Skip all menus (access key: 2) Skip first menu (access key: 1) Documents You Should Bring or Have Sent to Canada to Apply for Occupational Entry, Work, or Educational Studies


Agency: International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES)

British Columbia

The British Columbia’s International Credential Evaluation Service (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.
The evaluations are expert opinions for information purposes only and are not binding. However, you may find them useful in applying for employment, an adult education program, or becoming a member of certain professions. You must complete an ICES Application Form for credential evaluation. You can obtain your evaluation before you leave your home country or after you arrive in Canada. Fo more information visit www.ola.ca/ices.

Below are documents you should obtain from your country of study for evaluation of your academic credentials by British Columbia’s International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES). Licensing and other occupational bodies may have additional requirements. It is your responsibility to identify these requirements. To obtain this information, select your occupation and province in this Document Information Tool or visit the relevant licensing body’s website. You may want to print this page.

Document Translations

If any of your educational documents are not in English or French, the documents must be accompanied by a complete word-for-word (literal, not interpretive) English translation.
All documents must be translated into English by Canadian-certified translators or official translators in your home country. You must provide translators with original or photocopies of the documents. These will be verified against the original or official documents sent to ICES. One way to arrange for appropriate Canadian-certified or official translators in your home country is to contact Translations Canada at www.translationscanada.ca .

To Obtain an ICES Credential Evaluation:

To obtain an evaluation of your academic credentials by ICES you will be required to submit the following documents and attached photocopies of the front and back of each document. If you cannot arrange for these documents to be sent directly from the institutions to ICES, you must arrange for a letter to be sent directly to ICES and signed by the Registrar or similar authority. The letter must confirm that the courses and grades presented in the documents you are presenting are correct:

  1. A full set of official or original educational documents for each fully or partially completed educational program to be evaluated. This must include:
    • Your academic record often referred to as transcripts, mark cards or releve de notes, showing the courses or subjects you studied, your grades, hours of study, or number of credits for each course.
    • Official copies or originals of all degrees, diplomas, degree certificates, and certificates awarded to you by secondary schools, colleges, and universities.
  2. Official or original results of comprehensive examinations (if you live in a country using comprehensive examinations for graduation).

ICES also conducts supplemental evaluations which may require copies of course outlines for all courses you completed in college or university.

To Apply for Employment

There are many agencies in British Columbia that can help you find employment in your field or in other occupations if you are not able to practice your current occupation. To assist you with this, we also recommend that you obtain the following documents from your home country and be prepared to have them translated into English.

  1. Certified copies of previous job descriptions and other documentation that presents details of your past work experience and knowledge.
  2. Copies of detailed courses descriptions of non-degree courses previously taken at college and university.
  3. Documents that describe courses you took through work or in the community.
  4. Documents that describe community organizations that you did volunteer work with and descriptions of your volunteer duties.
  5. Original letters of reference from previous employers and community organizations for whom you did volunteer work.
  6. A resume prepared in a style consistent with Canadian business practices.
  7. Samples of your work.

Prepared by the Canadian Institute for Recognizing Learning (CIRL), March 2004