How to Avoid a Rejected Educational Credential Assessment

Newcomers applying for economic class immigration to Canada through Express Entry will need an important document to help prove their eligibility for certain programs or pathways: an Education Credential Assessment (ECA).

An ECA verifies the Canadian equivalent of your international academic credentials. Credentials assessed could include international degrees, diplomas, and certificates.

Explore Getting an ECA from WES

However, if Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) rejects your ECA your immigration process could be delayed. Keep reading to learn how to avoid having your ECA rejected by IRCC.

1. Select the correct type of evaluation report.

There are multiple types of evaluation reports, but the ECA is the one required by IRCC. For immigration programs and pathways, you must obtain an ECA for immigration purposes.

Selecting the appropriate type of evaluation report is an important step. It ensures that you meet IRCC’s ECA criteria and can demonstrate the information needed to process your immigration application. Selecting the correct type of ECA will help you avoid delays.

2. Order an ECA from an IRCC-designated provider.

Though different organizations offer credential evaluation services, only five of them are designated by IRCC. Submitting an ECA from a provider not designated by IRCC could result in your document (and your application) being delayed or rejected.

For these reasons, newcomers are urged to make sure that their ECA-issuing provider is designated by IRCC to evaluate credentials for Canadian immigration.

3. Make sure your ECA is current.

An ECA for IRCC issued by any designated organization has a five-year expiry date, as mandated by IRCC.

For this reason some services offer easy ECA renewals, so candidates can conveniently extend the validity of their documents for an additional five years. With WES, you can simply sign in to your account and from the dashboard select "Order Duplicate IRCC." This will extend your ECA for another five years. Read this article to learn more.

Explore Getting an ECA from WES

Order an ECA from WES

Founded in 1974, WES has completed more than four million credential evaluations and established partnerships with thousands of academic institutions worldwide.

Learn more and start your application for an ECA at wes.org today.