Many people who come to live and work in Canada bring with them very high levels of education. Unfortunately, this education may not be recognized by those who don't understand how international credentials compare to our provincial and national systems.
The International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES) was established in 1995, with start-up funding from the provincial government of British Columbia, to help people gain the recognition they need to pursue their career and educational goals in Canada.
Using well-established evaluation methodologies, ICES evaluates the credentials of people who have studied in other provinces or countries and determines comparable levels in British Columbia and Canadian terms. The results of an ICES assessment are provided in evaluation reports that are objective, consistent, and reliable.
The purpose of our assessments is to compare education earned outside of Canada to the general education ladder in Canada. ICES reports offer a general comparability of the years and levels of study necessary to complete a program. In all cases, ICES recommendations are set by considering several factors including:
ICES follows the standard methodology used in evaluation services throughout Canada and the United States and we apply this methodology consistently to all of our clients. ICES does not evaluate course content or make a judgment on the quality of individual credentials. ICES is not in a position to evaluate the merits of each individual's performance or knowledge (other than on the basis of grades). Instead, ICES offers a service which authenticates documents, conducts research based on well established methodologies, and then issues an evaluation report that provides a general recommendation of the comparability of education earned outside of Canada to the Canadian education system.
Please note that evaluations completed by ICES are advisory in nature and do not guarantee, replace or supersede the assessments required by professional or trade associations or for admission to educational institutions or organizations. The evaluation reports are designed to support and facilitate hiring or admission decisions made by employers, regulatory bodies and educational institutions.
If you wish to apply for a credential evaluation please click on Downloads to download our application. Various types of evaluation reports are available to meet your needs. If you wish to meet the requirements of a regulated profession (for example, engineering, law, teaching), or to be admitted to a Canadian post-secondary institution, we recommend that you ensure that the receiving organization requires an ICES report. A list of organizations and their requirements can be found by clicking Organizations using ICES.
ICES is a founding member of the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada (the Alliance). The Alliance ensures that individuals have access to fair and credible credential assessment services. Members of the Alliance follow principles of good practice that are consistent with international standards.
ICES, a service of the British Columbia Institute of Technology, brings together a variety of innovative educational assessment services, allowing individuals to receive recognition and credit for studies they have completed elsewhere. Further information on the British Columbia Institute of Technology may be found at www.bcit.ca.