Does my credential assessment (ECA) let me work in my profession?

No: an ECA is not a licence. A regulated job needs the province or territory's licence

Your ECA shows what your education equals in Canada, for immigration points. Permission to practise a regulated profession comes from its regulator in the province or territory where you settle.

“If you plan to work in a regulated job, you must get your license in the province or territory that you plan to settle in.”

“Your ECA report may help when you’re looking for a job, but it doesn’t guarantee that: ... you’ll get a job in your field, or at a certain level ... you’ll get a license to practice in a regulated profession (job)”

“An Educational credential assessment (ECA) is used to verify that your foreign degree, diploma, or certificate (or other proof of your credential) is valid and equal to a Canadian one.”

Government of Canada: check whether your occupation is regulated, and find its regulator

Your ECA may help you find a job, but it doesn't guarantee one

“Your ECA report may help when you’re looking for a job, but it doesn’t guarantee that: ... you’ll get a job in your field, or at a certain level ... you’ll get a license to practice in a regulated profession (job)”

“An Educational credential assessment (ECA) is used to verify that your foreign degree, diploma, or certificate (or other proof of your credential) is valid and equal to a Canadian one.”

IRCC Help Centre: does an ECA mean I can be licensed in a regulated profession?

Your ECA comes from a designated professional body; whether you need a licence is the regulator's question

“If your primary occupation is as an architect , doctor or a pharmacist , you must use a designated professional body based on your occupation.”

“Contact the regulatory body in the province where you plan to live to find out if you need a licence to practice your intended occupation.”

“If you’re in a position where you don’t need a license, one of the other designated organizations can assess your credentials.”

“You must get an ECA report for your primary medical diploma from the Medical Council of Canada if your primary occupation is:”

Government of Canada: check whether your occupation is regulated, and find its regulator

Ask the regulator in your province or territory first

“Contact the regulatory body in the province where you plan to live to find out if you need a licence to practice your intended occupation.”

“Your ECA report may help when you’re looking for a job, but it doesn’t guarantee that: ... you’ll get a job in your field, or at a certain level ... you’ll get a license to practice in a regulated profession (job)”

Government of Canada: check whether your occupation is regulated, and find its regulator

No: no ECA guarantees a licence to work, and Express Entry needs an ECA for immigration purposes; yours may be re-issued

“Your ECA report may help when you’re looking for a job, but it doesn’t guarantee that: ... you’ll get a job in your field, or at a certain level ... you’ll get a license to practice in a regulated profession (job)”

“There are different types of ECAs. You need to get an ECA for immigration purposes . If you got another type of ECA, you may be able to get it re-issued, depending on the type of ECA and/or issuing organization.”

“Your ECA must be less than 5 years old when you: ... complete your Express Entry profile, and ... submit your application”

IRCC Help Centre: can I re-use my ECA report for my Express Entry profile?

No ECA is needed for a Canadian credential

“You don’t need an assessment for a Canadian degree, diploma or certificate.”

Yes, an ECA for immigration counts while it is less than 5 years old

“Your ECA must be less than 5 years old when you: ... complete your Express Entry profile, and ... submit your application”

“You must include your ECA report and the reference number in your Express Entry profile.”

Not once it is 5 years old: IRCC refuses applications with an expired ECA

“If you apply with an expired ECA, we’ll refuse your application.”

“If your assessment will expire before you can apply, contact the organization that issued it. They may re-issue it, depending on the type of ECA and/or the organization.”

A certificate shows you meet the requirements of the province or territory that issued it

“A certificate of qualification (or a qualification certificate) proves you’re qualified to work in a certain skilled trade in Canada. This means you: ... passed a certification exam ... meet all the requirements to practise your trade in the province or territory that issued your certificate”

“Each province and territory has its own: ... certificate of qualification requirements, and ... certification process”

“You must have either : ... a valid job offer of full-time employment for a total period of at least 1 year, or ... a certificate of qualification in your skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority”

Each province and territory has its own certificate requirements

“Each province and territory has its own: ... certificate of qualification requirements, and ... certification process”

“You may: ... have to go to the province or territory to be assessed for your trade ... need an employer in Canada to give you experience and training”

“To learn more about getting assessed, visit the website of the body that governs trades for the province or territory where you want to live and work:”

IRCC Help Centre: will I be qualified to work in any province or territory?

Ask the body that governs trades where you plan to work; for the Federal Skilled Trades Program you'd need a valid job offer

“To learn more about getting assessed, visit the website of the body that governs trades for the province or territory where you want to live and work:”

“If the province or territory where you plan to live and work doesn’t give certificates of qualification in your trade, you’ll need a valid job offer in your trade to be eligible for this program .”

“Each province and territory has its own: ... certificate of qualification requirements, and ... certification process”

“You must have either : ... a valid job offer of full-time employment for a total period of at least 1 year, or ... a certificate of qualification in your skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority”

IRCC Help Centre: if my province does not give certificates of qualification in my trade

A federally regulated trade is assessed through its federal regulator

“If your trade is not regulated by a province or territory, it may be federally regulated (for example, airplane mechanics).”

“Find out who regulates your trade and how to get assessed through the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials.”

IRCC: the bodies that govern trades in each province and territory

Check with the body that governs trades where you plan to live

“To learn more about getting assessed, visit the website of the body that governs trades for the province or territory where you want to live and work:”

“Each province and territory has its own: ... certificate of qualification requirements, and ... certification process”

IRCC: the bodies that govern trades in each province and territory