How to Get an ECA for Canada Immigration Quickly

An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is a formal evaluation that determines how your foreign diploma, degree, or certificate compares to Canadian education standards. It is required for many immigration programs, including Express Entry, and directly affects your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.

Why is an ECA Important?

• Required for Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker Program) and certain Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs).
• Confirms that your foreign education is valid and comparable to a Canadian credential.
• Impacts your CRS score—a higher equivalency can improve your ranking in the Express Entry pool.
• Valid for five years from the date of issue.

How an ECA Affects Your CRS Score

The education level assigned in your ECA determines how many CRS points you can claim:

• Secondary school (high school): 30 CRS points
• One-year post-secondary diploma: 90 CRS points
• Bachelor’s degree: 120 CRS points
• Two or more post-secondary diplomas (one must be at least 3 years): 128 CRS points
• Master’s degree: 135 CRS points
• Doctorate (PhD): 150 CRS points

Applicants with multiple degrees should submit all credentials to ensure they receive the highest possible score.

An ECA is only needed for education completed outside Canada. If you have a Canadian degree, diploma, or certificate, you do not need an assessment.

An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is required for many immigration pathways, but not all applicants need one. Understanding whether you need an ECA can help you avoid unnecessary costs and delays.

Who Must Get an ECA?

You need an ECA if you:

• Are applying under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) in Express Entry.
• Want to claim CRS points for foreign education in the Express Entry pool.
• Are applying for a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) that requires proof of educational equivalency.
• Need to prove your education meets licensing requirements for certain professions.

Who Does NOT Need an ECA?

You do not need an ECA if you:

• Completed your education in Canada (degrees, diplomas, or certificates from Canadian institutions are automatically recognized).
• Are applying under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and do not need education points.
• Are in a PNP stream that does not require an ECA.

Why Getting an ECA Early is Important

Processing times for an ECA vary between agencies and can take 1 to 4 months, depending on demand. Starting the process early ensures you meet Express Entry deadlines and avoid processing delays.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has approved specific organizations to issue Educational Credential Assessments (ECAs). Choosing the right agency is crucial because different organizations may offer varying evaluations of the same degree.

Designated ECA Organizations for Immigration

These agencies assess credentials for Express Entry, PNPs, and other immigration programs:

• World Education Services (WES) – The most popular agency for Express Entry due to faster processing times (about 35 business days).
• Comparative Education Service (CES) – Offered by the University of Toronto; commonly used by academics and researchers.
• International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) – Used for general skilled workers applying for immigration.
• International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) – Run by the Government of Alberta; sometimes provides better equivalency assessments than WES.
• International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES) – Used primarily by applicants targeting British Columbia’s PNP.

Specialized ECA Agencies for Regulated Professions

If you work in a regulated profession, you must use a specific assessment body:

• Medical Council of Canada (MCC) – Required for doctors and healthcare professionals.
• Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) – Required for pharmacists.
• Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB) – Required for architects.

How to Choose the Right Agency

• If you are applying for Express Entry, WES is the fastest option.
• If you are in a regulated profession, you must use the correct professional body.
• Some agencies (IQAS, CES) may provide higher equivalency evaluations than WES, improving CRS scores.

Each organization has different processing times and costs (ranging from $200–$300 CAD), so check their official websites before applying.

An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is valid for five years from the date it is issued. This means that if you are applying for Express Entry, a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), or any other immigration stream requiring an ECA, your report must still be valid at the time of your permanent residence application submission.

Key Points About ECA Validity

• The five-year validity applies to all IRCC-designated ECA agencies.
• If your ECA expires before submitting your PR application, you must request a new one or revalidate it (if the agency offers this option).
• You can still use an expired ECA for Express Entry profile creation, but it must be valid when you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and submit your documents.

What If Your ECA Is About to Expire?

