Assessment for work or study – How to apply

How to apply

Step 1. Before you apply

The International Qualifications Assessment Service (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

Assessment types and certificates

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

Required documents and costs

Information on required documents that must be included with the application and the cost for each assessment type is listed below.

All IQAS fees are non-refundable. There are no exceptions.

Note, application fees listed below 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 or marks sheet. 

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.

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.

IQAS assessments do not list the Language of Instruction. 

Step 2. Gather your documents

For information on providing specific educational documents, 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.

Step 3. Complete the online application and pay fees

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
   • an email containing your payment receipt
5. Print the payment receipt for your records.

Start your online application

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.

After you apply

Delivery address

If your mailing address is in Canada, IQAS will mail your documents to a Canada Post Office near you. You will receive a Delivery Notice Card from Canada Post letting you know that your package is available for pick up. Canada Post keeps packages for 15 business days. You will need to collect your package on time and show proper identification.

If your mailing address is outside of Canada, your package will be delivered directly to your address.

View certificate

If IQAS has reviewed your credentials and issued an assessment, you may also view, download, and print the scanned copy of your certificate in the IQAS application portal. This feature is only accessible once an application is at 'Mailed' status.

To view your certificate:

• After you log into the IQAS application portal, click on 'Check Status or View Application' button on the portal main page.
• On the 'Application History' tab, click on 'View Certificate' button which is under the blue 'Actions' dropdown. You can also click on 'View Status Details' button under the 'Actions' drop down and download your certificate from 'View Status Details' section. Make sure your browser’s pop up function is turned off and settings allow for pop ups. 

Change of address

If your address changes before an assessment is completed, you must update your profile information 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.

To update your mailing address:

• After you log into the IQAS application portal, click on ‘Update mailing address’ on the portal main page.
• The contact information that IQAS currently has for you is provided. To update your address and phone number, replace the existing information with your new information. Do not delete any information that is still correct.
• Click on ‘Update’ button.

Changes to your contact information will be reflected in your profile in the IQAS application portal.

Request name change

If you need to update your name on the assessment certificate, you must submit a request 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.

To request a name change:

• After you log into the IQAS application portal, click on ‘Request Name Change’ on the portal main page.
• Enter your new legal name in the fields provided. You must provide official proof of your new name by uploading the supporting document and selecting the type of supporting document from the drop-down menu.
• Click on ‘Submit’ button.

IQAS will review your request for a name change and notify you by email after the review is completed. You can track the status of your request by clicking ‘Check Status or View Application’ on the portal main page and clicking ‘Request History’ tab.

Contact by IQAS

You will be contacted by email, phone, or mail if IQAS needs any additional documents or information. Emails from IQAS will always come from a @gov.ab.ca account.

IQAS reserves the right to require original documents to verify your identity or education at any time after applying, and those documents will be returned to you after the assessment is completed.

Cancellation of your assessment

Your application will be cancelled if IQAS cannot complete an assessment. IQAS will let you know if your application has been cancelled. 

You may submit a request to cancel your application in the IQAS application portal. Once you have submitted a request, it cannot be reactivated. 

Application and courier fees are non-refundable. 

Applications that are at the following statuses in the IQAS application portal cannot be cancelled: 

• Assessing 
• On-Hold 
• Final Review
• Mailed

To request cancellation of your application:

• After you log into the IQAS application portal, click on ‘Request to Cancel Application’ on the portal main page.
• Fill in the required fields and provide the reason for cancelation. 
• Click on ‘Submit’ button.

Order a duplicate certificate

IQAS only issues duplicate certificates for the same type of assessment that was previously completed. Duplicates can be ordered for up to 10 years after the assessment was completed.

Read more on how to order a duplicate certificate.

Processing time

Things that affect 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 not guaranteed and may change based on the number of applications. 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

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.

Request for reassessment

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of your assessment, you may submit a request for reassessment.

All requests for reassessment are subject to a fee of $200. The reassessment fee will be automatically refunded only if the reassessment results in a change from the original assessment decision. Other requests for refunds of the reassessment fee will not be considered.

IQAS assessments are based on a standard methodology and not on an individual’s pattern of study. Before submitting a request for reassessment in the IQAS application portal, carefully review the information provided on the IQAS website for clarity (for example: IQAS assessment certificates do not include Language of Instruction) and review IQAS International Education Guides (if available for your country of education) for additional information about education systems and credential comparisons. 

Eligibility

You may only submit one request for reassessment per application.

A request for reassessment must:

• be submitted within one year of the date that the original assessment decision was issued
• demonstrate that an error was made in the original assessment decision such as, comparative level of achievement or credentials not assessed by IQAS.
• contain the same academic records that were submitted with your original application. Any new academic records will not be admissible in the reassessment

A request for reassessment cannot be used: 

• to ask for an exception to IQAS assessment criteria 
• to submit new academic records or credentials 
• for concerns related to your assessment certificate, such as spelling errors or incorrect personal information. Please contact IQAS using the IQAS contact form for corrections to your assessment certificate.

To submit your request for reassessment:

• After you log into the IQAS application portal, click on ‘Submit a Reassessment Request’ on the portal main page.
• Fill in the required fields, provide the reason for reassessment and upload the supporting document.  
• Click on ‘Submit’ button and pay the $200 reassessment fee.

During the reassessment process, the application will be reviewed. All reassessment requests are reviewed and decided upon based on IQAS policy and guidelines.

An email will be sent explaining the decision on your request for reassessment within 30 business days of the date the reassessment request was received.

Contact

Connect with the International Qualifications Assessment Service:

Go to the Contact IQAS page