Who benefits from an ICAS assessment?

Many individuals and organizations benefit from the services that ICAS provides. These include:

• individuals who have completed some or all of their education outside Canada
• individuals planning to apply for a TN Visa to work in the United States
• individuals educated in Canada, but whose education was 'non-traditional'
• individuals educated in other provinces or territories of Canada who require an Ontario qualification for work or study
• individuals considering educational programs in other countries
• organizations that provide counselling services for new-Canadians
• schools and educational institutions who receive students from outside Canada
• employers considering applicants educated outside Canada
  

Are ICAS assessments accepted?

ICAS Assessment Reports are widely accepted across Canada and by U.S. Customs officials in support of TN Visa applications.

If you have a particular employer, organization or educational institution to which you intend to submit the Assessment Report, it is best to confirm that an ICAS Assessment Report will be helpful.

Are ICAS evaluations acceptable for immigration to Canada?

Yes. ICAS evaluations are accepted by Canadian government immigration services.

Are ICAS evaluations acceptable for work in the US under a TN Visa?

Yes. ICAS evaluations are accepted by U.S. customs officials in support of applications for TN Visas.  Please note that, in most cases, applicants will be required to submit either the original documents or official documents issued directly to ICAS by the institution.

I am applying to universities and colleges in Ontario, will an ICAS assessment help me?

Many universities in Canada prepare their own assessments of international education for admission to their programs.  An admissions counsellor would be able to advise you whether an external assessment is necessary.

If you are applying to a college in Ontario through the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS), a credential assessment is available as part of your application process.  ICAS is the official evaluation agency for OCAS and assessments completed are transmitted electronically to all colleges to which you have applied.  For more information, please visit the OCAS website.

What type of assessments does ICAS offer and what do they cost?

ICAS offers three types of Assessment Reports:

• General Report ($80.00)
• Detailed Report (Type A or B) ($150.00)
• Comprehensive Report ($180.00)

For more information about these reports, please see the Services section of our website.

What type of assessment should I get?

The General Assessment Report is sufficient for most purposes.  Detailed and Comprehensive Assessment Reports are most commonly requested by those applying to further education.  We usually recommend that applicants request a General Report.  If you later discover that a Detailed or Comprehensive Report would be more helpful, you can request an upgrade for a small fee.

If there is a specific employer, organization or educational institution to which you intend to submit the report, we would advise you to confirm the type of report required with these individuals before submitting your request.  You may wish to confirm whether they require an assessment of your qualifications (a General Report) or both the qualifications and the courses completed for these qualifications (a Detailed or Comprehensive Report).

Is it possible to upgrade from one type of report to another at a later date?

Certainly.  Your application is retained by ICAS for two years.  At any point during this time you may upgrade from one type of report to another or add a qualification to an existing report.  If it has been more than two years since your initial application, ICAS no longer has your application or educational documents.  As a result, you may be required to re-submit all your documents.

To request an upgrade, please complete a new application form, select the upgrade that you would like and provide your ICAS file number where indicated.

For more information on upgrades, please see the Services section of our website.

How do I apply for an ICAS Assessment Report?

1. Complete an ICAS Application Form
   

   The Application Form is available on-line.  The form must be printed and submitted with your educational documents.  If you are not able to print the Application Form, please call our office and we will be pleased to mail one.

2. Prepare your educational documents
   

   ICAS requires original documents or certified copies of originals. When submitting original documents, you must also include one full set of photocopies with your application.  Original documents will be returned with your Assessment Report; the photocopies and certified copies will be retained by ICAS.

   In order to prepare the assessment, we require the graduation documents (diplomas, degrees, certificates, etc.) as well as transcripts (records of study, mark sheets, indeks, supplement, etc.) for all qualifications regardless of which type of report is selected. 

   We require the documents in both the original language and translations into English or French.  Do not submit only the translations.

   At any time during the process, ICAS reserves the right to request the original documents or documents forwarded directly to ICAS by the institution.

3. Submit the completed application form, documents and appropriate fee to ICAS’  office
   

   The application package can be submitted to our office in Guelph by mail, courier or in person.  We are not able to accept applications or documents submitted by e-mail.

How can I pay for an Assessment Report?

The fee for an Assessment Report can be paid by VISA, MasterCard, certified cheque, money order or bank draft payable in Canadian dollars to ICAS of Canada.  All fees listed include all applicable taxes. 

We are not able to accept money transfers from other financial institutions or cheques/money orders payable in other currencies.

What documents do I need to send with my application? Do I need to send originals?

ICAS requires original documents or certified copies of originals. When submitting original documents, please also include one full set of photocopies with your application.  If you have provided payment for courier service, the original documents will be returned with your Assessment Report.  Photocopies and certified copies will be retained by ICAS.  If you would like your original documents to be returned by regular mail, ICAS requires signed, written authorization from you to do so. 

In order to prepare the assessment, we require the graduation documents (diplomas, degrees, certificates, etc.) as well as transcripts (records of study, mark sheets, indeks, supplement, etc.) for all qualifications regardless of which type of report is selected. 

We require the documents in both the original language and translations into English or French.  Do not submit only the translations.

At any time during the process, ICAS reserves the right to request the original documents or documents forwarded directly to ICAS by the institution.

What happens if I don’t have my original documents?

