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WES in Canada

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  • By:CANAM Group
  • Updated On:Jan 24,2025 10:50 AM IST

  • WES Canada is designated by IRCC which verifies foreign academic credentials for use in Canada for international students and professionals.
  • It translates and assesses academic credentials to inform institutions and employers in this country of these achievements.
  • Under WES Canada, there are two kinds of evaluation: Document-by-Document, and Course-by-Course. Each is prepared differently to fulfill the needs of academics or professional requirements.

WES in Canada.webp


World Education Services (WES), is an organization designed to help individuals get their educational credentials evaluated to let them study in Canada. This is required to enter a university or get employment. WES Canada verifies and translates your academic achievements in a format understandable to Canadian institutions and employers.

It is quite an important process for international students who want their foreign qualifications recognized in Canada. WES Canada offers two primary types of evaluations: Document-by-Document and Course-by-Course evaluations, these depend on one's needs. Obtaining a WES evaluation ensures that all one's academic credentials get properly translated and reported into Canada's education or job areas.

What is WES for Canada?

World Education Services (WES) is designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that provide Educational Credential Assessments (ECAs). ECA is used to evaluate degrees earned outside of Canada. A WES ECA remains valid for 5 years.
 
A WES ECA lets you to:

  • Meet IRCC immigration program requirements (note for physicians, pharmacists, and architects).
  • Meet Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) requirements (especially the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program).
  • Qualify for IRCC’s Agri-Food Immigration Pilot.
  • Gain recognition for your education so you can pursue your goals in Canada.
  • Store your report (and verified educational documents) for future use.

Why is WES Canada Important?

WES Canada is important as it evaluates your degrees and lets you apply to your dream Canadian universities

Easy AssessmentWES Canada is a part of the Express Entry system that acts as a program used to apply for Permanent Residency (PR). It helps in making an assessment of your foreign educational qualifications in terms of their equivalent status in the Canadian education system. That means, your degree might not get the approval of the Canadian immigration authorities without WES evaluation.
Credential VerificationMany hiring employers in Canada and academic institutions require a WES credential evaluation to certify that your foreign education meets standards within Canada. Therefore, this is an important requirement for employment as well as when seeking admission into Canadian universities or colleges.
Employment OpportunitiesWES Canada offers doors to better job opportunities and higher education in Canada. Getting a foreign degree recognized increases your chances of qualifying for jobs that require higher educational qualifications. You would also be more likely to get admitted to top universities.
Professional LicensingSome professional licensing bodies require WES evaluation for credentials from Canada. This includes engineering, healthcare professions, and accountants to ensure international degrees meet the standards necessary for certification.
Trusted and Widely Accepted WES is one of the most trusted and widely accepted credential evaluation services in Canada. If you want to establish yourselves academically or professionally in Canada, it is the number one go-to service.

WES Canada Requirements

To apply for WES Canada, you need to submit 2 types of documents which are:

Degree CertificateThe very first document you need to submit is your official degree certificate. The document should clearly show your type of degree, name of university, and date of graduation. 
Statement of MarksAnother document you need to submit is the statement of marks. The document should show the number of papers taken and marks earned in each subject. 

You must upload a clear copy of these documents on the official website. 

How to Apply for WES Evaluation for Canada?

After understanding what is WES Canada and its requirements, it’s time to learn about its application process. Here is a step-by-step WES Canada process:

Create your WES account

The first step toward WES evaluation is creating an account on their website:

  • Go to the WES Canada website.
  • Select the purpose of evaluation: Select "Education" since you are applying to study in Canada
  • Complete your personal information, which will include your name, date of birth, contact details, and whatever additional information the body requires.

Select your credential evaluation type

WES Canada has two main types of evaluation for educational purposes:

Document-by-Document EvaluationThis is a general summarizing of your credentials. In most cases, it will suffice for secondary education.
Course-by-Course EvaluationIt’s a detailed evaluation that includes a course-by-course analysis. This evaluation is mostly needed by Canadian universities. For students applying to universities, a course-by-course evaluation is usually advised.

