Education Credentials Assessment (ECA) is a report that evaluates your foreign education credentials. This report is used with every Express Entry application and is used to make sure that any schooling you have received in your country, including a masters degree, diploma, certificate is valid and equivalent to a Canadian one. After receiving your assessment results as well as your reference number must be included in your Express Entry application.
If you have studied outside of Canada you would still need an assessment in order to be eligible as a principal applicant for Federal Skilled Workers Program (Express Entry) or to earn points for your education that you received outside of Canada. In order to receive points on the assessment, you need to show that you have completed a foreign credential (degree, diploma or certificate) and that it is equal to a Canadian secondary school (high school) or post-secondary credential.
When assessing your credentials, it is most likely that whatever the highest level of education you have is what will be taken into consideration. In order to receive points for having 2 or more credentials, then you would need to have an assessment done for each one. If you are trying to get full points for more than 1 credential, then you will need to have at least 3 or more years of study for each credential.
You can get your assessment done by a professional body designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada or from an organization. Depending on who you choose to do your assessment, the cost and length of time to get your report back could vary. When choosing a designated organization to complete your assessment, there are various organizations for you to choose from:
Comparative Education Service – University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
Designated: April 17, 2013
International Credential Assessment Service of Canada
Designated: April 17, 2013
World Education Services
Designated: April 17, 2013
International Credential Evaluation Service
Designated: August 6, 2015
International Qualifications Assessment Service
Designated: August 6, 2015
If you have a job lined up for work with a large company or in a regulated occupation, your assessment would need to be done by a specific designated organization.
Once you are ready to submit your report, you must make sure that your report has:
Once you have received your report you must remember to enter the results and reference number into your Express Entry profile, always keep all your original documents for your records, and be prepared to upload any copies of if you are being considered for permanent residence.