If your ECA is close to expiring:

• Consider renewing it early to avoid delays.
• Check with the issuing agency to see if a re-evaluation is needed or if an extension is possible.
• If your education credentials haven’t changed, renewing with the same agency is usually faster.

For long-term planning, make sure your ECA remains valid through the entire PR process, especially if processing times for your immigration program are long.

An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for immigration purposes is primarily used to determine how your foreign education compares to Canadian standards for immigration programs like Express Entry. However, it does not automatically qualify you for employment or professional licensing in Canada.

Key Differences: Immigration vs. Employment ECA

• Immigration ECA

  • Used for Express Entry, PNPs, and other immigration programs.
  • Evaluates your degree’s Canadian equivalency for CRS points.
  • Issued by IRCC-designated organizations like WES, IQAS, or CES.

• Employment & Licensing ECA

  • Some employers may accept an ECA, but many require additional credential recognition.
  • Certain professions require licensing from regulatory bodies (e.g., doctors, engineers, accountants).
  • A separate evaluation may be needed from a provincial or professional licensing authority.

When Can an ECA Be Used for Employment?

• In non-regulated professions (e.g., IT, marketing, finance), employers may accept an immigration ECA.
• If your job requires a regulated profession license, you must apply separately through the relevant professional body (e.g., MCC for doctors, Engineers Canada for engineers).

What If I Need an ECA for Both Immigration and Work?

• If your profession is regulated, apply for the professional licensing process first, as some licensing bodies issue ECAs that IRCC also accepts.
• If your job is not regulated, an immigration ECA may be sufficient for employment purposes.

Before applying, check with potential employers and provincial regulatory bodies to determine if your immigration ECA will be accepted for employment.

No, an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is not required for degrees, diplomas, or certificates earned from Canadian institutions. If you completed your education in Canada, your credentials are automatically recognized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and do not need to be assessed.

When an ECA Is NOT Required

You do not need an ECA if:

• Your degree, diploma, or certificate was issued by a recognized Canadian post-secondary institution (university, college, technical institute).
• You completed secondary school (high school) in Canada.
• You are applying for Express Entry or a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) using only Canadian education credentials.

When an ECA Might Be Needed Even If You Studied in Canada

• If you studied partly outside Canada, you may need an ECA for your foreign education to claim additional CRS points.
• Some employers or licensing bodies may request an ECA even for international degrees earned at a Canadian branch campus abroad.

How to Prove Canadian Education Without an ECA

• Submit a copy of your degree, diploma, or certificate issued by a Canadian institution.
• Provide official transcripts if required by the immigration program or employer.

If you only have a Canadian credential, you can skip the ECA process, saving time and costs. However, if you have both Canadian and foreign degrees, an ECA can help maximize your CRS score by evaluating your international education.

he documents required for an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) depend on the organization you choose and the country where your education was completed. However, most agencies require the following:

1. Degree, Diploma, or Certificate Copy

• A clear, scanned copy of your degree, diploma, or certificate.
• Some agencies may require a certified true copy.

2. Academic Transcripts

• Official transcripts sent directly from your educational institution to the ECA agency.
• If your institution no longer exists, check with the ECA provider for alternative verification options.

3. Translations (If Not in English or French)

• If your documents are in a language other than English or French, you need a certified translation.
• Some ECA agencies require both the original document and the translation.

4. Identity Documents (Some Agencies Only)

• A copy of your passport or government-issued ID may be needed for verification.

Additional Requirements for Some Agencies

• WES requires institutions to send sealed transcripts directly.
• IQAS, CES, and ICAS may allow applicants to submit copies in some cases.
• Regulated professions (doctors, pharmacists, engineers) may have additional licensing body requirements.

How to Ensure a Smooth Document Submission

• Check the document list for your country on the ECA agency’s website.
• Contact your university or college early to request transcripts, as some institutions take weeks to process them.
• Submit documents in the correct format to avoid delays or rejections.