If you do not have your original documents, ICAS can request information to be sent directly by the institution to ICAS.  In order to request documents on your behalf, it is necessary that you complete a form that authorizes the institution to release this information to ICAS.

Please contact our office to obtain a copy of this release form.  The form can be submitted with your application.  Please note that a separate release form is required for each qualification.

How can I get copies of my documents certified?

ICAS requires that you submit original documents or certified copies of originals.

In order to be accepted, the copies must have been certified within the last year in the country in which you currently live.

The individual certifying the copies must see the original documents and provide verification that the certified copy is a true copy of an original document. The individual certifying the documents must also provide a complete name, title and address or enclose a business card.  Please note that documents may not be certifed by a relative.

If your documents are certified in Canada, the certifier must:

• be a Canadian citizen residing in Canada; and
• be one of the following:
  • Chiropractor
  • Dentist
  • Geoscientist
  • Judge
  • Lawyer (member of a provincial bar association), notary in Quebec
  • Magistrate
  • Mayor
  • Medical doctor
  • Minister of religion authorized under provincial law to perform marriages
  • Notary public
  • Optometrist
  • Pharmacist
  • Police officer (municipal, provincial or RCMP)
  • Postmaster
  • Principal of a primary or secondary school
  • Professional accountant (APA, CA, CGA, CMA, PA, RPA)
  • Professional engineer (P.Eng., Eng. in Quebec)
  • Senior administrator in a community college (includes CEGEPs)
  • Senior administrator or teacher in a university
  • Veterinarian

Will you contact my institution for information?

From time to time it is necessary for ICAS to contact the institution which issued your qualification for additional information.

Do I have to submit all my documents?

When completing the application form, you must fill in the entire education history chart.  You may submit only the qualifications you wish to have assessed.  Depending on the nature of your qualifications, ICAS may request documentation for other qualifications.

What if my documents are not in English or French?

If your documents were not originally issued in either English or French, you must provide word-for-word translations of your documents in the same format as the original. The translation does not need to be completed by a certified translator but MUST be a literal translation not an interpretive translation. Please note that applicants who submit documents and an application in English will receive an evaluation report in English. Applicants who submit an application and documents in French will receive an evaluation report in French.

Please submit both the original documents and translations.  Do not submit only the translations.

What if I submit insufficient documentation?

You will receive a letter or an e-mail from ICAS if additional documents are required in order to complete your assessment. The communication will outline the type of documents ICAS requires.

What happens if I submit false documents?

False documents are those that do not accurately reflect your academic record.

If ICAS determines that you have submitted false documents, no assessment of any type will be provided at any time and we will notify other agencies and associations.  No refund will be issued.

How long does it take to obtain an ICAS evaluation?

Your completed report will normally be sent to you within 10 business days after the receipt of a complete application, payment, and all required documents.

Rush service can be requested for an additional fee. A 1 day rush leaves our office 24 hours after receipt of a complete application, a 3 day rush, 72 hours after receipt of a complete application. At peak periods, rush service may not be available. Please contact our office to determine whether rush service is available at this time.

Can I drop my documents off at an Access Centre?

Unfortunately, most Access Centres are not able to accept documents or application forms.  All assessments are prepared at ICAS’ office in Guelph.  As a result, it is most efficient to mail or courier your request directly to our office.

Application forms are available at all ICAS Access Centres.  In addition, staff at some Access Centres are able to provide some assistance with completing the application form.

Can I submit my documents by e-mail?

No.  As ICAS requires original documents or certified copies of originals, it is necessary to submit your application by mail, courier or in person.

How do I know if my application has been received?

If you would like to determine whether your application has been received, please contact our office by phone or e-mail (info@icascanada.ca).  At that time, an ICAS staff member can advise you whether the application has been received and can provide you with a file number for future reference.

How will I receive the report?

Completed Assessment Reports are sent by regular mail unless courier or fax service has been requested. 

If you are submitting original documents, we would advise you to request courier service as documents are returned with the completed Assessment Report.  ICAS will not return original documents by regular mail without your permission.  If you would like your original documents to be returned by regular mail with your completed Assessment Report, please provide signed, written authorization to do so.

What if I have questions about my Assessment Report after receiving it?

To protect your privacy, staff are not able to discuss the results of an assessment over the telephone.  If you have questions about the Assessment Report, please submit your questions in writing (mail, fax or e-mail).  The evaluator handling your file will review your questions and provide a response in writing.

What if I disagree with the conclusion of the assessment?

ICAS evaluations are based on policies developed and approved by its Management Committee. If you disagree with the outcome, you must contact us in writing (mail, fax or e-mail) within one year of the date on which the report was issued. A senior evaluator will review your application to ensure that it is consistent with current policies and will advise you of the outcome of the review in writing. If you still do not agree with the assessment, you can submit a formal appeal in writing to the Chair of the Management Committee at P O Box 21001, 35 Harvard Road, Guelph ON N1G 4T3. An external consultant will then review your documents and forward a report to the committee for consideration at its next meeting. The committee's decision will be forwarded to you in writing. The fee for the appeal is $200. The fee will be refunded if the appeal is successful.

How can I obtain an additional copy of an Assessment Report?

Extra originals may be requested at the time of initial application or at a later date.  To request extra originals at a later date, please complete the top portion of the application form and provide your file number where indicated.  Each extra original is $15.00.

If you would like the extra original to be sent to a third party, please provide the address in the space provided on the application form.