Best Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) in Canada

Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is necessary when you want to immigrate to Canada. For studying or immigrating to Canada purposes, CES, WES, ICES, and IQAS are IRCC-designated organizations in charge of issuing ECA reports to foreign nationals.

For the most benefits, you need to opt for the best Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for immigration to Canada between CES, WES, ICES, and IQAS. Some credential assessment organizations have faster turnaround times, better customer relations, and may be cheaper than others.

What is Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) in Canada?

Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is an evaluation report used to compare international credentials against the credentials offered by Canadian post-secondary institutions.

As a foreign national with educational documents obtained in schools outside Canada, you need an ECA report to validate your certificate for completing an academic program in your country.

Moreover, your Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report should state that your international credential has a comparably equivalent value to a Canadian certificate. On this basis, your transcripts may be accepted for admission and immigration purposes.

Functions of Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) reports

ECA reports serve various functions and benefits to applicants, especially when applying to study or immigrate to Canada. For this reason, the credential assessment a candidate opts for is essential. However, an ECA report for work purposes may not be acceptable for other purposes like immigration.

At the planning stage, you need to consider the purpose of the ECA report before applying through one of the IRCC-designated ECA organizations. Below are the functions of Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) reports in Canada.

#1. ECA for immigration purposes

ECA reports are essential during Canada’s immigration processes, including but not limited to Express Entry.

Since you completed your studies in a foreign country, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will request that you provide an assessment report to facilitate your foreign certificate verification.

Moreover, getting an ECA to qualify for Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP) under Express Entry would be best. Provincial nominee programs also ask for ECAs. A successful result verification qualifies candidates for points in the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

#2. ECA reports for employment purposes

An ECA report is applicable when you want to apply for a job in Canada from overseas. Although an ECA for employment purposes does not force you to work within your discipline, it is a critical input in the LMIA process in Canada. Remember, you can only obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from an IRCC-designated organization.

#3. ECA Reports for admission into schools

Depending on the school you are applying to, the level of study, your country of origin, and the kind of program chosen, ECA reports for academic purposes may be required. Check with your university or college during the admission process to determine what requirements are necessary – and what kind of ECA you may need to complete.

Now let’s explore various options for getting an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to immigrate to, work, or study in Canada.

IRCC-designated ECA organizations

Below are IRCC-designated organizations that issue ECA reports to foreign nationals.

1. Comparative Education Service (CES).
2. World Education Services (WES).
3. International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES).
4. International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)

Comparative Education Service (CES)

CES is an IRCC-designated organization run by the University of Toronto (U of T) School of Continuing Studies. IRCC designated CES to start evaluating foreign certificates and issuing ECA reports on April 17, 2013.

• Application fee for CES ECA: 210 Canadian Dollars for each academic certificate
• Processing time for CES ECA report: For general use, it takes CES about six weeks to process ECA – from the time an applicant’s supporting documents are received.
  • ECA for Electronic/Digital institutional documents takes between 15-20 weeks.
  • Physical and institutional documents take about 25-30 weeks.
  • CES takes about three weeks to renew an expired immigration report and four weeks to upgrade a General ECA report for immigration.

Note: These processing timeframes do not include document delivery times.

World Education Services (WES)

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) designated the World Educational Services, WES, to issue ECA reports on April 17, 2013. WES is a leading credential assessment organization worldwide.

Thus, you can use an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from WES to satisfy Canada’s immigration requirements. WES is also a go-to ECA firm for students and graduates worldwide.

• Application fee for World Education Services (WES) ECA: 220 Canadian Dollars, exempting delivery fees.
• Processing time of World Education Services (WES) ECA: As stated on the WES website, the typical processing time for World Education Services (WES) evaluations is approximately 35 business days from the day that a completed application (including all required documents, information, and full payment of fees) is received by WES and compiled for internal review and processing.

International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES)

On August 6, 2015, IRCC designated ICES to serve foreign nationals in proofing the worthiness of their foreign certificates to Canadian academic certificates.

Thus, International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES) issues Education Credential Assessment (ECA) reports to foreign nationals for various purposes, including immigration.

Furthermore, ICES is affiliated with the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada (ACESC).

• Application fee for ICES ECA: 230 Canadian Dollars for each academic certificate
• Processing time for ICES ECA: It takes up to 16 weeks to get ICES ECA for immigration purposes.

International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS):

IRCC designated IQAS to take on ECAs for foreign nationals on August 6, 2015. Besides, Educational Credential Assessment (ECAs) from IQAS can be used to immigrate to Canada through Express Entry.

After immigration to Canada, you can still use your IQAS ECA report for job applications in Canada.

• Application fee for IQAS ECA: 200 Canadian Dollars, excluding delivery fees.
• IQAS ECA processing time: This aspect answers your question if you intend to ask, “how long does IQAS take for ECA.”
  • ECA processing time for IQSA using one certificate: In this case, it usually takes up to 14 weeks.
  • IQSA ECA processing time using multiple certificates: It takes a minimum of 18 weeks to process an ECA with IQAS using multiple foreign certificates.

Comparing ECA reports from CES, WES, ICES, and IQAS for immigration purposes

We have examined each IRCC-designated organization for Educational Credential Assessments (ECA) in Canada. Our analysis above discussed the processing time and application fees for CES, WES, ICES, and IQAS.

Each ECA company discussed is best in its way – each offering unique but similar services to their clients. It is up to the candidate to choose the best in their circumstance – using processing time and fees as consideration.

Generally, WES is more prevalent among students worldwide, while academic professionals such as university professors tend to choose CES for Educational Credential Assessments. However, ICES and IQAS are equally growing in popularity.

Next steps after getting an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report

After receiving your ECA report from the IRCC-designated organization, you need to do the following:

• Secure the original copies of your documents.
• Update your Express Entry profile with the ECA reference number.
• Wait for ITA (if eligible) or further instruction from IRCC.

IRCC-designated professional bodies that issue an ECA report to work in Canada

• Medical Council of Canada: for specialist physicians (NOC 3111), as well as general practitioners (NOC 3112)
•  Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada: for pharmacists (NOC 3131).

Conclusion

We have reviewed the top 4 providers of Educational Credential Assessment services in Canada for studying, working, and immigration purposes. We hope you found this information useful. Good luck with your applications!