Upwardly Global Launches Web Tool to Help Skilled Immigrants Re-Enter Regulated Careers

Jan. 14, 2011 - PRLog -- In a commitment to eliminate barriers for career reentry for immigrant professionals in the U.S., Upwardly Global (www.upwardlyglobal.org) today launched its Careers for New Americans website (www.careersfornewamericans.org). This online resource speaks directly to immigrants with foreign education and experience who want to resume their careers in regulated professions, but need help navigating the maze of licensing and certification processes in the U.S.

Licensing and certification have been generally acknowledged as one of the systemic barriers that hinder skilled immigrant integration into the U.S. workforce.  It is an especially important issue considering the acknowledged acute skills shortages in fields such as healthcare and engineering. The Careers for New Americans website, conceived in partnership with the  State of Illinois, provides step by step mapping of licensing requirements including credential evaluation, testing, and clinical practice requirements – with direct links to the official agencies and service providers immigrants must connect to in order to complete the process.  The licensing guides also offer cost and time scenarios, strategic advice, and discuss alternative careers for 9 major professions requiring state license for full practice:

• Accountant (CPA)      
• Architect            
• Dentist               
• Lawyer               
• Nurse (RN)
• Pharmacist
• Physician (MD)
• Professional Engineer (PE)
• Teacher (K-12)

Nikki Cicerani, Executive Director of Upwardly Global said, “When it comes to licensing and certification, each state has different rules and criteria and newly arrived immigrant professionals face barriers to access to relevant information about licensing procedures both before and after arrival.  The goal of Careers for New Americans is to make licensing and credentialing processes for immigrant professionals easier to understand.”

Systemic barriers combined with personal obstacles have forced immigrant professionals to take on survival jobs to support themselves and their families. As the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) estimates, more than 1.3 million college-educated immigrants were unemployed or underemployed in 2005-2006.

Ms. Cicerani pointed out that the failure to translate international experience and education obtained by immigrant professionals into the American labor market will be a great loss for the U.S. “America has a history of attracting the best talent in the world. However, this may not be the case anymore based on the fact that countries around the globe are competing for global talent. It is time to rethink how we can fully utilize the talent that is already in the U.S. and create a richer society based on a new foundation of inclusion.”

Careers for New Americans currently covers three states including California, Illinois, and New York and Upwardly Global is planning to bring its policy work and new tool to other states.  “Skilled immigrant integration is an achievable goal and we encourage you to take part in it.  It benefits the community and the economy while filling shortages in highly-skilled jobs,” added Ms. Cicerani.  If you are interested in learning more about our policy work, please contact Jennifer Perez-Brennan, Manager, Policy and Systemic Change Initiatives at Upwardly Global at jennifer@upwardlyglobal.org or 312-431-1923.

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Upwardly Global is a nonprofit organization that helps immigrant professionals rebuild their careers in the US and helps US employers benefit from this hidden pool of talent.