Educational Credential Assessment (ECA): the Express Entry guide

What is an Educational Credential Assessment?

An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), called évaluation des diplômes d’études (EDE) in French, is a report that confirms a credential earned abroad is valid and equivalent to a Canadian one. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses it to check eligibility and award points in the Express Entry system.

According to IRCC’s page on educational credential assessments (opens in a new tab), the report must show that your foreign credential is equivalent to a completed Canadian secondary or post-secondary credential. That equivalency determines the points you get for your education.

An ECA is an immigration document. It is not a licence to practise or a job offer, and it does not replace each province’s own process for regulated occupations. This guide explains what it is for, who needs one and how to use it afterwards in your job search.

This article is not immigration advice. Rules change: always check IRCC’s official page before you apply.

Who needs an ECA for Express Entry?

If you completed your education outside Canada, IRCC requires an ECA in two cases: to be eligible as the principal applicant under the Federal Skilled Worker Program in Express Entry, and to earn points for education completed abroad. You don’t need an assessment for a Canadian degree, diploma or certificate.

In most cases, one assessment is enough: the one for your highest level of education. If you want points for two or more credentials, you need an assessment for each one, and at least one of them must come from a program of three years or more to get full points.

You must include the ECA report and its reference number in your Express Entry profile. Keep your original documents: if you are invited to apply, you will need to upload copies.

Which organizations can assess your credentials?

Only organizations designated by IRCC can issue an ECA that is valid for Express Entry. Most applicants use one of the following five organizations, which tell you themselves how to submit your documents.

Three professions go through a designated professional body when their practice requires a licence: specialist physicians and general practitioners (Medical Council of Canada), pharmacists (Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada) and architects (Canadian Architectural Certification Board). If your primary occupation does not require a licence, another designated organization can assess your credentials.

Compare processing times, required documents and fees directly on each organization’s website: they differ from one to the next.

How long does an ECA stay valid?

Your ECA must be less than five years old when you complete your Express Entry profile and when you submit your application for permanent residence. If you are in the pool and have not been invited, it must stay valid for the whole time you remain there. IRCC states that an application submitted with an expired ECA will be refused.

Note the date of your report in your calendar and plan a new assessment well before it expires if your process drags on, taking into account the processing time the organization announces.

Do you need an ECA to immigrate to Quebec?

Quebec selects its own skilled workers and uses a different document: the comparative evaluation of studies completed outside Quebec, issued by the ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI). According to Québec.ca (opens in a new tab), this evaluation is not required to submit an immigration application: it is a tool for entering the job market.

The comparative evaluation is neither a diploma nor a diploma equivalency. It helps an employer, a school or a professional order understand your studies. Since September 4, 2025, the Quebec field of study no longer appears on it. Our guide to foreign credential recognition explains how to get and use it.

Is an ECA enough to work in your field?

No. IRCC points out that an ECA does not guarantee you will get a licence to practise in a regulated profession: that licence is obtained in the province or territory where you plan to settle. Contact that province’s regulatory body to learn its requirements, which may include its own exams or bridging training.

To find out whether your occupation is regulated and whom to contact, see our guide to regulated professions. For an unregulated occupation, an ECA can on the other hand help an employer understand your education.

On your resume, show the original credential first, then the equivalency, without turning it into a Canadian degree: "Bachelor of Computer Science, University X (country), 2018 — Canadian equivalency: bachelor’s degree (ECA, 2026)". Our resume guide for newcomers covers the Education section in detail.

How can Postulio help?

Postulio’s CV Studio reminds you to include the equivalency of your credentials, helps you word it clearly in your Education section, and then tailors your resume to each posting. Postulio does not handle any immigration or recognition process for you: the ECA itself still comes from a designated organization.

The Premium plan adds a newcomer path covering credential equivalency, Canadian workplace norms and networking. These tools make your search clearer; they do not guarantee a job or an interview. Next, read how to land a first job without Canadian experience.

Sources

• IRCC, Educational credential assessment (Express Entry) (opens in a new tab) — who needs one, designated organizations and designation dates, five-year validity, multiple credentials, licensing (page consulted on October 16, 2026).
• Québec.ca, About comparative evaluation (opens in a new tab) — evaluation not required for an immigration application, a job market integration tool, field of study removed since September 4, 2025.
• Job Bank, Foreign Credential Recognition Tool (opens in a new tab) — regulated occupations and the bodies to contact in each province.