Gather Your Educational Certificates

WES Canada wants you to submit these officially issued documents for evaluation. There are two types of certificates you have to prepare for:

Degree Certificate

  • Officially issued certificate or diploma from the university where you studied.
  • Academic Transcript: A complete document that details all courses, grades, and credits awarded to the student. These documents have to be sent directly by your educational institution to WES in a sealed envelope or electronically via an approved submission method.

Pay the WES Canada fees

A fee is charged by WES for conducting the evaluation. For a course-by-course evaluation, it costs approximately CAD 220, plus taxes. On the other hand, for document-by-document evaluation, the fee is CAD 100 plus taxes.  You can pay the fees directly on the WES website using your credit card, PayPal, or other payment options.

Send your documents to WES

After you have collected all your documents, it is time to send them to WES. Your institution should send the documents directly to WES in a sealed envelope or via an approved electronic method.

There are 2 options to submit:

By PostThe documents should arrive at WES in a sealed envelope bearing stamps or signatures across the seal. The institution should directly mail the documents to the address given by WES.
ElectronicallySome institutions are partners with WES and mail their documents electronically, thereby speeding up the process.

Tracking your application

Once you submit your documents and pay the fee, WES will initiate the evaluation process. The whole evaluation process is completed between 7 to 21 business days, considering the calendar days when all the documents have been received by WES. You can check on the status of your application with your WES online account. WES notifies you at every step during the process, including requesting further documentation if it is required.

Request your WES report

After the evaluation is finalised, WES will directly forward an official evaluation report to the institution you selected. You will also receive a copy of the report electronically within your WES account. You can view and print it.

Forward the WES report to universities

Send the WES report to the universities as soon as you receive it. Most universities in Canada demand having an evaluation in one of these ways for your admissions.

Direct WES submissionWES will directly send the report to the university you have identified on the application.
CopiesFor every other college or university you may apply, take an additional copy or copies through your WES account.

WES Processing Time and Fees

World Education Services (WES) is an organization that evaluates academic credentials, most importantly for students who seek to study in Canada. WES has a standard processing time of around 7 business days after all documents are received. Of course, at times, processing time may be longer because of the complexity of evaluation and completeness of the application.

Regarding the fees, WES offers two different types of evaluation forms: Document-by-Document and Course-by-Course. The estimated fee for document-by-document evaluation is around USD 100, while the course-by-course evaluation is around USD 220. Some additional fees may be incurred for rush shipping, extra reports, and mailing reports to more than one institution. International shipping costs are estimated at around USD 85.

The evaluation and review done by WES are critical because their qualifications are recognised both by foreign institutions and workplaces. Applicants are expected to ensure that all their required documents for application are presented accurately and on time to avoid delay.

Conclusion


WES Canada is indispensable to international students for ensuring a smooth transition into the Canadian education system. WES awards credential evaluations allowing foreign academic qualifications to be understood and accepted by Canadian institutions. This is a very fundamental step for anyone interested in pursuing further studies or career development in Canada. It's essential to submit all the required documents in the prescribed format. Connect with an expert overseas education consultant to know more about WES Canada.

FAQ

WES Canada evaluates international credentials so that they are compatible with Canadian standards. This makes the verification process easier for immigration agencies and universities.
The WES evaluation will take 7 to 21 business days once all the documents are collected.
You will need official degree certificates and transcripts mailed directly from the institution where you have studied.
The basic WES Canada evaluation fee is about CAD 240, including taxes and delivery fees.
Yes, WES evaluations are accepted for both permanent residency and university applications in Canada.
Your educational institution should mail your documents directly to WES, or email them using one of the approved services.
WES Canada can review most international degrees and diplomas, but not all of them will be accepted. Check their list first to verify if your institution is on it.
No, other services like ICAS, IQAS, and CES also do credential evaluations but WES is widely accepted.
When your documents get incomplete, WES will send you a note saying that some documents are missing. This will lead to a delay in the evaluation process.
No, you need a WES evaluation if your degree is outside Canada.

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