Key takeaways
- Needed for Federal Skilled Worker applicants with education outside Canada
- Also earns points for foreign education in Express Entry
- Use an organization designated by IRCC
- For Express Entry, an ECA is valid for five years
- An ECA isn’t a professional licence; regulated jobs need a provincial regulator
What an ECA is
An ECA compares your education with the Canadian system and confirms it’s genuine. For immigration, the result tells IRCC what your credential is equivalent to, such as a Canadian bachelor’s degree.
Who needs one
- Federal Skilled Worker candidates with foreign education
- Express Entry candidates who want points for foreign education
- Some provincial programs
Employers may also find it useful, especially for unregulated jobs.
Designated organizations
IRCC accepts ECAs only from designated organizations, including World Education Services (WES), Comparative Education Service (CES), International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS), International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) and International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES). Physicians, pharmacists and architects use their professional bodies (MCC, PEBC and CACB). Check IRCC’s current list before you apply.
How the process works
- Choose a designated organization and create an account.
- Arrange for your school to send official transcripts directly, if required.
- Send copies of your degree certificates and any translations.
- Pay the fee and wait for the report, often several weeks or more.
Tip: Start early. Getting transcripts sent from your university can take longer than the assessment itself.
ECA vs a professional licence
Regulated professions such as nursing, engineering, teaching and medicine need a licence from a provincial regulator, with its own assessment. An ECA doesn’t replace that. See finding work as a newcomer.
General information, not legal advice. Check the current list of designated organizations on IRCC.
