Recognition of immigrant professionals’ prior learning: an integrative review of the literature

Amidst increasing immigration, immigrant knowledge can encounter barriers to recognition in the host country. Immigrant professionals in particular often experience non-recognition of their international credentials and expertise. Using the SALSA methodology, this article presents an integrative review of the literature on the recognition of immigrant professionals’ prior knowledge. I selected 11 articles (1) directly addressing issues of immigrants and prior knowledge or recognition (2) published in a peer-reviewed journal (3) empirically-based (4) published in the last 20 years (2003–2023). In addition to empirical articles, I selected 17 conceptual articles and two books that met measures (1), (2), and (4) or contributed significantly to the topic. I synthesised the articles by identifying key themes of transnationalism, mobility of knowledge, and recognition. I found that within a transnational framework, recognitional justice allows for mobility of immigrant knowledge, facilitating lifelong learning. Conversely, non-recognition halts mobility of knowledge at the bordered knowledge of the host country, producing devaluation and underemployment. Recognition and non-recognition are primarily determined by policies and processes established by societal structures that either allow for or erect barriers to the acceptance of prior knowledge. Implications for future research include adding empirical studies from the United States and exploring the role of governments, institutions, and policies in perpetuating this problem.