Why You Should Upgrade Your Educational Credential Assessment in Canada

An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is required for some immigration pathways to Canada. Once in the country, many people upgrade their ECA to a standard credential evaluation to support applications for employment or post-secondary education. Consider the following reasons for upgrading your ECA. 

The difference between an ECA and a standard WES credential evaluation 

An ECA is required by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the Express Entry immigration stream. However, an ECA does not include two pieces of information:  

• Admission requirement of the previous academic credential  
• Length of the academic program 

Employers, colleges, universities, and professional licensing bodies in Canada generally require this information and standard WES reports include it.

Overview of WES standard credential evaluation reports 

WES offers two types of standard credential evaluations:  

• Document-by-Document (DxD): A standard DxD report identifies and describes each credential—such as a degree or diploma—an applicant submits to WES. This evaluation provides the Canadian equivalency of each credential submitted. A DxD is most often used for employment purposes and in some cases for licensing bodies. 
• Course-by-Course (CxC): Like the DxD, a CxC evaluation provides the Canadian equivalency of each credential submitted. This evaluation also provides a detailed analysis of each academic course listed on the applicant’s transcript, along with their semester credits, grades converted, and GPA calculated on a 4.0 scale.  

For more information about pricing and to see a sample of each type of report, visit this page.  

When to upgrade your ECA 

An ECA report is intended specifically for immigration. For this reason, many applicants who live in Canada upgrade their ECA to a standard WES report when applying for school, a job, or a professional license.  

In each of the scenarios below, upgrading an ECA to a standard credential evaluation report may be helpful or even necessary: 

• You want to continue your career in Canada. A DxD or CxC will provide employers with additional information not included in an ECA. A credential evaluation can help demonstrate that your academic background is comparable to Canadian standards, making it easier for employers in your field to understand how your education and previous experience may align with their needs. 
• You are returning to school to complete a degree. If you are transferring to a Canadian school to finish your previous or current program, a CxC would help the institution assess your completed coursework. A CxC can also help you avoid having to repeat courses and may improve your chances of being admitted. WES provides CxC evaluation reports for in-progress and incomplete degree programs. 

• You are applying for a professional license. Any licensing bodies in Canada often require a CxC or DxD. If you earned your credentials abroad, a CxC may be needed as an account of your courses, credit hours, and grades in Canadian standards. However, be sure to confirm which type of report the licensing body will need, as some only require the DxD. 

• You are applying to a college or university. You will most likely need to upgrade your ECA if you are applying to a college or university program in Canada. Be sure to check with the institution and confirm its credential evaluation requirements. 

Regardless of how you plan to use your credential evaluation report, we always recommend being proactive and requesting a report upgrade early—before you think you will need it—so that you will be prepared when opportunities arise.  

How to upgrade your ECA 

After your ECA is complete, you can upgrade your report to a standard evaluation through your WES account. Follow these steps to initiate your upgrade request:   

1. Log in to your WES account: Access your WES account where your completed ECA is stored. Hover over the three dots and select the “Upgrade Package” option.
2. Choose the purpose: Select the purpose for your upgrade (immigration, employment, education, or licensing). This helps WES determine the most appropriate type of report.
3. Select your upgrade: Choose the type of report you would like to upgrade to.
4. Submit upgrade order and payment: You will receive detailed instructions outlining the next steps. In many cases, you will be directed to complete a new application as part of the upgrade request.
5. Upload required documents: Depending on the upgrade you selected, you may be required to submit additional documents. These documents must be uploaded or sent to WES. The evaluation process will not begin until this step is completed.
6. Contact Customer Service (if needed): After submitting your upgrade application, contact our Customer Service team to request the transfer of your previously evaluated documents to your upgrade application. This will help you save time and avoid the need to re-submit documents. Note: *You will need to provide our Customer Support team with your ECA and upgrade reference numbers so that the team can accurately match your files.   

You can contact our Customer Service team via the Help widget, located in the lower right-hand corner of the screen. 

Fill in the information, and you will receive assistance shortly afterwards.  

Note: Due to regulatory requirements, applicants who obtain an ECA as part of the requirement to apply to certain IRCC programs may, after 10 years, have limited access to their credential evaluation reports and other documents.    

If you wish to use your credential evaluation to pursue education or employment in the United States, you must complete a new application and select the U.S. as your destination country.   

Be prepared for new opportunities in Canada 

WES standard credential evaluation reports do not expire. They are trusted by thousands of academic institutions, employers, and licensing boards, making them a valuable tool for demonstrating your international education, experience, and qualifications. 

Are you ready to pursue professional or academic opportunities in Canada? Log in to your WES account today to start your upgrade.