This article covers everything you need about the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) for Canadian immigration.
What you’ll learn:
- How do I get an IQAS certificate?
- How much does the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) cost in 2021?
- How long is IQAS valid for?
- And lots more…
If you want to learn more about the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS), you’ll love this guide.
Let’s dive right in!
International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) Brief Overview
The International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) is an Alberta governmental service set up to assist immigrants to Canada in getting recognition for any completed or awarded formal education and technical academic credentials attained outside of Canada.
It is one of the few Educational Credentials Assessments (ECA) for Canadian immigration, amongst the others:
Certificates issued by the IQAS are used to compare academic credentials from other countries to Canadian educational standards.
The International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) education guide explains how international education credentials are compared to Canada’s educational standards.
IQAS assessment programs can be in the following forms:
- General IQAS assessment for immigrants
- IQAS assessment for employment, schooling, or licensure
- IQAS assessment for organizations
In Canada, most jobs are regulated, and these jobs have certain legal requirements or restrictions that help protect the public.
Thus, to work in these kinds of organizations, you must register with the necessary professional regulatory body.
Getting an IQAS assessment here can greatly improve your search for good-paying jobs upon arrival in Canada and support your university education and professional licensure application.
How Do I Get an IQAS Certificate?
The following steps should be taken when applying for an IQAS certificate:
- Research
- Choose your desired credentials to be assessed
- Organize all necessary documents
- Submit your verifiable or original transcripts
- Complete your online application
The above steps can be broken down thus:
Step #1: Make a Thorough Research
Today’s guide has already settled most of step #1.
Step #1 to learning how to get an IQAS certificate involves first understanding the International Assessment Service (IQAS).
This also includes the cost of getting an IQAS certificate for a single applicant and for multiple applicants.
Do they have refund policies? And are there exceptions for specific professions?
>> How much does the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) cost in 2021?
The application fee for a single applicant for an IQAS certificate costs a total of $200, and this fee doesn’t come with any additional charge for having more than one of your credentials assessed.
After processing, your IQAS certificate will be shipped to you for a $15 delivery fee for those already in Canada and $75 if you are abroad.
No two people can apply at once for an IQAS certificate; every applicant must apply individually and pay separately for their application and shipping fees – and it doesn’t matter if both people live in the same household.
>> How can I get a refund on my IQAS assessment?
All payments made for an IQAS certificate are non-refundable, and this includes shipping fees, too.
This is very important to clear out because an IQAS certificate does not guarantee you:
- a job
- an approval on your immigration application
- certified license to practice your profession in Canada
Most individuals may send out queries asking for refunds when one of the above goes sideways.
>> Exceptions for specific professions
The following professions are exempted as they require other forms of assessment than that of the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS):
Step #2: Choose Your Desired Credentials to be Assessed
This includes credentials the International Qualifications Assessment Service can assess and those you need to assess.
The IQAS requirement for having your credentials assessed include:
- A government-issued form of identification (most preferable, your passport)
- All submitted credentials must be academically related. The IQAS does not assess non-academic credentials, such as a certificate obtained from Excel or FIGMA training.
- The IQAS doesn’t evaluate any training you’ve received in trades, vocational fields (for instance, a certificate from an iron smelting program), or professional industries (for example, a certificate as a chartered account).
- All credentials submitted to the IQAS must have been attained from countries aside from Canada.
- All submitted credentials must be at or above high school or secondary certification. The IQAS does not assess primary/elementary school-level credentials.
- All credentials submitted must be complete and properly authenticated from well-recognized institutions or programs.
- Proof of change of name (if the case arises)
Thus, the above-stated requirements will help you decide on the credentials to submit for assessment.
Note that only your highest awarded or completed credential should be submitted for assessment. Submitting more than one credential will take longer to process (at least 4 weeks longer than the normal processing time).
Step #3: Organize All Necessary Documents
It’s important to note the following when organizing your documents for the International Qualifications Assessment Service:
- Never submit original documents unless asked to
- All documents must be properly scanned and easily readable
- Name all submitted documents so they can be easily identifiable
- All submitted documents must be translated into English.
A country-specific requirement lists all the documents needed for your IQAS assessment. If your country is not listed here, see step #4.
Step #4: Submit Your Verifiable or Original Transcripts
If your country is not listed in the list provided in step #4, you must submit your original or official transcripts for all credentials that you need to be assessed.
Transcripts can be submitted via mail from an issuing authority or the applicant.
When submitting your transcripts via an issuing authority, you and the issuing party must properly use the Request of Academic Records Form to organize the document and submit it directly to IQAS.
But as discussed earlier, you can also submit your transcripts directly via mail.
All transcripts submitted for assessment should be properly attested, dated, and placed in a sealed envelope, stamped with the institution or organization’s seal across the back flap.
And finally, make sure that your file number is noted alongside your transcript for easy assessment.
Transcripts can also be submitted electronically, making them readily available online and shareable via secured websites.
Step #5: Complete Your Online Application
This is the final stage of applying for your International Qualifications Assessment Service assessment.
Completing your online application for the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) assessment involves:
- Setting up an account on the IQAS client portal
- Submitting the necessary documents to your client portal
- Payment of application fees. This can be done with a VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Debit, or Interac.
- Submitting your online application
Never use an international P.O. Box no. as part of your mailing address. This is because the delivery company will not deliver your IQAS certificate to that type of address!
You will get a follow-up email when you complete your application.
This email will contain your IQAS file number, which is needed for your Request for Academic Records form.
You’ll also get your application in final PDF format and a payment receipt that confirms your order.
It’s important to print and keep your payment receipt for records.
How long is the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) Valid?
On completing and final processing of your International Qualifications Assessment Service assessment application, you will find one of the following on your client portal:
Your ECA issued by the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) is valid for up to 5 years of Express Entry.
Now I’d Love to Hear from You:
What issues do you usually encounter when applying for an IQAS assessment?
Let us know by leaving a comment below!
