ECA Guide — WES vs ICAS vs CES (Which One Should You Choose?)

What Is an ECA?

An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) confirms that your foreign education is equivalent to a Canadian credential. It is mandatory for:

• ✔ Express Entry — Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
• ✔ Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
• ✔ Express Entry — Canadian Experience Class (if education outside Canada)
• ✔ Many Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

Approved ECA Organizations

IRCC approves the following ECA bodies:

• ✔ World Education Services (WES)
• ✔ ICAS — International Credential Assessment Service
• ✔ CES — Comparative Education Service
• ✔ IQAS — International Qualifications Assessment Service
• ✔ MCC — Medical Council of Canada (for doctors)
• ✔ PEBC — Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (for pharmacists)

Comparison Table — WES vs ICAS vs CES vs IQAS

Feature	WES	ICAS	CES	IQAS
Processing Time	Fast (1–6 weeks)	Slow (8–20 weeks)	Medium (6–12 weeks)	Medium-Slow (8–14 weeks)
Cost	~$240	~$200	~$245	~$230
Easiest To Use	Yes	No	Moderate	Moderate
Most Popular	✔ Most common choice	Less common	Popular for some regions	Popular alternative

Which ECA Organization Should You Choose?

Choose WES if:

• ✔ You want fast processing
• ✔ Your university responds quickly to verification emails
• ✔ You want simple online tracking

Choose ICAS if:

• ✔ You have older degrees or transcripts that WES often rejects
• ✔ You don’t mind waiting longer

Choose CES if:

• ✔ Your institution is well-recognized in their evaluation database
• ✔ You want more consistent equivalency decisions

Choose IQAS if:

• ✔ You want an alternative to WES/ICAS
• ✔ You prefer Alberta-based credential evaluation

Documents Required for ECA

• ✔ Degree certificate
• ✔ Transcripts (sent directly from the university for most agencies)
• ✔ Identity documents (passport)
• ✔ Academic request form (varies by evaluator)

Tips for a Smooth ECA Process

• ✔ Contact your university early — transcript delays are common
• ✔ Ensure documents are sealed and signed if required
• ✔ Use fast courier services for sending transcripts
• ✔ Keep digital copies of all documents

Important: WES rejects many applications due to verification issues. Ensure your university responds quickly.

Impact of ECA on CRS Score

Your ECA determines the level of education IRCC recognizes — which directly affects your CRS score.

Examples:

• Bachelor’s degree → Up to 120 CRS points
• Two or more degrees → Up to 135 CRS points
• Master’s degree → Up to 150 CRS points

Check your exact CRS: CRS Score Calculator →

Still Not Sure Which ECA to Choose?

Email your degrees and country of education for suggestions:

info@maplerouteimmigration.ca

This article uses publicly available IRCC-approved evaluator information and is for educational purposes only.