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Federal skilled workers selection criteria – Education: Equivalency assessment outcomes and education points

This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.

University-level credential at the doctoral level

Points: 25

Designated organizations assessment outcomes

  • Earned doctorate degree
  • Earned doctorate (Ph.D.)
  • Professional doctorate degree
  • Doctor of [name of discipline, such as Business Administration, Law, Psychology]
  • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree with a focus in [area of concentration]Footnote i
  • Doctorate (Ph.D.)Footnote i

University-level credential at the master’s level or an entry-to-practice professional degree

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) only accepts as an entry-to-practice professional degree, those degrees issued in relation to an occupation listed at NOC skill level A and for which licensing by a provincial regulatory body is required.

Points: 23

Designated organizations assessment outcomes

  • Master’s degree
  • Master’s degree (taught)
  • Master of [name of discipline]
  • Master’s degree, specializing in [name of discipline]
  • Master’s degree with a focus in [area of concentration]Footnote i
  • One-year master’s degree with a focus in [area of concentration]Footnote i
  • Two-year master’s degree with a focus in [area of concentration]Footnote i
  • Master of Business AdministrationFootnote i
  • One-year Master of Business Administration degreeFootnote i
  • One-year master’s degreeFootnote i
  • Master degreeFootnote i

Entry-to-practice professional degrees

Medicine

  • First professional degree in Medicine (Doctor of Medicine)
  • First professional degree in Medicine
  • Doctor of Medicine degree
  • First professional university degree in medicineFootnote i
  • First professional university degree in medicine, preceded by prerequisite undergraduate studyFootnote i

Veterinary medicine

  • Four to seven years of professional study in veterinary medicine
  • First professional degree in Veterinary Medicine
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree
  • First professional university degree in veterinary medicineFootnote i
  • First professional university degree in veterinary medicine, preceded by prerequisite undergraduate studyFootnote i

Dentistry

  • Four to seven years of professional study in dentistry
  • Five or more years of professional university study in dentistry
  • First professional degree in Dentistry
  • Doctor of Dental Surgery degree
  • First professional university degree in dentistryFootnote i
  • First professional university degree in dentistry, preceded by prerequisite undergraduate studyFootnote i

Podiatry

  • Four to five years of professional study in podiatry
  • Five or more years of professional university study in podiatry
  • Doctor of Podiatry degree
  • First professional university degree in podiatric medicineFootnote i
  • First professional university degree in podiatric medicine, preceded by prerequisite undergraduate studyFootnote i

Optometry

  • Three to six years of professional study in optometry
  • Five or more years of professional university study in optometry
  • Doctor of Optometry degree
  • First professional university degree in optometryFootnote i
  • First professional university degree in optometry, preceded by prerequisite undergraduate studyFootnote i

Law

  • Bachelor of Laws
  • Juris Doctor
  • First professional university degree in lawFootnote i
  • First professional university degree in law, preceded by [x-year] prerequisite undergraduate studyFootnote i

Chiropratic medicine

  • Five or more years of professional university study in chiropractic medicine
  • Doctor of Chiropractic degree
  • First professional university degree in chiropractic medicineFootnote i
  • First professional university degree in chiropractic medicine, preceded by prerequisite undergraduate studyFootnote i

Pharmacy

  • Five or more years of professional university study in pharmacy
  • Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree
  • Four-year Bachelor of Science degree with a focus in pharmacyFootnote i

Two or more post-secondary credentials (three-year or longer post-secondary credential required)

Points: 22

Designated organizations assessment outcomes

A three-year or longer post-secondary credential in combination with any of the post secondary educational credentials listed below. This excludes secondary school credentials.

Post-secondary educational credentials could also include post-baccalaureate or post-graduate credentials as follows:

  • Post-bachelor’s certificate
  • Post-undergraduate certificateFootnote i
  • Post-bachelor’s diploma
  • Post-undergraduate diplomaFootnote i
  • Graduate certificate
  • Graduate certificate with a focus in [area of concentration]Footnote i
  • Postgraduate certificate
  • Postgraduate diploma
  • Graduate diploma with a focus in [area of concentration]Footnote i
  • Graduate diplomaFootnote i
  • Two-year postgraduate diploma, specializing in [name of discipline]
  • Two-year bachelor’s degree after a degree with a focus in [area of concentration]Footnote i
  • One-year postgraduate certificate in [name of discipline]
  • One-year of graduate study with a focus in [area of concentration]Footnote i
  • Study toward a master’s degree

Three-year or longer post-secondary credential

Points: 21

Designated organizations assessment outcomes

  • College diploma (three years)
  • Diploma (three years)
  • Three-year diploma in [name of discipline]
  • Three-year advanced diplomaFootnote i
  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Applied bachelor’s degree
  • Bachelor’s degree (three years)
  • Three-year bachelor’s degree, specializing in [name of discipline]
  • Three-year bachelor degreeFootnote i
  • Bachelor’s degree (four years)
  • Four-year bachelor’s degree, specializing in [name of discipline]
  • Four-year bachelor degreeFootnote i
  • Three-year post-secondary diploma with a focus in [area of concentration]Footnote i
  • Bachelor’s degree with a focus in [area of concentration]Footnote i
  • Applied bachelor’s degree with a focus in [area of concentration]Footnote i
  • Bachelor of Technology degree with a focus in [area of concentration]Footnote i
  • Three-year bachelor’s degree with a focus in [area of concentration]Footnote i
  • Four-year bachelor’s degree with a focus in [area of concentration]Footnote i

Two-year post-secondary credential

Points: 19

Designated organizations assessment outcomes

  • College diploma
  • College diploma (two years)
  • Diploma (two years)
  • Two-year diplomaFootnote i
  • Two-year diploma in [name of discipline]
  • Secondary school diploma and diploma (two years)
  • Associate degree
  • Associate of [Arts/Science] degree
  • Post-secondary diploma with a focus in [area of concentration]Footnote i
  • Two-year post-secondary diploma with a focus in [area of concentration]Footnote i
  • Two-year associate degreeFootnote i

One-year post-secondary credential

Points: 15

Designated organizations assessment outcomes

  • College certificate
  • Completion of college-level certificate
  • University certificate
  • University diploma
  • One-year certificate in [name of discipline]
  • Post-secondary certificate with a focus in [area of concentration]Footnote i
  • One-year post-secondary certificate with a focus in [area of concentration]Footnote i
  • One-year certificateFootnote i

Secondary school

Points: 5

Designated organizations assessment outcomes

  • Secondary school graduation
  • Secondary school diploma
  • High school equivalency certificate
  • Certificate of high school achievementFootnote i
  • Certificate of high school achievement [plus/including] [specialized/vocational/technical] training in XFootnote i
  • High school diplomaFootnote i
  • High school diploma [plus/including] [specialized/vocational/technical] training in XFootnote i
  • Grade 12 (high school completion)Footnote i

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