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Do you need a WES evaluation for a foreign degree if you already hold a Canadian PG diploma?

Canada • Permanent Resident • immigration 0 views
By VisaBuddies Communityvia community — compiled from public visa forums

Documents Needed

  • Canadian PG diploma / degree

    Doesn't require a WES/ECA evaluation — Canadian credentials are recognized directly.

  • ECA of your foreign bachelor's degree (optional)

    Can still be done to claim points for having multiple credentials, even if not strictly required.

Step-by-Step

A member who completed a PG diploma in Canada and was preparing to apply for PR wondered whether their original Indian bachelor's degree still needed a WES evaluation, or whether the Canadian PG diploma alone was sufficient.

What the thread clarified:
  1. A Canadian credential does not require WES verification. WES (and similar ECA bodies) exist specifically to assess foreign education for applicants who don't hold Canadian education — once you hold a Canadian degree or diploma, that credential is already recognized without needing an ECA.

  2. Whether your original foreign bachelor's degree needs an ECA depends on whether you want to claim points for it too. If you want to be credited for having two or more credentials (your foreign bachelor's plus your Canadian PG diploma), doing an ECA on the bachelor's degree lets you claim those combined education points.

  3. The length of your Canadian PG program (1 vs. 2 years) can affect your specific CRS education points bracket, so it's worth confirming which bracket your program falls into as part of planning your application.


The practical takeaway: your Canadian PG diploma doesn't need WES verification on its own, but if you want to claim extra CRS points for holding multiple credentials, get an ECA done on your original foreign degree as well.

Dos, Don'ts & Tips

  • Tip: Canadian credentials don't require a WES/ECA evaluation — only foreign education does.
  • Do: Get an ECA on your foreign bachelor's degree if you want to claim CRS points for holding multiple credentials.
  • Tip: Confirm which CRS education points bracket your Canadian program length (1 vs. 2 years) falls into.

Have a question about this? Join the discussion.

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