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ECA - WES, IQAS, ETC
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Canada ECA: WES, IQAS, CES, ICES and Other Credential Assessment Options
If you completed your education outside Canada and are planning to apply for Canadian immigration, an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) can be an important part of the process. An ECA assesses your foreign educational credential and determines its Canadian equivalency for immigration purposes.
The important point is that you should choose an IRCC-designated organization and make sure you request the assessment specifically for immigration purposes.
1. What Is an ECA?
An Educational Credential Assessment is a report that assesses whether your foreign degree, diploma or certificate is authentic and what it is equivalent to in Canada.
For Express Entry, the ECA report is used to establish the Canadian equivalency of foreign education and, where applicable, award education-related points.
An ECA is not the same thing as a professional licence. Having an ECA does not automatically give you the right to practise a regulated profession in Canada. If your occupation is regulated, you may still need to complete the applicable licensing process.
2. Who Needs an ECA for Express Entry?
If you completed your education outside Canada, you generally need an ECA if you want to claim education obtained outside Canada for Express Entry.
For a principal applicant under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, an ECA can also be required to establish eligibility. Your spouse or common-law partner’s foreign education can also receive education-related points when the applicable requirements are met.
A Canadian degree, diploma or certificate does not require an ECA.
3. Which ECA Organizations Are Designated by IRCC?
For most applicants, IRCC currently designates five multipurpose organizations:
World Education Services (WES), International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS), Comparative Education Service (CES) at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies, International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS), and International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES) at British Columbia Institute of Technology.
The correct choice depends on your circumstances, your credentials and the requirements of the immigration program for which you are applying.
4. WES for Canada ECA
World Education Services (WES) is one of the IRCC-designated organizations that provides ECAs for Canadian immigration.
A WES ECA evaluates degrees and diplomas earned outside Canada and can be used to meet applicable IRCC immigration requirements. WES states that its ECA is valid for five years from the date of issue.
WES also provides instructions for creating an account, starting an application and submitting the required educational documents for an IRCC ECA.
5. IQAS for Canada ECA
International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) is another organization designated by IRCC for educational credential assessments.
IQAS assesses international education credentials for Canadian immigration purposes. Processing requirements, documents and timelines should be checked directly with IQAS before submitting an application.
6. CES for Canada ECA
Comparative Education Service (CES) at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies is one of the organizations designated by IRCC to provide ECAs.
CES is therefore an option for applicants who need an ECA for Canadian immigration purposes
7. ICES for Canada ECA
International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES) is also an IRCC-designated organization for ECA purposes.
ICES is operated by the British Columbia Institute of Technology and is included among the five multipurpose organizations currently designated by IRCC.
8. ICAS for Canada ECA
International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) is another IRCC-designated organization.
It is important not to overlook ICAS when comparing your ECA options because it is included in IRCC’s current list of designated multipurpose assessment organizations.
9. Do You Need an ECA for Every Degree?
In most Express Entry situations, you only need an assessment for your highest level of education.
For example, if your highest credential is a master’s degree, you generally don’t need an ECA for your bachelor’s degree just to establish the highest credential.
However, if you want to claim points for two or more credentials, you need an ECA for each credential being used for those points. To receive the applicable points for multiple credentials, at least one of the credentials must be for a program of three or more years.
10. What Documents Are Required for an ECA?
The exact document requirements depend on the organization and your educational institution.
Generally, you should be prepared to provide information and documents relating to your degree, diploma or certificate and academic transcripts or mark sheets. The assessment organization will provide the specific instructions for your credential and institution.
IRCC also advises applicants to follow the instructions provided by their selected designated organization for submitting documents.
11. Why Document Submission Matters
The ECA organization needs the required educational documents to assess your credential.
If documents are incomplete or submitted in a way that does not meet the organization’s requirements, the assessment process can be affected.
For this reason, applicants should check the exact document-submission instructions of the organization they choose instead of assuming that the same process applies to WES, IQAS, CES, ICES and ICAS.
12. How Long Is an ECA Valid?
For Express Entry, your ECA must be less than five years old when you complete your Express Entry profile and when you submit your permanent residence application after receiving an invitation.
If your ECA is going to expire while you are in the Express Entry pool, you should make sure it remains valid when you need to use it. IRCC states that an application submitted with an expired ECA will be refused.
WES also states that its ECA is valid for five years from the date of issue.
13. Does an ECA Give You CRS Points Automatically?
An ECA itself does not guarantee a particular CRS score.
The Canadian equivalency shown on your ECA report determines the education level that can be entered into your Express Entry profile and the applicable education points.
IRCC provides a table showing how different ECA results correspond to education levels and points under the Comprehensive Ranking System and Federal Skilled Worker selection factors.
14. ECA for Two or More Credentials
If you want to claim points for having two or more educational credentials, each credential being used for those points needs an ECA.
At least one of those credentials must represent a program of three or more years to receive the applicable points for multiple credentials.
The order in which you completed your credentials does not affect the points calculation.
15. ECA for Regulated Professions
Some occupations have specific requirements.
If your primary occupation is architect, physician or pharmacist, IRCC requires an ECA from the designated professional body applicable to that occupation when the relevant licensing conditions apply.
For architects, the designated professional body is the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB) in the circumstances specified by IRCC. For certain physicians, the Medical Council of Canada is the designated body, and for pharmacists requiring a licence to practise, the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada is the designated body.
16. ECA Does Not Replace Professional Licensing
An ECA confirms the Canadian equivalency of your foreign education for the applicable immigration purpose.
It does not guarantee that you can work in a regulated profession.
If your intended occupation is regulated, you still need to complete the licensing or credential-recognition process required by the relevant province or territory.
17. ECA for PNP and Other Immigration Programs
A requirements are not limited to Express Entry.
IRCC uses ECA reports to award immigration selection points or make program eligibility decisions for people who completed education outside Canada. Different immigration programs can have their own education requirements, so you should check the requirements of the specific program you are applying under.
For example, IRCC’s information for the Atlantic Immigration Program lists the same five multipurpose designated organizations, while certain occupations can require a special ECA from a designated professional body.
18. How to Choose Between WES, IQAS, CES, ICES and ICAS
There is no single ECA organization that is automatically the best choice for every applicant.
The five multipurpose organizations are all designated by IRCC for immigration ECA purposes. The practical choice should be based on your credential, the organization’s current requirements, document-submission process and the immigration program for which you need the assessment.
Before selecting an organization, check its current instructions rather than choosing one simply because someone says it is faster or easier.
19. Common ECA Mistakes to Avoid
One of the most important mistakes is selecting an assessment that is not the correct type for your immigration purpose.
You should request an ECA for immigration purposes and follow the selected organization’s document instructions. IRCC specifically states that different types of ECAs exist and that an ECA for another purpose may not necessarily meet the immigration requirement.
Another important point is checking whether you actually need an assessment for each credential you are planning to use for points.
20. How the ECA Fits Into Your Canada PR Application
Once you receive your ECA report, you use the result and reference number when completing your Express Entry profile.
If you are invited to apply for permanent residence, you need to provide the required documents and keep the original educational documents.
The ECA therefore forms an important part of the education section of an Express Entry application when foreign education is being used for eligibility or points.
