If you studied outside Canada, your foreign educational credentials generally must be assessed before they can be counted toward Canadian immigration points or recognized for employment in regulated professions. This process is often called foreign credential recognition (FCR), and for Express Entry the specific document you need is an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). In plain terms, an ECA is a designated organization confirming that your foreign degree or diploma is comparable to a Canadian one for immigration points. It is not a professional licence and it does not, on its own, let you practise a regulated job. This guide explains which organizations IRCC has designated, what an ECA realistically costs and how long it takes, why an ECA and a professional licence are two separate things, and what this means for Express Entry candidates and newcomers entering regulated fields. Because fees, accepted organizations and rules change, confirm every specific on canada.ca or with the organization itself before you act.
What Is an ECA and Why Does It Matter?
An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is an official comparison of your foreign degree, diploma, or certificate to the Canadian education standard. It answers a simple question: "If you had studied this program in Canada, what credential would you generally have received?" The designated organization reviews your transcripts and degree, then issues a report stating the Canadian equivalent (for example, "comparable to a completed Canadian bachelor's degree"). Express Entry uses that equivalency, not your original foreign credential name, to award education points.
For immigration purposes, an ECA is generally required by Express Entry if you studied abroad and want to claim education points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Without a valid ECA for your foreign education:
- ! Your foreign degree generally cannot be counted for education points in Express Entry
- ! You may miss the CRS points that a foreign credential could otherwise contribute (education points vary by your level of study and whether you have a spouse; check the official CRS criteria)
- ! Your education cannot be combined with language and work experience in the Skill Transferability factors, where some of the largest point gains come from
An ECA is separate from professional licensing, and this distinction matters more than almost anything else on this page. Getting an ECA for Express Entry does not automatically mean your credentials are accepted by a provincial or territorial regulator for a regulated profession. The ECA tells IRCC your education level for points; a regulator decides, separately, whether you may legally practise. What this means for you: a strong ECA can lift your CRS score and still leave you unable to work in your exact field on arrival until you complete the licensing process for that province.
Designated Organizations: WES vs IQAS vs ICAS vs Others
IRCC designates specific organizations authorized to conduct ECAs for immigration purposes. As of this writing, IRCC lists five general designated organizations plus profession-specific bodies for certain regulated occupations. You must use a designated organization, because an ECA from a non-designated body is generally not accepted for Express Entry. Any of the five general organizations produces a report IRCC accepts equally for points, so the choice usually comes down to cost, turnaround, your country of education, and whether your eventual regulator prefers a particular assessor. The table below is a general orientation: confirm the current designated list, exact fees and timelines on canada.ca and the organization's own site before you order.
| Organization | Credentials Assessed / Notes | Typical Fee (CAD) | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Education Services (WES) | General academic degrees, diplomas, transcripts; the most commonly used option for Express Entry | Base around $264 + HST and delivery; confirm on wes.org | Verify current processing on wes.org |
| Comparative Education Service (CES): University of Toronto | General academic credentials | Verify on official site | Verify on official site |
| International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) | General academic and vocational credentials | Verify on official site | Verify on official site |
| International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) | General academic credentials; Alberta government service, accepted nationally for immigration | Verify on official site | Verify on official site |
| International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES): BCIT | General academic credentials; British Columbia, accepted nationally | Verify on official site | Verify on official site |
| Medical Council of Canada (MCC) | Profession-specific body; ECA for the primary medical diploma where the occupation is a physician | Verify on official site | Verify on official site |
| Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) | Profession-specific body; ECA where the occupation is pharmacist | Verify on official site | Verify on official site |
| Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB) | Profession-specific body designated in 2024; ECA where the occupation is architect (NOC 21200) | Verify on official site | Verify on official site |
Many Express Entry candidates use WES, which is widely recognized, but CES, ICAS, IQAS and ICES are all fully accepted for immigration points. A key planning tip: if you intend to apply for an occupation that has its own designated body (for example, physician or pharmacist), IRCC generally directs you to that profession-specific body rather than a general one, so check the official list for your occupation before ordering. Separately, some regulators prefer a detailed course-by-course report for licensing even though a document-by-document report is enough for immigration points.
Regulated vs Unregulated Professions
Canada distinguishes between regulated and unregulated occupations for credential recognition purposes, and which category your job falls into shapes how much work remains after you immigrate. Roughly speaking, regulated occupations need a licence from a provincial or territorial regulator before you can legally do that work, while unregulated occupations do not. The same job title can be regulated in one province and handled differently in another, so always confirm with the regulator in the province where you plan to live.
🔒 Regulated Professions
Require a provincial/territorial licence or registration before you can legally work in that role in Canada. Your foreign credentials must be assessed by the relevant regulatory body, not just IRCC or an ECA organization.
Exemples : Examples: Medicine, law, pharmacy, nursing, engineering (P.Eng.), architecture, dentistry, physiotherapy, social work, early childhood education (in many provinces), teaching (for teachers).
✓ Unregulated Professions
Do not require a government licence to work in Canada. Employers may have their own credential requirements, but there is no mandatory licensing process.
Exemples : Examples: Software developers, marketing, management consultants, writers, designers, business analysts, customer service, most trades (except red seal trades).
