Educational credential assessment — designated organisations
Overview
Foreign nationals applying under the Federal Skilled Worker program or certain other Express Entry streams must have their foreign educational credentials assessed by a designated organisation approved by IRCC. The educational credential assessment (ECA) verifies that the foreign credential is genuine and equivalent to a Canadian credential. There are six designated ECA organisations, each serving a different credential type or profession. An ECA is valid for 5 years from the date of issue.
An ECA is not a professional licence or authorisation to practise in Canada — it is purely an equivalency determination for immigration purposes. The assessment establishes the Canadian equivalent level (e.g., "equivalent to a Canadian bachelor's degree") for use in calculating the CRS education score and meeting FSW education requirements.
Legal basis
- IRPR s 75(2)(b) — Federal Skilled Worker program requires that foreign education credentials have been assessed by a designated organisation
- IRCC designated organisations list — IRCC maintains and publishes the list of approved ECA organisations on its website; the list has changed over time and applicants should verify current approval status
How it works
The six designated organisations
| Organisation | Best for |
|---|---|
| World Education Services (WES) | General post-secondary credentials (most popular; accepts widest range of countries and credential types) |
| International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) | General post-secondary; popular alternative to WES |
| Comparative Education Service (CES) — University of Toronto | General post-secondary; academic credential assessments |
| International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) | General post-secondary; administered by the Government of Alberta |
| Medical Council of Canada (MCC) | Medical degrees (MD and equivalent) only |
| Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) | Pharmacy degrees (BPharm/PharmD and equivalent) only |
For most applicants with general university degrees, diplomas, or secondary school credentials, WES is the most commonly used organisation. WES also offers a "WES Gateway Program" that provides a combined ECA and referral to professional bodies.
What the ECA assesses
The ECA compares the foreign credential to the Canadian educational system and produces a determination such as:
- "Equivalent to a Canadian secondary school diploma"
- "Equivalent to a Canadian bachelor's degree"
- "Equivalent to a Canadian master's degree"
- "Equivalent to a Canadian PhD"
- "Equivalent to a Canadian college diploma (2 years)"
If the credential is not genuine or cannot be verified, the organisation will report this finding to IRCC — this can lead to a finding of misrepresentation.
CRS education points — how ECA result maps to points
The ECA result determines which education level is claimed in the Express Entry profile:
- Secondary school diploma equivalent: 28–30 CRS points (without/with spouse)
- One-year post-secondary diploma: 84–90 CRS points
- Two-year post-secondary diploma: 91–98 CRS points
- Bachelor's degree (3+ years): 119–126 CRS points
- Two or more post-secondary credentials, one of which is at least 3 years: 119–126 CRS points
- Master's degree or professional degree: 134–140 CRS points
- Doctoral degree (PhD): 140–150 CRS points
Validity period
An ECA result is valid for 5 years from the date of issue. If the ECA expires before an invitation to apply (ITA) is issued, a new ECA must be obtained before the profile can be updated. The 5-year clock starts from the date on the ECA report, not the date the application was submitted to the ECA organisation.
Credentials not requiring an ECA
Canadian credentials do not require an ECA. A degree, diploma, or certificate issued by a Canadian institution is accepted directly as evidence of education. Similarly, credentials from certain countries with bilateral recognition agreements may not require a full ECA for some purposes, though IRCC's current requirements should be verified at the time of application.