An important step while applying for your Canada PR visa is to apply for the Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), which is required if you have done your education outside Canada. The ECA report will show that your educational credentials are equal to Canadian secondary school credentials or post-secondary educational credentials.
The ECA is required if you are applying for a visa through the Express Entry program to prove that your foreign education degree or credential is valid and is equal to a Canadian degree.
The following categories of PR applicants need to get an ECA:
Applicants who have completed their education outside Canada and are applying for a PR visa under the Federal Skilled Workers Program.
Applicants who need to earn points for education received outside Canada.
Applicants whose spouse or partner is coming with them to Canada need to get an ECA for them as well to earn points for their education in the PR visa application.
An ECA is usually required for your highest level of education; for example, if you have a master’s degree, you will need an ECA for only that and not for your bachelor’s degree. However, if you have two or more credentials, you will need an ECA for both if you need credentials both of them.
EDUCATIONAL CREDENTIAL ASSESSMENT (ECA)
You can get your ECA from one of the designated organizations given below:
World Education Services
Comparative Education Service – University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
International Credential Assessment Service of Canada
International Qualifications Assessment Service
International Credential Evaluation Service
Medical Council of Canada (the professional body for Doctors)
Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (the professional body for Pharmacists)
IMPORTANT NOTE: The IRCC will only accept assessments that are issued on or after the date the organizations were designated to issue ECA reports for immigration applicants. Choose the right occupation code and get the ECA report from respective Assessment Board.