Critical mistake to avoid: Many internationally trained professionals apply for Express Entry, receive an ITA, land in Canada, and then discover their foreign credential is not recognized by the provincial licensing body. Research licensing requirements in your province BEFORE you apply for immigration.
Regulated Professions: Licensing Bodies by Field
Medicine (MD)
Medical Council of Canada (MCC) evaluating exam + provincial college licensing + residency matching. Process takes years. Most foreign-trained physicians must complete additional training.
Nursing (RN, LPN)
National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) preliminary assessment + provincial nursing regulatory body registration. Requirements vary by province.
Engineering (P.Eng.)
The provincial or territorial engineering regulator assesses your academic background and experience and may require technical exams, a law-and-ethics exam, or a period of supervised Canadian work experience. Many newcomers work in engineering-related roles while progressing toward the P.Eng. designation, but only a licensed P.Eng. may take responsibility for engineering work and use the title. An immigration ECA does not grant the P.Eng. licence.
Law
Each province has its own law society. Internationally trained lawyers typically must complete the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) process before applying for provincial bar admission.
Pharmacy
Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) evaluating examination + provincial licensing. A multi-year process for foreign pharmacists in many cases.
Dentistry
National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) assessment and examinations + provincial licensing. Significant additional requirements for most foreign dentists.
Teaching
Provincial Ministries of Education. Requirements vary significantly by province. Some provinces have bridging programs for internationally trained teachers.
Trades (Red Seal)
Red Seal Program recognizes interprovincial trade qualifications. Foreign tradespersons may be eligible to challenge Red Seal exams with proof of equivalent training and experience.
WES Cost, Processing and Validity: What to Expect
- ✓ Fee: WES publishes a base evaluation fee (around $264 CAD at the time of writing) before applicable HST and document delivery, so the all-in cost is higher; confirm the current amount on wes.org
- ✓ Report type: a document-by-document ECA gives the overall Canadian equivalency that Express Entry needs, while a course-by-course report adds course-level detail that some licensing bodies prefer
- ✓ Processing time: WES does not commit to a fixed turnaround on every report; processing begins once all required documents arrive, so check current processing times on wes.org and build in a buffer
- ✓ Transcripts: your institution must send official transcripts directly to WES; self-submitted transcripts are generally not accepted, so contact your registrar early
- ✓ Validity: a WES ECA is generally valid for five years from the date of issue, and it must still be valid when you submit your Express Entry profile and application; confirm the current validity rule before you rely on an older report
Calculate your CRS score with ECA points
See exactly how your foreign degree affects your Express Entry score, and which programs you qualify for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an ECA for Express Entry?+
You need an ECA only if you want to claim CRS points for foreign education. If you have Canadian education, no ECA is required. If all your education is foreign and you want education points in Express Entry, you must have an ECA from a designated organization.
Which ECA organization should I choose: WES or IQAS?+
For most Express Entry candidates, WES is the most widely accepted and familiar option. IQAS is also fully accepted and slightly cheaper. Check whether your occupation's licensing body has a preferred assessor, some regulated professions require assessments from specific bodies beyond the standard immigration ECA.
Does an ECA mean my credentials are accepted for employment in Canada?+
For unregulated occupations, no restrictions. For regulated professions, an ECA from WES or similar is not the same as licensing body approval. You must go through the profession-specific licensing process. An ECA tells IRCC your education level; a licensing body tells employers you can legally practice.
How do I get my transcripts to WES?+
Your institution must send official transcripts directly to WES, either by physical mail in a sealed envelope or electronically through WES-approved channels. Self-submitted transcripts are not accepted. Contact your institution's registrar office well in advance of your target application date.
My degree is from a country not in WES's database. What do I do?+
WES assesses credentials from most countries worldwide. If your institution is not recognized in their database, WES will generally contact you for additional documentation. You can contact WES directly, or consider CES, ICAS, IQAS or ICES as alternatives if one organization cannot assess your institution. Verify current requirements with each organization.
How long is an ECA valid for Express Entry?+
A WES ECA is generally valid for five years from its date of issue, and your ECA must still be valid when you submit your Express Entry profile and your application. Other designated organizations may state their own validity periods, so check the report and the organization's site. If your ECA is close to expiring, confirm whether you need a new one before applying. Always verify the current rule on canada.ca.
Is an ECA required for a study permit or work permit?+
Generally no. An ECA is primarily about claiming education points in Express Entry. A study permit application is assessed differently (for example, on your letter of acceptance and funds), and most work permits do not require an ECA. Some programs or regulated jobs may have their own credential requirements. Confirm what your specific application needs on canada.ca.
Can I use one ECA for both immigration and professional licensing?+
Sometimes, but not always. An ECA confirms your education level for immigration points, while a regulator decides separately whether you can practise a regulated profession. Some regulators accept or even require a specific assessment (often a detailed course-by-course report) and may have their own process beyond the immigration ECA. Check with the regulator in your intended province before assuming one report covers both.
Do I need an ECA if I studied in Canada?+
Generally no. An ECA is for foreign education. If your credential was earned at a recognized Canadian institution, you typically do not need an ECA to claim Canadian education points in Express Entry. If you have a mix of Canadian and foreign credentials, an ECA may still help for the foreign portion. Verify how your specific credentials are counted on canada.ca.
Official sources
This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.