Educational credential assessment

On this page

• What is an ECA
• Who needs an ECA
• Get an ECA
• Submit your report
• How many points you'll get

What is an ECA

An Educational credential assessment (ECA) is used to verify that your foreign degree, diploma, or certificate (or other proof of your credential) is valid and equal to a Canadian one.

There are different types of ECAs. You need to get an ECA for immigration purposes. If you got another type of ECA, you may be able to get it re-issued, depending on the type of ECA and/or issuing organization.

You must include your ECA report and the reference number in your Express Entry profile.

Your ECA report may help when you’re looking for a job, but it doesn’t guarantee that:

• you’ll get a job in your field, or at a certain level
• you’ll get a license to practice in a regulated profession (job)

If you plan to work in a regulated job, you must get your license in the province or territory that you plan to settle in.

Who needs an ECA

If you completed your education outside Canada, you need an Educational credential assessment (ECA) 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.

Get an ECA

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.

Who can do your assessment

You must get your assessment from an organization or a professional body designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. They will give you a report that tells you what your education is equal to in Canada.

Processing times and costs may vary by organization or professional body.

Once you choose a designated organization or a professional body, they will tell you how to submit your documents to get your assessment.

Submit your report

1. Enter the results and the reference number into your Express Entry profile.
2. Keep your original documents.
3. Be ready to upload copies if we invite you to apply for permanent residence.

If you have 2 or more credentials

To get full points for having more than 1 credential:

• at least 1 of the credentials must be for a program of 3 or more years in length
• you need a valid educational credential assessment (ECA) for each credential

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

How to enter more than 1 educational credential in your profile

1. Go to the Study and languages form in your profile.
2. Fill in all the fields in the Education history section with your first credential.
   • Use the credential for your highest degree, diploma or certificate.
3. Click Save and add. The fields you just filled out will go blank.
4. Your credential will appear in the Education history table below the Save and add button. Repeat steps 1 to 3 for all your remaining educational credentials.

You can’t submit more than 1 educational credential in the same field.

How many points you'll get based on your report

This table contains a full list of possible results for an educational credential assessment report. It shows how many points you can earn under the:

• Comprehensive Ranking System
• Federal Skilled Worker Program selection factor points

Use this table to find the result on your report and see what it’s equal to.

1. Select the points system you would like to see.
2. Enter your result in the “Filter items” field. As you type in the words, the table will adjust to display possible matches.
3. Choose the assessment result that matches your report.
4. The level of education for your Express Entry profile and points will show beside the result.

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