Overview
Educational credential assessments
An educational credential assessment tells IRCC whether a completed foreign credential is equivalent to a Canadian credential. Federal Skilled Worker principal applicants need one for foreign education, and other candidates need one to claim CRS education points for study outside Canada.
Order an immigration-purpose assessment
The report must be for immigration purposes and must come from an organization or professional body designated by IRCC. An assessment obtained for employment, licensing or admission to a school may not be the right report type.
Most applicants can use one of the general designated organizations. A person whose primary occupation is architect, physician or pharmacist may have to use the professional body specified by IRCC, depending on the occupation and licensing context.
Decide which credentials to assess
In many cases, assessing the highest completed credential is enough. To claim the CRS level for two or more credentials, obtain a valid assessment for each credential being counted, with at least one credential representing three or more years of study.
An unfinished program does not become a completed credential through assessment. If a post-secondary result is not equivalent to a completed Canadian credential, assessing secondary education may still establish high-school equivalency.
Enter the Canadian equivalency, not the foreign title
The profile asks for the result shown in the ECA. A foreign master’s degree may be assessed at a different Canadian level, and points follow the assessed equivalency.
Enter each credential separately and retain the report number. IRCC may verify the report directly with the designated organization.
An ECA is valid for five years
The report must be less than five years old when the profile is completed and when the permanent residence application is submitted. An expired report can cause refusal.
An ECA does not grant a professional licence or guarantee employment. Regulated occupations have separate provincial or territorial licensing systems that should be investigated before a move.
When to get legal advice
When the required evidence does not fit the checklist neatly: Educational credential assessments
An immigration lawyer can identify what the document must prove, address an unavailable or inconsistent record and explain a material difference before it is treated as an omission.
A required document cannot be obtained before the deadline
Names, dates or amounts differ across records
A translation, assessment or issuing authority creates uncertainty
An earlier application used different information
A focused question may only need 15 minutes.
Use the time to identify the issue, any immediate risk and the next sensible step. If the matter needs more work, the lawyer can explain the proposed scope before you decide whether to proceed.
Read what an immigration lawyer can do and how an immigration law firm may handle further work.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about educational credential assessments
Do I need an ECA for a Canadian degree or diploma?
No. A completed Canadian credential does not require an ECA.
Should I assess both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree?
Often only the highest credential is needed. Assess both if necessary to claim the ‘two or more credentials’ level or if the highest credential may not receive the expected equivalency.
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