Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for Express Entry

If you completed your education outside Canada and want to apply for permanent residence through Express Entry, you almost certainly need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). An ECA is the official document that verifies your foreign degree, diploma, or certificate is valid and equivalent to a Canadian credential. Without it, you cannot claim Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for your education, and under the Federal Skilled Worker Program you will not even be eligible to enter the Express Entry pool.

This page covers everything in one place: who needs an ECA, which designated organization to choose, exact fees, processing times, how your education translates into points, and the mistakes that cause real applications to be rejected.

Who Needs an ECA for Express Entry?

The short answer is anyone who completed their education outside Canada and wants to benefit from it in their Express Entry profile.

More precisely, you need an ECA in three situations. First, if you are applying as a principal applicant under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), an ECA is a mandatory minimum requirement. You cannot even enter the Express Entry pool under FSWP without one. Second, if you are applying under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and you want to claim CRS points for your foreign education, you need an ECA. You can technically enter the pool without one, but you would receive zero education points, which significantly lowers your CRS score. Third, if your spouse or common-law partner is accompanying you to Canada and you want to claim CRS points for their foreign education (up to 10 points), they also need their own ECA.

You do not need an ECA for any education completed at a Canadian institution.

Which Credentials Do You Actually Need Assessed?

In most situations you only need to assess your highest completed credential. If you have a Master's degree, you assess the Master's degree only. You do not need a separate ECA for your Bachelor's degree.

There is one important exception. If you want to claim points for "two or more certificates, diplomas, or degrees," at least one of which must be for a program of three or more years, you need a valid ECA for each credential you are claiming. For example, if you hold a 3-year Bachelor's degree and a 1-year Post-Graduate Diploma, you would need two separate ECAs to claim the higher point bracket. The order in which you completed the credentials does not affect your points.

If your post-secondary credential does not assess as equivalent to a Canadian credential, you can also get your secondary school (high school) credential assessed to at least claim points for completing high school.

The Critical "Immigration Purposes" Rule

You must order an ECA specifically for immigration purposes. If you submit an ECA that was issued for general employment, continuing education, or professional licensing, IRCC will reject your Express Entry profile or PR application outright.

This is one of the most common and costly mistakes applicants make. When you apply to any designated organization, you will see different product types. Always select the immigration or IRCC-specific option. This is not a minor technicality. Applicants have had their PR applications rejected at the final stage because they submitted the wrong ECA type, and there is no appeal process.

The Five Designated Organizations for General ECAs

IRCC only accepts ECAs from organizations it has officially designated. All five general organizations were designated on either April 17, 2013 or August 6, 2015. IRCC treats reports from all five equally, so there is no official preference. The right choice depends on your situation, budget, and timeline.

All fees are in Canadian dollars, are non-refundable, and are subject to change. Re-confirm on each organization's website before applying.

WES (World Education Services). WES (wes.org/eca) is the most commonly used ECA provider for Express Entry. The base fee is C$264 plus 13% HST. Delivery fees are additional: standard mail is C$14, next-day courier within Canada is C$29, and international courier is C$97. WES processes your ECA in two phases after all documents are received and accepted: document review typically takes up to 4 weeks and the evaluation itself up to 2 weeks, for a total of about 35 business days. WES stores your verified documents electronically, which is useful if you need to renew or update your report later.

IQAS (International Qualifications Assessment Service). IQAS (alberta.ca/iqas-immigration) is an Alberta government service. The fee is C$260 for the first credential, plus a mandatory C$25 administration fee, plus courier fees of C$25 (Canada) or C$90 (international). If you need your ECA quickly, IQAS offers a rush service for an additional C$250, which reduces processing to about 5 business days. Rush spots are limited and reset daily at 8:15 a.m. Mountain Time. Standard processing is about 15 business days once your application reaches "In line for processing" status.

CES (Comparative Education Service, University of Toronto). CES (learn.utoronto.ca/comparative-education-service) charges C$241.50 per application, and as of September 2025 you can submit up to two credentials under a single application fee. Delivery options include a certified electronic copy for C$21, Canada/US courier for C$65, and international courier for C$83. Average processing time is 60 business days.

ICAS (International Credential Assessment Service of Canada). ICAS (icascanada.ca) charges C$210 for its Canadian Immigration Assessment Package, which includes two original paper reports and an electronic copy. ICAS requires your institution to send official transcripts directly to their office. Documents submitted by the applicant in a sealed envelope are not accepted. Processing times vary, so contact ICAS directly.

ICES (International Credential Evaluation Service, BCIT). ICES (bcit.ca/ices/eca) charges C$200 per educational credential. This includes two original hard copies and secure electronic access for IRCC. Courier delivery is optional at C$26 (Canada) or C$75 (international). ICES also offers a QR code electronic copy for C$50.

