Do I need an education credential assessment for a permanent residence application?

For most federal skilled worker and Express Entry-based permanent residence applications, you need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) if your highest level of education was completed outside Canada. The ECA verifies that your foreign credential is equivalent to a Canadian level of education. This is a federal requirement — IRCC designates the organizations authorized to complete ECAs, and Ontario has no role in the process.

IRCC's list of designated ECA organizations includes several bodies, each with its own application process, timelines, and areas of expertise. Some specialize in assessing credentials for specific professions. You submit your transcripts and diploma to the designated organization, which issues a report you then include in your immigration application. ECAs are generally valid for a set period.

Regulated professions — such as medicine, engineering, and accounting — may require separate assessments by the relevant provincial regulatory body, independent of and in addition to the immigration ECA. These profession-specific assessments are required for licensing, not for the immigration application itself. Starting your ECA early is advisable since it can take months. A lawyer can clarify which ECA body is appropriate for your credential.