Skills Recognition Assistance Program (PARC)

• Completed and signed PARC financial assistance application form.
• Project implementation plan including steps, schedule and detailed budget.
• Board of directors resolution supporting the application and designating the authorized signatory.
• For non-profit or cooperative applicants: charter, most recent activity or annual report, latest financial statements, general bylaws and minutes of the last annual general meeting.
• Any other supporting documents relevant for analysis, such as letters of support.

• The applicant must belong to one of the admissible categories (regulatory body, educational institution, sectoral committee, employers’ association, non-profit, cooperative or invited organization).
• The organization must be legally constituted, have its head office and most of its activities in Quebec, and be in good standing with the Registraire des entreprises where applicable.
• The organization must be governed by a democratically elected board or similar body and hold an annual general meeting in Quebec where applicable.
• The project must target recognition or guidance related to competencies acquired abroad by immigrants, with at least 40% of beneficiaries being immigrants in a recognition process.
• The organization must contribute at least 10% of total eligible project costs from its own resources or other non-public sources.

Who is eligible?

• Professional orders and other regulatory bodies governing access to a profession or trade in Quebec.
• Regulatory organizations governing access to an industry with regulated professions or trades, such as the Autorité des marchés financiers or the Commission de la construction du Québec.
• Public or private educational institutions and school service centres in Quebec.
• Sectoral workforce committees (CSMO) and employers’ associations or groupings.
• Non-profit organizations and cooperatives with missions compatible with competency recognition for immigrants.

Who is not eligible

• Municipal entities and public sector bodies other than specified regulatory authorities.
• Political parties, political associations, trade unions and religious associations.
• For-profit private companies and foundations mainly dedicated to fundraising and redistribution.
• Health and social services institutions, including CISSS and CIUSSS, and organizations in default under previous agreements or listed in the RENA.
• Organizations whose mission or interests are incompatible with the program objectives, or that are not in good standing with tax, lobbying or language requirements.

Eligible expenses

• Portion of project staff salaries and related benefits linked directly to the project.
• Rental costs for equipment or premises required for project delivery.
• Purchase of essential materials for developing or delivering project tools, services or activities.
• Promotion, communication and information technology costs directly tied to the project.
• Travel, study, consulting and administration costs directly related to the project, within program limits.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Regular operating costs of the organization, including salaries of permanent staff and debt servicing.
• Acquisition of land or property, and construction, purchase or renovation of buildings.
• Insurance premiums, retirement savings plans and similar employee benefit programs.
• Activities already funded under other government programs, or expenses outside the funding agreement period.
• Employment assistance services such as job fairs, CV or interview workshops, networking events, exploratory internships, and activities held outside Quebec.

Eligible geographic areas

• Organizations with their head office in Quebec and carrying out most of their activities in Quebec.

• Relevance of the project to the organization’s mission, program objectives and ministry orientations (25%).
• Quality of the project design, including problem definition, immigrant needs, organizational expertise and stakeholder support (15%).
• Scope and impact of the project on competency recognition, labour market participation and transferability to other contexts (30%).
• Innovative character of the project and its ability to offer new, concrete solutions (15%).
• Feasibility of the project considering budget, schedule, organizational capacity and expected results (15%).

• Step 1: Review Program Norms
  • Read the PARC program norms and guide available on Quebec.ca.
  • Confirm that your organization and project meet all admissibility requirements.
• Step 2: Define and Plan the Project
  • Identify the competency recognition problem to be addressed and target clientele.
  • Describe tools, services and activities to be developed or improved, with objectives and expected results.
  • Prepare the project implementation plan, including activities, schedule and detailed budget using the official template.
• Step 3: Prepare Required Documentation
  • Obtain a board resolution approving the funding request and designating the authorized signatory.
  • Compile all mandatory organizational documents according to your organization type.
  • Gather any letters of support or other relevant supporting documents.
• Step 4: Complete the Application Form
  • Fill out all sections of the official PARC financial assistance application form for 2023–2026.
  • Provide information on the organization, project description, indicators, partnerships, subcontracting and financing sources.
  • Sign the declaration confirming the accuracy and completeness of the information.
• Step 5: Submit the Application
  • Submit the completed form and all required attachments by email to the program’s specified address.
  • Ensure submission between April 1 and January 31 of the applicable intake period.

• Applications are received and checked for completeness and eligibility against program norms.
• Eligible projects are evaluated by ministry representatives, and where applicable a selection committee, using the published assessment criteria.
• Decisions are communicated to applicants, and selected organizations must sign a financial assistance agreement.
• Funding is disbursed in instalments conditional on approved project plans, interim progress reports and final follow-up and evaluation reports.
• The ministry may verify financial and activity reports, and can adjust, suspend or terminate funding if obligations are not met.

• Projects must have a maximum duration of three years, with the final year dedicated solely to follow-up and evaluation of tools, services or activities developed.
• Applications for the 2024–2025 intake are accepted between April 1, 2024 and January 31, 2025.
• The program norms for 2023–2026 are in force until June 30, 2026.
• Beneficiary organizations must acknowledge the financial support of the Quebec Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration in their communications.