What is an Educational Credential Assessment?
When a candidate has finished education outside Canada, he needs an Educational Credential Assessment for –
- Being eligible as an applicant for Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker Program); or
- Earning extra points for education you completed from outside Canada.
Note:- You can earn some extra points for your spouse’s or common-law partner’s education if they’re also coming with you for immigration to Canada. Though it’s not required for your spouse to get an ECA but to claim additional CRS points it’s recommended. Especially, when your total score is lagging and you need extra points to stay in the race.
One of the very first steps of your immigration through Express Entry is to get an ECA. As the evaluation process can take weeks to months the sooner you apply the better.
When you are eligible for Express Entry, you have to submit an ECA report before entering into the Express Entry pool. An ECA is mandatory for Federal Skilled Worker Program but it’s not necessary for the Federal Skilled Trade Program and Canadian Experience Class. However, to claim Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for both these programs you have to get assessed for an ECA report.
Which education credential to get assessed?
Note:- In case your post-secondary education credential isn’t equivalent to a Canadian education credential, you have an option to get your secondary education credential evaluated. This would help you in getting points for finishing secondary school.
How to get assessed for an ECA?
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada only accepts ECAs assessed by designated organizations or professional bodies. They will generate a report for you specifying your education relevancy as per the Canadian equivalent. Cost and processing time vary based on a selected organization or professional body.
What does your ECA report mean?
By chance, your assessed report demonstrates that the foreign education institute (from where you took education) is not recognized or your education credential is not equivalent to a Canadian education credential-
- you will not get any points for your education;
- you will not fulfill the educational requirements provided by the Federal Skilled Worker Program.
How to submit your ECA report?
Once you receive your ECA report, you have to send the report further. So, don’t ask your designated organization or professional body to do so on your behalf. As you receive your report-
- Update the reference number and the result on your Express Entry profile;
- be prepared to upload your document copies if you are invited to apply for Canada’s permanent residence;
- keep your valid documents intact.
Once you receive your ECA report, you have to send the report further. So, don’t ask your designated organization or professional body to do so on your behalf. As you receive your report-