WES / ECE 2026: getting your degrees evaluated for the US or Canada

Updated September 6, 2026

A credential evaluation from WES (World Education Services) or ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators) converts your degrees and transcripts into their North American equivalents. It is sometimes required for university admissions, scholarships, professional licensing or immigration. Here’s how to choose between WES and ECE, which type of report to order, which documents to prepare and how to get your credential evaluation done without stress.

Understanding WES / ECE evaluations

Why get a credential evaluation?

Not every North American institution can read foreign grading systems. A WES credential evaluation or an ECE evaluation provides a standardized analysis (degree level, equivalency, converted grades) that makes the admissions decision easier.

When is it required?

• Universities that explicitly require one in their International Credentials section.
• Professional bodies (engineering, healthcare, education) and some licensing boards.
• Immigration applications or government programs that require a recognized report.

WES vs ECE: which evaluator should you choose?

How to choose

• Acceptance by your program: start with the list of evaluators recommended by the school.
• Country & purpose: WES is highly visible in Canada and the United States; ECE is widely recognized by US universities.
• Report type accepted (see below) and stated processing times.

Quick comparison

Which type of report should you order?

Document-by-Document (overview)

Assesses the level of your degree and gives an equivalency (e.g. Bachelor equivalent). Used for some job applications, visas and less selective admissions.

Course-by-Course (detailed)

Lists every course, credit and converted grade, sometimes with a North American GPA. This is the format most often required for selective admissions (Bachelor’s/Master’s).

ECA for immigration

Some Canadian immigration procedures require a specific ECA (Educational Credential Assessment). Check the exact type the authorities ask for before you order.

Required documents and translations

Documents usually requested

• Official degree certificates and transcripts (for all relevant post-secondary levels).
• Copies stamped/certified by your institution, and sometimes sent directly by your university.
• Official translations if the documents are not in English (often required).

Translation tips

Use a certified/sworn translation with the translator’s stamp, signature and statement of accuracy. Keep the same pagination as the original. Don’t convert your grades yourself; the evaluators apply their own scales.

Tip: submit a complete file

• High-resolution scans; clear file names (e.g. Nom_Prenom_Transcripts_FR_EN.pdf).
• Keep proof of dispatch from your university when direct official delivery is required.

Steps to a successful WES / ECE credential evaluation

Action plan

1. Check the program website for the required evaluator (WES, ECE…) and report type.
2. Create a WES/ECE account and select the recipient (university, professional body, immigration authority).
3. Order the right report (Document-by-Document / Course-by-Course / ECA).
4. Ask your university to send your transcripts directly if required.
5. Upload the requested scans and pay the fees.
6. Track the status (documents received, in progress, completed) and follow up if needed.

Processing times and delivery of results

Processing times depend mainly on when the official documents are received. At WES, document verification takes about 2 weeks, then the evaluation itself takes 1 week for a Document-by-Document report and 2 weeks for a Course-by-Course report (up to 4 weeks for complex cases) (source: wes.org, “Processing Times” page, accessed September 6, 2026). Once the report is finalized, WES/ECE send a digital and/or paper report to the recipient(s) you selected.

How much does a WES evaluation cost in 2026?

WES fees vary by report type and destination country. For admission in the United States, the Course-by-Course report most often requested by universities costs US$239 with ICAP (transcripts are kept on file and can be resent as often as needed) or US$186 with Basic; a Document-by-Document report costs US$118 (Basic) or US$171 (ICAP). For Canada, the ECA for immigration costs CA$264. Each additional report sent to a new recipient costs $35, and upgrading from Basic to ICAP during processing costs US$53 (source: wes.org, “Fees” page, accessed September 6, 2026). Also budget for certified translation fees and official delivery by your university, which are not included.

Sources: wes.org, “Fees” and “Processing Times” pages, accessed September 6, 2026. Shipping fees not included (tracked international courier: US$86 per address).

How long does a WES evaluation take?