Regulated Professions: You Must Use a Designated Professional Body

If your primary occupation is as a physician, pharmacist, or architect, you cannot use the five general organizations above. IRCC requires you to use the specific professional body for your occupation.

Note for architects: if you already have a valid ECA from one of the five general organizations that was issued before October 31, 2024, IRCC will still accept it. The CACB requirement applies to new ECA applications made after that date. If you are a pharmacist or architect in a role that does not require a provincial licence, you may use one of the five general organizations instead.

How Your ECA Translates into Points

Your education can earn you up to 150 CRS points if you are applying without a spouse, or up to 140 CRS points if applying with an accompanying spouse or common-law partner.

Beyond the core education points, your education also contributes to Skill Transferability factors, where combining a post-secondary credential with strong language scores (CLB 7 or higher) or Canadian work experience can earn you up to an additional 50 CRS points.

For the Federal Skilled Worker Program you must also score at least 67 out of 100 on the selection factors grid, where education is worth a maximum of 25 points: Ph.D. 25, Master's or professional degree 23, two or more credentials (one 3+ years) 22, Bachelor's or 3+ year program 21, two-year program 19, one-year program 15, secondary diploma 5.

How Long Is an ECA Valid?

Your ECA is valid for five years from the date it was issued. It must be valid on two separate dates: when you submit your Express Entry profile, and when you submit your final PR application after receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA). If your ECA will expire before you expect to apply, contact the issuing organization. Most organizations offer a renewal or re-issuance option for a reduced fee. If you apply with an expired ECA, IRCC will refuse your application.

Step-by-Step: How to Get Your ECA

1. Determine which organization is right for you. Check your occupation against the professional body requirements. If you are not a physician, pharmacist, or architect needing a licence, choose from the five general organizations based on your budget and timeline.
2. Create an account and complete the application online. Select the immigration-specific ECA product. You will receive a reference number after applying.
3. Pay the application fee. Fees are non-refundable.
4. Gather and submit your documents. In most cases your institution must send official transcripts directly to the ECA organization, either by mail in a sealed stamped envelope or via secure electronic transfer. Documents submitted by the applicant in a sealed envelope are not accepted by ICAS and some other organizations.
5. Wait for processing. Processing time begins only after all required documents have been received and accepted by the organization, not from the date you submitted your application.
6. Receive your report and reference number. Enter both into the "Study and languages" section of your Express Entry profile.
7. Keep your original documents. You will need to upload copies if you receive an ITA.

Questions People Actually Ask

My ECA says my Master's degree is equivalent to a Canadian Bachelor's degree. Can I dispute this? Most organizations have a formal appeal or review process. CES, for example, allows you to appeal within 90 days of the report date for a fee of C$199 (refundable if the appeal succeeds). You can also try a different designated organization, as each assesses independently and outcomes can differ.

Does my ECA need to be translated if my documents are not in English or French? Your original academic documents do not need to be in English or French, but you will need certified translations of any documents that are not. Each organization has specific translation requirements.

Does my spouse need a separate ECA? Only if you want to claim CRS points for their foreign education, which can add up to 10 points. If you do not need those points, or if your spouse is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and non-accompanying, they do not need an ECA.

Can I use an ECA from one organization to apply to a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)? In most cases yes. Many PNP streams accept ECAs from the same IRCC-designated organizations, but some have specific requirements. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, for example, strongly recommends using WES and selecting the OINP as a recipient. Always check the specific stream.

Common Mistakes That Cause Rejections

• Ordering the wrong ECA type. This is the single most common reason for a PR application rejection related to the ECA. Always order the immigration-specific version.
• Submitting documents yourself instead of through the institution. Most organizations require your institution to send transcripts directly, and will reject documents you send yourself even in a sealed envelope.
• Assuming processing time starts when you apply. It begins only after all required documents have been received, reviewed, and accepted.
• Not accounting for the ECA expiry in your planning. If you apply early and spend a long time in the pool, your ECA could expire before your ITA or PR application. Build the five-year window into your plan.
• Claiming two credentials without the right combination. To earn the "two or more credentials" bracket, at least one credential must be for a program of three or more years.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Understanding your ECA is just one piece of the Express Entry puzzle. Your CRS score, language results, work experience, and the specific program you qualify for all play a role in your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply.

Check Your Eligibility (kgraph.ca/resource-details/eca-express-entry)

Our team at KGraph, led by Mathews Benny (RCIC, CAPIC member), has helped over 7,000 clients navigate the Express Entry process. Reach us at info@kgraph.ca or on WhatsApp at Toronto/Scarborough +1 416 989 7788, Mississauga +1 905 516 7920, or Kitchener +1 226 753 5747.

Last verified July 2026. Reviewed by an RCIC. General information, not legal advice.

Prepared by KGraph Immigration Consultants. This guide is for informational purposes only. For personalized immigration advice, consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC).