International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)

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What is IQAS?

The International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) was established by the Alberta Government to help individuals educated outside of Canada. The service assesses international educational documents and compares them to educational credentials in a Canadian province.

Who is it for?

IQAS helps immigrants obtain recognition for the education they received in other countries. IQAS issues educational certificates which indicate how an educational credential received in another country compares to an educational program in Canada. IQAS certificates may help immigrants enter the labour market, gain membership in professional licensing bodies and admission into post-secondary institutions. The certificates are used by employers, professional licensing associations and educational institutions to understand educational programs outside of Canada. Please contact IQAS for a list of professional licensing associations and educational institutions who recognize IQAS assessments.

IQAS educational assessments are designed to meet the needs of:

• Individuals educated outside of Canada who require an assessment of their education for employment or educational reasons.
• Employers who need to have an educational credential obtained in another country compared to Alberta or Saskatchewan educational standards.
• Educational institutions which need to know whether an international educational credential meets their entrance criteria.
• Professional licensing bodies which need to know whether education obtained in other countries meets the educational standards required by their association.

What about professional organizations and educational institutions?

IQAS assessments are advisory only and do not limit a professional association or educational institution from making its own determination of educational levels and credits earned. For many professional associations and post-secondary institutions, an educational assessment is just one of many factors that is used to determine admission. Many professional associations and post-secondary institutions conduct their own educational assessments. Always contact the professional associations and post-secondary institutions before applying to IQAS. It is your responsibility to ensure in advance that the post-secondary institution or professional association that you wish to enter will accept your IQAS assessment certificate. Specific questions concerning the requirements or procedures for registration or licensure, employment or admissions should be directed to the appropriate professional association/licensing board, employer or post-secondary institution.

What is the basis of the assessment process?

Official documentation

IQAS generally requires original and/or officially certified documents to conduct assessments. IQAS will accept photocopies, but it will be clearly indicated on assessment certificates that the evaluation was based on photocopied documents.

Document Review

All documents are reviewed for consistency and any evidence of tampering or alteration. If there are any inconsistencies, IQAS seeks verification on the suspicious documents directly from the issuing institutions. An evaluation will not be conducted on documentation determined to be altered or fraudulent.

Translation Review

IQAS conducts educational assessments using original language documents and their English translations. Translations are spot checked for accuracy.

Recognition Status of Institutions

IQAS only conducts assessments of education obtained at an accredited or recognized institution in the home country. A recognized institution is one which has been formally approved by the proper educational authorities with the country and which is widely accepted by other institutions and agencies inside and outside the country. IQAS does not evaluate education offered by private unaccredited or unrecognized institutions.

Description of Educational Program

IQAS conducts extensive research and provides a description of the educational program that includes a review of: the level of education; the duration of study; the general content of study; and the function of the program (i.e., what the program allows access to in the home country).

General Statement of Comparability

IQAS strives to ensure standardized and consistent assessment results. To determine how a foreign educational credential compares to educational standards in Canada, IQAS utilizes numerous resources within Alberta, Canada and across the world. IQAS follows national and international guidelines for good practice in the assessment of foreign credentials.

Revision date: Saturday, October 07, 2000