Home > Work in Canada > Permanent Residency > Express Entry: The Ultimate Guide > Express Entry: Step-by-Step Guide > 2. Getting your Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
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An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is used to check the Canadian equivalency of a foreign degree, diploma or certificate. For example, an ECA will determine if an applicant’s foreign Master’s degree is of the same standard when compared to a Canadian Master’s degree. If your credential is awarded in Canada by a Canadian educational body, you do need to provide an ECA.
For the Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), you do not need a minimum education level to qualify for Express Entry. However, you can still get CRS points for any secondary education you've had outside Canada (if you apply for the ECA for your diploma).
For the Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), you do not need a minimum education level to qualify for Express Entry. However, you can still get CRS points for any secondary education you've had outside Canada (if you apply for the ECA for your diploma).
List of IRCC Designated Organizations
There are seven designated organizations for ECAs:
Keep in mind that ECA report must be issued on or after the date IRCC designated the organization.
Most applicants will be able to get their ECA done by selecting one of the first 5 designated organizations from the list above.
If you are a Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (NOC 31100), Specialists in surgery (NOC 31101), or General practitioner/family physician (NOC 31102), the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) must do the ECA for your primary medical diploma.
If you are a pharmacist (NOC 31120) and need a license to practice (for example, providing patient care in a community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, etc.), the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) must do your ECA.
- Comparative Education Service – University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies (CES, Date designated: April 17, 2013).
- International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICASC, Date designated: April 17, 2013).
- World Education Services (WES, Date designated: April 17, 2013).
- International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS, Date designated: August 6, 2015).
- International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES, Date designated: August 6, 2015).
- Medical Council of Canada (professional body for Doctors) (MCC, Date designated: April 17, 2013).
- Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (professional body for Pharmacists) (PEBC, Date designated: January 6, 2014).
Keep in mind that ECA report must be issued on or after the date IRCC designated the organization.
Most applicants will be able to get their ECA done by selecting one of the first 5 designated organizations from the list above.
If you are a Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (NOC 31100), Specialists in surgery (NOC 31101), or General practitioner/family physician (NOC 31102), the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) must do the ECA for your primary medical diploma.
If you are a pharmacist (NOC 31120) and need a license to practice (for example, providing patient care in a community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, etc.), the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) must do your ECA.
ECA validity period
An ECA is valid for a period of 5 years from the date it is issued. To be accepted by IRCC, the ECA must not be more than five years old on the date that IRCC gets (i) your Express Entry profile, and (ii) your application for permanent residence.
Comparative table of the 5 designated organizations
The table below presents a comparison between 5 designated organisations that issue an ECA for most certificates/degrees/diplomas. MCC and PEBC have not been included since there is no other option than to use them when you are a specialist physician/general practitioner/family physician/pharmacist.
The price includes all the credentials you want to add (except for CES and IQAS, which is the price for the first credential - Additional fees apply for additional credentials). Include all your credentials, so as not to pay an additional fee and waste time if you want to assess another credential later.
Last updated: May 13, 2024
The price includes all the credentials you want to add (except for CES and IQAS, which is the price for the first credential - Additional fees apply for additional credentials). Include all your credentials, so as not to pay an additional fee and waste time if you want to assess another credential later.
Last updated: May 13, 2024
CES University of Toronto | ICAS Canada | WES | IQAS | ICES | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Price (excl. taxes) | $210 | $210 | $248 | $260 | $200 |
Processing time | 8 weeks | 20 weeks | 6 weeks | 6 weeks | 10 weeks |
Canada Delivery (excl. taxes) | Standard: N.A. Courier: 35$ | Standard: 5$ Courier: 35$ | Standard: $12 Courier: 27$ | Standard: N.A. Courier: 25$ | Standard: N.A. Courier: 26$ |
International Delivery (excl. taxes) | Standard: N.A. Courier USA: N.A. Courier: $80 | Standard: 10$ Courier USA: $35 Courier: $80 | Standard: N.A. Courier USA: N.A. Courier: $92 | Standard: N.A. Courier USA: N.A. Courier: $90 | Standard: N.A. Courier USA: N.A. Courier: $75 |