WES only begins processing once all official documents have been received, including those sent directly by your institution. After that, allow about 2 weeks for authenticity verification, then 1 week of evaluation for a Document-by-Document report or an ECA and 2 weeks for a Course-by-Course report, with a stated maximum of 4 weeks for complex files (source: wes.org, “Processing Times” page, accessed September 6, 2026). In practice, the longest step is often getting your university to send your transcripts, which can take several weeks at the start of the academic year. If you are applying to a US program with a December or January deadline, open your WES file as early as September.

WES Canada: the ECA for immigration

For federal immigration programs that require it, IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) accepts the Educational Credential Assessment issued by WES, a designated organization. A WES ECA costs CA$264, covers only your highest degree (with some exceptions) and remains valid for five years from its issue date (source: wes.org/ca, ECA and “Fees” pages, accessed September 6, 2026). Note that an ECA does not replace a Course-by-Course report for admission to a Canadian university; you can convert one into the other for CA$115. If you are planning both to study and to immigrate, say so when you place your order.

When in your admissions timeline should you start your WES application?

The best approach is to count back from the program deadline. Example for a US master’s program with a December 15 deadline: place your WES order and request official transcripts from your university in early September, documents received and verified by WES by late October (about 2 weeks), Course-by-Course evaluation completed by mid-November (about 2 weeks) (source: wes.org, “Processing Times” page, accessed September 6, 2026), and electronic delivery to universities straight after. That leaves a four-week buffer for a missing document or a translation that needs redoing. Our guides Studying in the US in 2026 and Master in Finance admissions coaching set out timelines by country and by program.

Common mistakes to avoid

Ordering the wrong type of report

Read your program’s Requirements page: many require a Course-by-Course report.

Forgetting that the university must send documents directly

If the recipient asks for official transcripts sent by your institution, uploading them yourself is not enough.

Non-compliant translations

Without a stamp, signature and certification, a translation may be rejected. Plan for this as soon as you order.

Useful resources to complete your application

Choosing the right English test

Compare the tests universities expect with our guide IELTS vs TOEFL: which English test should you take?

Polishing your application essays

Work on your essays with our resources: Personal Statement examples and letters of recommendation.

FAQ: WES / ECE credential evaluation

Do I need to have all my degrees evaluated?

Have your relevant post-secondary degrees evaluated for the program you are applying to. Follow the institution’s instructions exactly.

Can I reuse a report for several schools?

Yes, you can generally add recipients (additional fees may apply). Check the WES/ECE terms.

Is a “Document-by-Document” report enough?

Often not for selective admissions. Programs tend to ask for a Course-by-Course report with converted grades.

Does my report replace the translation?

No: an official translation of your transcripts may still be required in addition to the WES/ECE evaluation.

How long is a WES ECA valid?

A WES ECA is valid for five years from its issue date for IRCC applications (source: wes.org/ca, accessed September 6, 2026). It covers only your highest degree, except in cases provided for by IRCC.

Do you need a WES evaluation for an LLM or a US master’s degree?

It depends on the program: some universities require one, while others assess foreign degrees themselves. Check each school’s “International applicants” page. Our LLM admissions coaching and university admissions coaching pages list the documents the main programs expect.

Why choose Your Dream School for your US and Canada applications

A WES or ECE evaluation adds three to six weeks to your timeline and has to be ordered in a specific sequence (official transcripts, translation, direct delivery by the university). We build this step into the backward-planned schedule for every North American application, in French or English. Your Dream School’s record since it was founded in 2018: more than 1,000 students, 160+ five-star Google reviews and, in North America, 35 students admitted to McGill, 13 to Concordia, 7 to Columbia and 7 to the Université de Montréal (see our master’s admissions results). Contact us to plan your timeline.

Figures taken from our admissions database, classes of 2019 to 2025. These are minimums: the 2017-2018 and 2025-2026 intakes have not yet been fully compiled.

Need help with your WES / ECE credential evaluation? We confirm the right organization and type of report, prepare your documents (translations, official deliveries) and make sure your application meets the requirements of US and Canadian universities.

Author

About Adam Girsault

With a Bachelor's (LLB) from UCL and Assas, and the Grande Ecole program at HEC Paris, Adam co-founded Your Dream School in 2018. Since then the company has coached more than 1,000 students through university admissions and interview preparation for top global institutions.

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