ECA is a document that authenticates a foreign degree, diploma, and certificate to be equivalent to Canadian Education standards and equivalency. This is valid and a mandatory document required to apply for Canada PR Visa. If an ECA states that foreign education is equivalent to the Canadian standards then only one is eligible to file for PR of The Maple Country. This information is then included in Express Entry Profile which earns them relevant points as per the FSW and expresses entry point’s calculator.

Who needs an ECA?

Aspiring applicants wishing to apply under Federal Skilled Worker Class require an authenticate certificate proofing their foreign education to be equivalent to Canadian standards. ECA from an authorized body is an infallible document to prove this equivalency.

The spouse or common-law partner of the applicant under the Express Entry system must also attain an ECA for his or her foreign education if he or she desires to claim CRS points. It is not a mandatory document.

How to apply an ECA?

Applicants (and his or her accompanying spouse or partner, if applicable) submits the required documents to an authorized assessing body. These establishments function autonomously by the government of Canada. Required documents may include transcripts and certificates.
The current organizations designated by IRCC to issue ECA reports are:

• 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 (professional body for Doctors)
• Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (professional body for Pharmacists)