Where can I get an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) in 2022?

One of the most critical steps that one has to take when applying for Canada's PR visa is to apply for the Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) – an essential requirement for all those who have had their education outside Canada. It is for proving that an individual's educational criteria are equivalent to those that the Canadian education system awards.

So, all those applying for visas via the Express Entry program need the ECA to prove that their overseas educational degree or qualification is effective and considered equal to a degree in Canada.

Who should opt for the ECA?

Suppose you have done your education outside of Canada. In that case, you need to obtain your ECA to apply for a PR visa under the Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP) or gain points for getting educated outside of this North American country. Getting an ECA is not necessary for those who have completed their degrees or diplomas in one of Canada's educational institutions.

Suppose individuals want to bring their spouses/partners with them to Canada. In that case, they need to apply for their ECAs as well in order to gain points for their degrees or diplomas for their Canadian PR visa applications.

An ECA is needed for a candidate's highest educational level. If a person has a doctorate, he/she should apply for an ECA for only that qualification and not for his/her bachelor's or master's degrees. When applicants have two or more credentials that are on part with each other, they then will need ECAs for both of them.

An ECA report will prove that an individual's educational qualifications are equal to Canada's secondary school or post-secondary educational qualifications. If ECA reports confirm this, candidates will then fulfill the academic criteria under the FSWP and earn points under the educational qualification for their CRS scores.

Where can you get your ECA?

Applicants can obtain their ECAs from one of the following nominated organizations:

• World Education Services (WES) (Date designated: April 17, 2013)
• Medical Council of Canada (the professional body for Doctors) (Date designated: April 17, 2013)
• International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (Date designated: April 17, 2013)
• Comparative Education Service – University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies (Date designated: April 17, 2013)
• Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (the professional body for Pharmacists) (Date designated: January 6, 2014)
• International Qualifications Assessment Service (Date designated: August 6, 2015)
• International Credential Evaluation Service (Date designated: August 6, 2015)

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will only accept ECAs granted on or after the date the organizations were designated to hand over ECA reports for applicants for PR visas.

You should select your companies based on your profession. For instance, a Civil Engineer (NOC code 2131) would get a license to only work after he gets his/her report from a relevant board in Canada.

All the organizations mentioned above provide ECAs for degrees and diplomas that candidates have received outside of Canada. They verify that their documents are genuine and then grant the equivalency report, which will help candidates get the necessary points on their immigration applications.

If you are a UAE citizen looking to migrate to Canada, contact Y-Axis, the World's No. 1 Overseas Consultant.

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