Educational credential assessment (ECA) for Express Entry: Who needs one for Express Entry

If you completed your education outside Canada, you need an assessment to:

• be eligible as the principal applicant for Federal Skilled Workers Program (Express Entry), or
• earn points for education you got outside Canada

You can also earn points for your spouse or common-law partner’s education, if they are coming with you to Canada.

You don’t need an assessment for a Canadian degree, diploma or certificate.

To earn points, your report must show that your completed foreign credential (degree, diploma or certificate) is equal to a completed Canadian secondary school (high school) or post-secondary credential.

Which credentials to get assessed

In most cases, you only need an assessment for your highest level of education.

For example, if you have a Master’s degree, you only need an assessment for that degree. You don’t need one for your Bachelor’s degree.

When to get an assessment for 2 or more credentials

To get points for having 2 or more credentials, you need an assessment for each one.

To get full points for more than 1 credential, at least 1 of the credentials must be for 3 or more years of study.

The order that you complete your credentials does not affect points.

When to get your secondary education assessed

If your post-secondary credential is not equal to a Canadian credential, you could get your secondary credential assessed. This would get you points for completing secondary school.