Canadian Educational Credential Assessment Bodies
Canada is well-known for its stunning landscapes, diverse culture, standard way of life, and abundance of immigration-friendly opportunities. Canada has strong and stable economy that provides a wide range of job opportunities. With a low unemployment rate, the Land of Maple Leaf welcomes skilled workers from around the world. However, for many individual’s immigration to Canada is not that easy, the challenges lie in having their Educational Credentials recognized and evaluated by Canadian institutions and employers.
International individuals who want to immigrate to Canada will require some proof of their academic and must be equivalent to the Canadian education system to prove their eligibility. This is where the educational Credential Assessment (ECA) helps to contextualize a candidate’s educational achievement for the Canadian Immigration system.
What is an Educational Credential Assessment?
An ECA is a document that assesses a candidate's foreign education credential and determines its equivalency. Individuals can do their ECA from an organization designated by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, Canada to assess their education.
There are several types of organizations that offer ECA. These organizations play a crucial role in facilitating the integration of immigrants into the Canadian labour market and education system. The five prominent credential evaluation services in Canada are CES, ICAS, ICES, IQAS, and WES.
Comparative Education Service (CES)
The University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies is home to the Comparative Education Service (CES). It was started in 1967 by the University of Toronto, which was ranked 19th overall and the best university in Canada by the Times Higher Education 2012 World University Ranking System. It was the first academic credential assessment service in Canada.
It provides assessment reports for candidates who have completed their education outside of Canada. The report can be used for immigration to Canada through the Federal Skilled Worker Program and can be assessed for education, immigration, and employment, within Canada.
CES evaluates credentials from various educational systems worldwide, including degrees, diplomas, and certificates.
Process to apply for Comparative Education Services (CES)
- Applicants submit the application form with educational documents to CES.
- Immigration evaluators review the application and documents to determine the Canadian equivalency.
- Comparative Education Services (CES) issued a detailed report outlining the Canadian equivalency of the candidate's credentials.
- CES reports are mainly used for immigration purposes and for intakes to Canadian universities and colleges.
Importance of Comparative Education Services
CES evaluations are recognized by Canadian educational institutions, universities, regulatory bodies, and employers that provide a trusted pathway for immigrants to evolve into a Canadian society.
International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS)
The International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) is an organization designed by the Canadian government to provide credential evaluation services. It was established in 1996, ICAS operates as a part of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada.
ICAS serves as a trustworthy authority to assess the candidate's educational credentials who have completed their education overseas and want to live, work, and immigrate to Canada. It is required by university, administrative, and government agencies to understand and recognize foreign credentials in comparison to Canadian standards.
Types of ICAS in Canada
The mentioned below are the types of ICAS in Canada evaluation reports:
- Comprehensive (General) Assessment
This is the excellence assessment report provided by ICAS. It assess the overall applicants educational credential, including academics degree, diploma, and certificates.
- Secondary school assessment
This assessment focus on the international secondary school qualifications within the Canadian educational system.
- Tertiary documents
It is designed for individuals who have completed their post-secondary education such as degree, diploma, or vocational qualifications.
- Course-by-course assessment
A course-by-course assessment provides a detailed breakdown of each course or subject completed as a part of their educational qualifications.
- Skilled Trades Assessment
ICAS evaluates training, skills, and experience required in the skilled trades industry.
Process to apply for International Credential Assessment Service of Canada
- Identifying the immigration program through which you are applying to Canada such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trade Program, and Canadian Experience Class.
- Select the ECA assessment type that aligns with your educational qualifications.
- Submit the application with accurate and complete information with relevant educational documents.
- ICAS will verify the submitted documents once the assessment is completed. ICAS will issue an ECA report outlining the equivalency of overseas educational qualifications.
International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES)
The International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES) is managed by the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). ICES evaluate international educational credentials to determine their Canadian equivalency, ensuring accuracy and consistency in credential recognition.
Types of International Credential Evaluation Services (ICES). There are three types of ICES evaluations:
- Basic Evaluation
ICES provide a simplified evaluation of educational credentials, confirming their authenticity and providing general information about the level, the field, and the date of completion. It can be used as a personal reference, a tool for career planning, or as support for employment.
- Comprehensive Evaluation
ICES provide a detailed assessment, completely instructive qualifications, including grades and finished courses. Based on Canadian educational standards, the report provides a comprehensive equivalency analysis.
- Immigration Evaluation
The educational Credential Assessment (ECA), is required by IRCC for immigration to Canada. It evaluates overseas educational credentials, providing an equivalency assessment to Canadian standards.
Process to apply for International Credential Evaluation Services (ICES)
- Look for the different evaluation services recognized and accepted by the organization individual applying for.
- Complete the application form with accurate information, documents attached to it.
- Submit the application with required documents, and fee to the evaluation services.
- Once the evaluation is completed, applicant will receive the report of their credential including their equivalency of degrees.
International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)
The International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) is operated by the Government of Alberta. IQAS assesses foreign education qualifications to decide their equivalence to Canadian standards, supporting foreigners in coordinating into the Alberta labor force and educational system.
Process to apply for International Qualifications Assessment Services (IQAS)
- Visit the official website of the IQAS and submit the application with required documents.
- Once you submit the application, wait for it to be process by the examine authorities.
- An assessment report will issue from IQAS describing the credentials' equivalent to Canadian.
World Education Services (WES) Canada
World Education Services (WES) (WES) is a generally perceived association that gives certification assessment services for international education. WES Canada explicitly assesses foreign accreditations and gives reports that are used by people for immigration, business, and instructive purposes in Canada.
Process to apply for World Education Services
- Submit your application and accept your WES application number
- After that, go over the requirements for your documents and send them. Include your WES reference number as well.
- Credential verification follows after this. The report is created and sent to your recipients.
WES assessments are regarded as trustworthy all over the world and provide applicants with a trustworthy assessment of their educational qualifications, making it easier for them to integrate into the workforce and educational institutions in Canada.
Conclusion
The Canadian organizations CES, ICAS, ICES, IQAS, and WES are crucial in determining the equivalence of international educational credentials in Canada. By validating immigrants' educational qualifications for immigration, employment, and further education, these organizations provide essential services that help immigrants integrate into Canadian society.
These credential evaluation services uphold standards of fairness and consistency, ensuring that individuals from diverse educational backgrounds can effectively demonstrate their qualifications in the Canadian context. They are recognized and trusted by Canadian universities, colleges, employers, and regulatory bodies. Immigrants and newcomers can navigate the credential recognition process with confidence if they understand the processes and significance of these credential evaluation services. This makes it easier for them to successfully integrate into the Canadian economy and society and participate in it.
Go-Global Immigration is the immigration consultant who can assist you to immigrate to Canada. Our immigration professionals make sure you are done with your Educational Credential Assessment peacefully and land in the Maple Leaf of Canada.