Missing or incorrect documents can delay processing by several weeks, so ensure everything is submitted as required.

Once your Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is complete, you must correctly submit it to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for your Express Entry or Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) application.

1. Enter Your ECA Details in Your Express Entry Profile

• Log into your IRCC Express Entry account.
• Go to the Education Section and enter:
  • ECA issuing organization (e.g., WES, IQAS, CES).
  • ECA reference number (found on your report).
  • Date of issue of your ECA.
  • Canadian equivalency as stated in your ECA report.

2. Upload a Copy of Your ECA Report for Your PR Application

If you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA), you will need to submit a digital copy of your ECA report when completing your Permanent Residence (PR) application.

• A scanned copy of your ECA report is sufficient.
• You do not need to resubmit transcripts unless IRCC specifically requests them.

3. Verify That Your ECA is Still Valid

• Your ECA must be valid at the time of submission (ECAs expire after five years).
• If your ECA has expired, you must apply for a new one before submitting your PR application.

4. For PNP Applicants: Check Additional Provincial Requirements

• Some Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) require a separate ECA submission.
• Confirm whether your province requires an official copy directly from the ECA agency.

Avoid Common Mistakes

• Do not enter incorrect details (e.g., wrong ECA reference number).
• Ensure your name matches exactly as it appears on your passport and ECA report.

Submitting your ECA correctly ensures that you receive the maximum CRS points for your education and avoid processing delays.

In most cases, Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) agencies only evaluate completed programs. This means that if you did not finish your degree, diploma, or certificate, you may not receive a formal Canadian equivalency. However, some agencies may provide a partial assessment, depending on your situation.

When an ECA Can Be Issued for a Partially Completed Program

• Some agencies, like IQAS or CES, may evaluate partially completed coursework and provide an equivalency statement.
• If you earned credits or completed a diploma but did not finish a full degree, an ECA may still recognize your education at a lower equivalency level (e.g., a completed diploma instead of a bachelor’s degree).

When an ECA Cannot Be Issued

• If you only completed part of a degree but did not receive an official credential, most agencies will not issue an equivalency.
• WES and some other agencies require proof of graduation to issue an assessment.

Alternative Options If Your Program Is Incomplete

• If you have another completed diploma or degree, submit that for evaluation instead.
• Consider finishing your program before applying for an ECA.
• If immigration is your goal, explore alternative pathways such as skills-based Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) that may not require an ECA.

It’s important to check with your chosen ECA agency to confirm whether they will assess partially completed education before submitting an application.

If your Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) results in a lower equivalency than expected, it can impact your CRS score and eligibility for immigration programs. However, there are steps you can take to address this issue.

1. Verify the Accuracy of Your ECA Report

• Carefully review your ECA report details to check for errors in:
  • Your name and personal information.
  • Your degree title and institution name.
  • The Canadian equivalency assigned.
• If there is an error, contact the issuing agency to request a correction.

2. Compare Your Results with Other ECA Agencies

• Different agencies may assess the same degree differently.
• Some applicants find that IQAS or CES provide higher equivalency evaluations compared to WES.
• If your degree is undervalued, consider applying to another agency to see if you get a better assessment.

3. Check if Sending Additional Credentials Could Help

• If you submitted only your highest degree (e.g., a master’s), your report may have been assessed as a bachelor’s equivalent.
• Some ECA agencies require both a bachelor’s and master’s degree to properly evaluate the full educational background.

4. Explore Alternative Immigration Pathways

• If your CRS score is lower due to an ECA downgrade, consider:
  • Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), where education equivalency may have different requirements.
  • Job offers or work experience programs that focus more on skills than education.

5. Appeal or Request a Re-Evaluation (If Available)

• Some agencies allow you to request a review or appeal your results.
• Be prepared to submit additional documentation or explanations if necessary.

If your ECA equivalency is lower than expected, you still have options—whether by reassessment, choosing a different agency, or adjusting your immigration strategy.