultant in Canada. It's a three-semester program, designed to be completed in one year, and it's optimized for online learning, meaning you don't need to go to the Queen's campus in Kingston, Ontario, to take part.

To be considered for the program, you'll need to meet the qualifications noted above, submit a short personal statement explaining your career ambitions and interest in the field and provide two references.

You'll take part in weekly tutorials and coursework, which will take roughly 40 to 48 hours per week — about the equivalent of a full-time job. Fees are charged per term, but you can expect to pay a total of about $15,900 in tuition.

When you've completed the program, you'll earn a Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law. Though the program is taught by the Queen's Faculty of Law, you won't be qualified to practice law in Canada — though you will be ready to write the CICC’s Entry-to-Practice Exam, which is the next mandatory step on your way to becoming a certified immigration consultant.

Step 3: Entry-to-Practice Exam

Next, you must take the Entry-to-Practice Exam administered by CICC within three years of completing your graduate diploma program. By completing the Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law from Queen's University, you'll be well prepared to pass the exam with flying colours.

The exam consists of 135 multiple-choice questions and case-based multiple-choice questions. The exam takes a total of three hours to complete and is closed-book.

Make sure you check out the RCIC Entry-to-Practice candidate guide (pdf) to help you prepare.

Step 4: Obtain your license

The final step to becoming an RCIC is to obtain your license from the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants. After you pass the Entry-to-Practice Exam, you’ll have 120 days to apply for your license and submit documents like a valid police certificate, government-issued photo id, and more.

If you've made it this far, congratulations! You're now a regulated Canadian immigration consultant, eligible to work in the field of immigration, citizenship, and naturalization in Canada.

Good luck in your exciting new career!