Assessment for work or study – How to apply

Assessment types and certificates

International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) provides 3 different types of assessments for employment, education, or licensure purposes. Ensure that you know which type of assessment you need.

IQAS assessments do not list the Language of Instruction.

Table 1. Assessment types and certificates

How to apply

Step 1. Decide which credentials you want assessed

IQAS evaluates formal academic or technical education. It does not evaluate trades, vocational or professional training. Always check with your employer, educational institution, or professional regulatory organization about whether they require an IQAS assessment and what type of assessment is required.

Employment

If you are looking for a job, an IQAS assessment can help employers understand your educational credentials. You may attach a copy of your IQAS certificate to your resumé and job applications. You can request duplicate copies of your IQAS certificate if needed within 10 years from the issuance date of your original assessment.

Learn how to order duplicate certificate copies.

Education

Some universities and colleges need an IQAS assessment for admission.

• Find educational institutions that accept IQAS assessments.

Licensing

Some professional regulatory organizations use IQAS assessments for their licensing process.

• Find professional regulatory organizations that accept IQAS assessments.

Step 2. Gather your documents

For information on providing specific educational documents, carefully review the Country-Specific Document Requirements checklist:

• If your country is listed on the checklist, provide the documents indicated based on the credential you want assessed.
• If your country is not listed on the checklist, provide the documents as described in Step 1 above.
• Do not send original documents unless requested by IQAS.
• IQAS is not responsible for original documents that have not been requested and will not return them if submitted.
• The following documents must be uploaded in the portal using a clear and legible scan or digital photo:
  • passport, identity pages or alternative government-issued identification (if passport is unavailable)
  • proof of name change (if applicable)
    • needed only if your current name is different than the name on the educational documents
    • can be a photocopy of a marriage certificate, record of landing, passport, etc.
    • does not need to be a certified or notarized copy
  • educational documents you want assessed
    • include both your final educational credential and the transcripts or mark sheets for the study
  • translations for all documents you are uploading that are not in English
• When submitting your online application, upload all required documents in the ‘Document Checklist’ section. Name your uploads clearly and ensure you match the upload to the applicable document on the checklist. If you do not upload a required document, you will be contacted when the application is reviewed.
• If you are in a refugee-like situation, provide any documentation you have that reflects the education you completed outside of Canada. IQAS will review your documents and undertake research to determine if we can complete an assessment.

Cost for more than one applicant

You cannot apply as a group. Each applicant must apply separately, create a personal account for the IQAS application, and pay separate application and courier fees, even if applicants reside at the same household.

Cost for additional credentials

The application fees are for one credential. The cost of each additional credential submitted with the application is $100 per credential.

One credential is defined as one educational program (partially or fully completed) leading to a certificate, diploma or degree and includes the submission of official degree, diploma or certificate and the corresponding academic transcript/marks sheet.

Refunds

Refund requests for fees will not be considered. The application fee covers the cost of processing your application and is required whether an assessment certificate is issued or not.

Submit the application

1. Complete and submit the online application using the IQAS application portal. Make sure that you request the correct assessment type and submit the correct fees. Assessment for employment, post-secondary study, and licensure cannot be used for immigration purposes. You must submit an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) application if you need an assessment to immigrate to Canada.
2. Make sure your application is complete and you have uploaded clear and legible scans or digital photos of the required documents.

3. While filling in the online form, you will be asked to pay the processing fee – payment options include:

   • Visa, MasterCard
   • American Express
   • Visa debit
   • Debit

   Instructions on how to pay your fees are available in the IQAS application portal.

4. After you submit your online application, you will receive an email from IQAS:
   • with your file number and a final PDF version of your application
   • containing your payment receipt
5. Print the payment receipt for your records.

You do not need to print, sign, and send your paper application form to IQAS. Applicants sign their form electronically as part of submitting the application.

Start your online application

Reassessment process

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of your assessment, you may submit a request for reassessment. All requests for reassessment cost $200.

For information see IQAS reassessment process.

Processing time

What affects processing time

• Processing time starts when all required documents are provided to IQAS and your application is at the 'In line for processing' status in the IQAS application portal.
• If your application is at the ‘Pending’ status for additional documents in the IQAS application portal, IQAS will hold the application for 1 month after which it will be reviewed for cancellation.
• On average, an assessment takes about 6 weeks to process once an application is at the 'In line for processing' status in the IQAS application portal. Note, processing times are estimates only and not guaranteed. They may change based on the number of applications received. IQAS receives a high volume of applications.
• On average, an assessment for professional licensure (Specialized) is issued within 15 business days once an application is at the 'In line for processing' status in the IQAS application portal.
• If an application includes more than one credential to be assessed, it will take at least 4 weeks longer than average processing times.
• Assessment of applications that require extensive research take longer than the average processing time.
• Applications are processed in the order they are received once all required documents are provided to IQAS.
• Courier or mail delivery time is not included in the processing time.

Status updates on your application

You can track delivery of your mail to IQAS through your courier.

Monitor the status of your application in the IQAS application portal:

• If you applied before November 26, 2018, create a portal account.
• If you applied after November 26, 2018, log in using your username.

Table 2. Definitions of status

Learn more about how IQAS completes assessments.

Contact

Connect with the International Qualifications Assessment Service:

Go to the Contact IQAS page