Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for Express Entry: Who Needs One and How to Get It
An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is a report from an IRCC-designated organization that shows how your foreign diploma or degree compares to a Canadian one. You need an ECA to qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker Program with foreign education, and to earn Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for education completed outside Canada. For Express Entry, an ECA is valid for 5 years from the date it was issued.
On this page
- What it shows
- Canadian equivalent of your foreign education
- Required for
- FSW with foreign education; CRS points for foreign education
- Valid for
- 5 years from the date issued (Express Entry)
- General organizations
- WES, CES, ICAS, IQAS, ICES
- Physicians
- Medical Council of Canada (MCC)
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC)
What is an ECA?
An ECA verifies that your foreign education credential is real and tells you what it equals in Canada, for example a Canadian bachelor's degree or a two-year diploma. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses the result to check eligibility and to award CRS points.
An ECA is not a license to work in a regulated profession. If you want to work as an engineer, nurse, teacher, or in another regulated job, you also need to apply to the regulator in the province where you will work. That is a separate process.
Who needs an ECA?
| Your situation | Do you need an ECA? |
|---|---|
| Applying under the Federal Skilled Worker Program with education from outside Canada | Yes, to meet the education requirement |
| Canadian Experience Class or Federal Skilled Trades, and you want CRS points for foreign education | Yes, if you want those points |
| Your education is Canadian | No; Canadian credentials don't need an ECA |
| Your spouse wants CRS points for their foreign education | Yes, your spouse needs their own ECA |
Education points can be large. A foreign master's degree can be worth up to 135 core CRS points for a single applicant, plus skill transferability points. See CRS explained and try the CRS calculator.
Which organizations can do an ECA?
Only organizations designated by IRCC can issue an ECA for immigration. IRCC's list includes:
| Organization | Who it is for |
|---|---|
| World Education Services (WES) | Most professions |
| Comparative Education Service (CES), University of Toronto | Most professions |
| International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) | Most professions |
| International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) | Most professions |
| International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES) | Most professions |
| Medical Council of Canada (MCC) | Physicians, if medicine is your main occupation |
| Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) | Pharmacists, if pharmacy is your main occupation |
Check IRCC's current list before you apply, because designations can change. Fees and processing times are set by each organization.
A credential evaluation done for school admission or for a job is not the same as an ECA for immigration, unless the organization issues it specifically as an ECA for IRCC.
How the process works
- Choose an organization. Compare processing times, fees, and document rules. Some organizations are faster for some countries.
- Create an account and select an ECA for IRCC purposes.
- Arrange your documents. Most organizations require your transcripts sent directly from your school in a sealed envelope or through a secure electronic system. You usually send copies of your degree certificate yourself.
- Pay the fee.
- Wait for the report. You receive a reference number and a report. Enter the details in your Express Entry profile.
The slowest part is usually getting your school to send transcripts. Contact your university's registrar early, especially if it is in a different country from where you live now.
One credential or several?
You don't have to assess every credential. But assessing more than one can help:
- Two or more credentials (with at least one of 3 years or longer) earn more CRS points than a single bachelor's degree
- If your highest credential is assessed at a lower level than you expected, a second assessment of another credential may help
If you assess several credentials, list them correctly in your profile, using the Canadian equivalency shown in each report.
Common problems and how to avoid them
- Lower equivalency than expected. A three-year degree from some countries may be assessed as equal to a Canadian three-year bachelor's degree, while some shorter programs may be assessed as a diploma. Enter the Canadian equivalency from your report, not the name of your foreign degree, or your profile will be wrong.
- Name mismatches. If your name on your degree differs from your passport, include proof such as a marriage certificate or affidavit, following the organization's rules.
- Institution not recognized. If your school was not recognized by your country's education authorities when you studied, the organization may not assess it.
- Expiring reports. Keep track of the 5-year date, especially if you have been in the Express Entry pool for a long time.
- Wrong type of report. Make sure you ordered the ECA for immigration to Canada, not a general evaluation for a school or employer.
A correct ECA entry matters. If your profile claims a higher level of education than your ECA shows, your application can be refused, and false claims can be treated as misrepresentation.
How long is an ECA valid?
For Express Entry, an ECA must be less than 5 years old on the date you submit your profile and on the date you apply for permanent residence. If it will expire before you might receive an invitation, get a new one.
If you complete a new degree after your ECA, you need a new assessment for that credential.
How to apply
Decide which credentials to assess
Assess your highest credential, and consider a second one if it could earn more CRS points.
Pick a designated organization
Choose from IRCC's list; physicians and pharmacists use their professional bodies.
Open an account and pay
Select the ECA for immigration purposes and pay the organization's fee.
Have your school send transcripts
Ask your registrar to send official transcripts directly to the organization.
Receive your report
Enter the reference number and Canadian equivalency in your Express Entry profile.
Frequently asked questions
Is an ECA mandatory for Express Entry?
It is mandatory for the Federal Skilled Worker Program if your education is from outside Canada. For the Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades, it is optional but needed to get CRS points for foreign education.
How long is an ECA valid for Canada?
For Express Entry, 5 years from the date it was issued.
Which ECA organization is best?
All IRCC-designated organizations are accepted. Choose based on processing times, fees, and document rules for your country. Physicians and pharmacists must use their professional bodies.
Does an ECA let me work as a nurse or engineer in Canada?
No. An ECA is for immigration only. To work in a regulated profession, you must apply to the regulator in your province.
Does my spouse need an ECA?
Only if you want CRS points for your spouse's foreign education. Your spouse would get their own ECA.
Do I need an ECA for Canadian education?
No. Credentials from Canadian schools don't need an ECA.
Official sources
- IRCC: Educational credential assessmentcanada.ca
- IRCC: Express Entry documentscanada.ca
- IRCC: CRS criteriacanada.ca
General information, not legal advice. NorthAmericans.com is independent and not affiliated with any government.