Educational Credential Assessment: WES, IQAS, ICAS and ECA Process Explained

Educational Credential Assessment Guide

An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is mandatory for most Canadian immigration applicants who obtained their education outside Canada. The ECA verifies that your foreign degree, diploma, or certificate is equivalent to Canadian educational standards. Without it, you cannot claim education points under Express Entry or most PNP streams.

Designated ECA Organizations Compared

IRCC designates several organizations to issue ECAs. WES (World Education Services) processes 60% of all ECAs with the fastest turnaround at 30-35 business days and fees starting at CAD 239. IQAS (International Qualifications Assessment Service) is Alberta-based but serves all provinces, costs CAD 200, and takes 60-90 business days. ICAS (International Credential Assessment Service) charges CAD 210 and processes in 30-45 business days. CES (Comparative Education Service at University of Toronto) is often preferred for regulated professions and completes assessments in 40-50 business days. ICES (International Credential Evaluation Service) serves British Columbia primarily.

Document Requirements by Organization

All ECA organizations require: degree certificates for each credential, academic transcripts sent directly from the issuing institution, and proof of identity (passport). WES accepts scanned copies uploaded by the applicant with institution-verified documents sent directly. IQAS requires original documents or certified true copies. ICAS prefers sealed envelopes from institutions. Some organizations require course-by-course assessments for certain professions. Document translation by certified translators is required for non-English or non-French documents.

ECA Processing Timeline

The complete ECA process takes 60-120 days from application to report. Step 1: Account creation and payment (1 day). Step 2: Document gathering (2-4 weeks depending on institution response time). Step 3: Document submission and verification (2-4 weeks). Step 4: Assessment and report issuance (4-8 weeks depending on organization). Step 5: ECA report number shared with IRCC. Reports are valid for five years from issuance date.

ECA Impact on CRS Score

A positive ECA affects your education CRS points significantly. Secondary school: 0 points. One-year post-secondary credential: 90 points. Two-year post-secondary: 98 points. Bachelor's degree (three or more years): 120 points. Two or more credentials with at least one three-year program: 128 points. Master's or professional degree: 135 points. PhD: 150 points. Selecting the correct equivalency can mean the difference between receiving an ITA or remaining in the pool.

Common ECA Mistakes

Mistakes that delay ECAs include: submitting incomplete documents, failing to have transcripts sent directly by the institution, providing documents without certified translations, choosing the wrong assessment type (course-by-course versus general), and not checking whether your institution is recognized by the assessment body. If your educational institution is unable to send documents directly, check whether the ECA organization accepts notarized copies or alternate verification methods.