Educational credential assessment
Credential assessment, including WES
Regulated consultant, RCIC R520189
An educational credential assessment (ECA) is required by IRCC to recognize education completed outside Canada in several permanent residence programs, including Express Entry. World Education Services (WES) is one of the organizations designated for that purpose.
What an ECA is
An educational credential assessment (ECA) states the Canadian equivalency of a credential earned abroad. For Express Entry, the ECA must be issued by an organization designated by IRCC. It is generally valid for five years from the date of issue.
Designated organizations include World Education Services (WES), the International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES), Comparative Education Service (CES), the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) and International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS). WES is often chosen for the clarity of its process. The right choice depends on the country of education and the purpose (immigration, studies or licensing).
What it is for
According to your immigration or study plan
- 01
Express Entry
Without an ECA, education completed outside Canada generally does not earn Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points. An ECA is also an eligibility factor for the Federal Skilled Worker Program.
- 02
Quebec and other programs
Some PSTQ streams, provincial programs and applications tied to a regulated occupation rely on a credential assessment. MIFI requirements are not identical to IRCC's.
- 03
Study and admission
A Canadian educational institution may require a credential evaluation for admission, separate from an ECA prepared for IRCC. The report type (document-by-document or course-by-course) depends on the intended use.
How we support you
- 01
Identify the purpose
We determine whether you need an ECA for IRCC, a report for an institution, or both, and which designated organization fits.
- 02
Prepare the documents
WES and other organizations often require the issuing institution to send transcripts directly. We outline the steps for your country of education.
- 03
Track the file
We help you connect the ECA report to your Express Entry profile or application once you have a reference number.
- 04
Use the result
The equivalency assigned (for example a Canadian bachelor's degree) informs the points calculation and, where relevant, the choice of procedure.
Estimated timeline
WES internal processing starts after all documents are received and accepted. The evaluation itself often takes several weeks. Document shipping by the issuing institution can take from a few weeks to several months.
These times are estimates. They vary by country, institution and volume. They are not a guarantee.
Need an ECA for your file?
Rigour, compliance and transparency at every stage.