Last verified: July 5, 2026 · Official source: canada.ca — Educational credential assessment
General information, not legal or immigration advice. For advice on your situation, consult a licensed RCIC or immigration lawyer.
What an ECA is
An ECAECA: Educational Credential Assessment — a report from an IRCC-designated organization confirming that your non-Canadian degree, diploma, or certificate is equal to a completed Canadian credential. takes your foreign education and states what it's worth in Canada — for example, "equivalent to a completed Canadian bachelor's degree."
If you studied in Canada, you generally don't need an ECA for that Canadian credential. An ECA is for foreign education.
When you need one
You need an ECA in two situations for Express Entry:
- To be eligible as the principal applicant under the FSWFSW: Federal Skilled Worker Program — one of the three Express Entry programs, for skilled workers who may be applying from outside Canada. (an ECA is a program requirement), and/or
- To earn CRS points for foreign education in any Express Entry program — CEC, FSW, or FST.
If you only have Canadian education, you may not need one — but if you have foreign credentials and want the points for them, you do.
IRCC-designated organizations
You must use an organization designated by IRCC. For general education, the five are:
| Organization | Notes |
|---|---|
| WES — World Education Services | Popular; document-based, often fast |
| ICAS — International Credential Assessment Service of Canada | General assessments |
| IQAS — International Qualifications Assessment Service (Alberta) | General assessments |
| ICES — International Credential Evaluation Service (BCIT) | General assessments |
| CES — Comparative Education Service (University of Toronto) | General assessments |
IRCC accepts an ECA from any of these equally for Express Entry. There are also profession-specific bodies for regulated occupations (for example, physicians and pharmacists have their own designated organizations) — if your goal is licensure in a regulated profession, check whether you need that route instead of or in addition to a general ECA.
💡 Organizations differ on cost, required documents, and turnaround. Compare before you choose — and start early, because credential verification with your issuing school can add weeks.
How long an ECA is valid
An ECA must be no more than five years old on the date IRCC receives both your Express Entry profile and your application for permanent residence. Plan so your report doesn't expire mid-process.
How long it takes
Processing time varies by organization and by how quickly your issuing institution verifies your documents. Some are quick once documents are in; others take longer. Because verification depends on a third party (your school), build in a buffer — this is often the slowest early step in an Express Entry timeline.
TODO: verify current per-organization processing times on each provider's official site before relying on a specific number — they change and are not reproduced here.
How to get one (general steps)
- Choose a designated organization based on cost, documents, and speed.
- Create an account and start an application on their site.
- Submit your documents and arrange for your school to send verified transcripts/credentials.
- Receive your ECA report and equivalency.
- Enter the report details into your Express Entry profile to claim education points.
Where this fits
Your ECA feeds directly into your CRS score (foreign-education points) and your Express Entry eligibility. Pair it with your language test and the right NOC to build a complete profile. See the full sequence in Express Entry step-by-step.