Who needs an ECA
- Federal Skilled Worker principal applicants with foreign education: required.
- Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades candidates: optional, but you only get CRS education points for foreign studies if you have an ECA.
- Your spouse or partner: optional. Their ECA can add spouse education points.
- Canadian education: no ECA needed.
Organizations IRCC accepts
Use one of IRCC's designated organizations:
| Organization | Who it's for |
|---|---|
| World Education Services (WES) | Most applicants |
| Comparative Education Service (University of Toronto) | Most applicants |
| International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) | Most applicants |
| International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) | Most applicants |
| International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES, BCIT) | Most applicants |
| Medical Council of Canada | Doctors whose main occupation is physician |
| Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada | Pharmacists who need a licence to practise |
| Canadian Architectural Certification Board | Architects whose main occupation is architect |
Processing times and costs differ by organization, so check each one's website.
How long an ECA is valid
For Express Entry, your ECA report must be less than 5 years old on the date you submit your profile, and when you apply for permanent residence.
Two or more degrees
To get points for two or more credentials (for example, a bachelor's and a master's), you need an ECA for each one. If you only assess your highest degree, you'll get points for that degree alone.
Steps to get your ECA
- Pick a designated organization that accepts your country and type of credential.
- Order official transcripts. Most organizations need them sent directly by your school.
- Pay and submit. Keep your reference number.
- Enter the ECA reference number and result in your Express Entry profile.
Not sure your education is worth the cost? Check your score with and without it in our CRS calculator.
Next steps
- See your points with and without the ECA in our CRS calculator.
- Applying as a Federal Skilled Worker? Check the FSW 67-point test.
- Put it all together with our document checklist.