ICES — International Credential Evaluation Service (British Columbia)
A Canadian credential evaluator based in British Columbia.
ICES (through BCIT) is an IRCC-designated evaluator accepted for Canadian immigration education points and some Canadian schools — not for nursing licensure directly.
Requirements change. Always confirm with British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) (www.bcit.ca) and your destination regulator or school before you pay any fee.
Read this first
- ICES is not the Canadian nursing licence path — NNAS is.
- Pick ICES only when your institution or IRCC specifies it.
The must-know ICES facts on one screen.
- What it is
- Credential evaluator
- Provider
- British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)
- Common destinations
- Canada
- Common uses
- study, immigration, employment
- Typically requested by
- IRCC, Canadian universities, Some employers
- Estimated cost
- CAD 220 – 425 (~USD 160 – 315)
- Estimated timeline
- 5 – 10 weeks
- Official source
- www.bcit.ca
- Sent directly by school / council?
- Yes — usually
- Nurses applying to BCIT or other Canadian colleges that list ICES by name.
- Immigration candidates claiming education points via IRCC (Express Entry).
- Employers specifically requesting an ICES report.
- Nurses pursuing Canadian RN registration — NNAS is the gateway.
- Candidates already holding a WES or ICES-equivalent Canadian evaluation.
- US-focused applicants.
Have these ready before you open the ICES application.
- Academic transcripts (sealed, school-mailed)
- Degree / diploma certificate
- Professional licences if claimed
- Certified English / French translations
How the ICES process actually works.
- 1
Confirm ICES is accepted by your institution or IRCC
IRCC lists ICES as a designated organisation for Express Entry ECA.
- 2
Open an ICES application + pay
Upload identity documents; request your transcripts mailed directly.
- 3
Wait for documents + evaluation
Typical 6 – 10 weeks total.
- 4
Report issued + transmitted
ICES delivers electronically to you and the recipients you chose.
ICES forms, document uploads, and fee payments are the trip-up for many candidates. An advisor can walk you through each screen — you stay logged in, you pay British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) directly.
African-nurse checklist for ICES.
- Confirmed recipient (school / IRCC / employer) accepts ICES
- Transcript request to African registrar
- Certified English / French translations if needed
- CAD-capable payment method
- Courier budget from Africa to Burnaby, BC
What ICES really costs — itemised.
- CAD 220 (~USD 165)ICES Basic report
- CAD 425 (~USD 315)ICES Comprehensive
- CAD 50 (~USD 40)Additional recipient
- +CAD 150 – 250Rush service
- USD 50 – 150Courier from Africa
- USD 200 – 600Total planning rangeConfirm fees on bcit.ca.
Fees change often. Always confirm directly with British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) before paying.
Plan 5 – 10 weeks end-to-end.
- 1
Prepare documents
1 – 2 weeks.
- 2
Transcripts arrive
2 – 4 weeks (courier).
- 3
Evaluation
6 – 10 weeks after arrival.
- 4
Report delivery
Electronic + paper copy.
Mistakes that delay ICES most often.
- Using ICES to pursue Canadian RN registration — that is NNAS.
- Choosing Comprehensive when Basic is enough.
- Sending transcripts yourself.
What happens once ICES is complete.
Report sent to IRCC or school
Keep your applicant copy.
Continue with the destination application
ICES is an input — the final decision is the institution or IRCC.
If nursing licensure is needed, start NNAS separately
ICES does not replace NNAS for nursing registration.
ICES questions nurses ask before they pay.
Is ICES accepted for Canadian nursing licence?⌄
No. Canadian nursing regulators use NNAS. ICES is accepted for IRCC Express Entry and some schools.
How does ICES compare to WES Canada?⌄
Both are IRCC-designated. Turnaround is similar; WES is usually faster. Pick whichever your target recipient lists first.
Can I speed up ICES?⌄
ICES offers a rush option at extra cost. The fastest way is to get your transcripts mailed quickly — that step is usually the bottleneck.
Official ICES source
Requirements + fees change. Always verify live pricing and acceptance before you pay.
Pathway provides guidance only. We are not an immigration lawyer, a nursing regulator, or a visa agent. Outcomes depend on regulators and authorities, not on us.
Before you pay for credential verification
- Confirm which credential service your nursing pathway requires.
- Do not assume WES, CGFNS, NNAS, and DataFlow are interchangeable.
- You pay the official credential body directly.
- We guide you and help you avoid choosing the wrong service.
Stuck at the payment screen? We'll walk you through it.
African cards get declined on regulator and exam-provider portals every day. We coach you through fixing it on the official site — we never take your money, never use your card.
Other credential services that may apply to you.
WES is widely used by Canadian and US universities, by IRCC for Express Entry education points, and by many employers. Most nursing regulators still require CGFNS (USA) or NNAS (Canada) for licensure — do not pay for WES expecting it to unlock your nursing license.
IQAS is run by the Government of Alberta. It is accepted by IRCC for Express Entry and by employers, schools, and some professional bodies in Alberta — but not by nursing regulators for licensure.
CES is operated by U of T and is an IRCC-designated ECA provider. It is accepted by many Ontario schools and employers, but it is not a nursing-licence route.
Don't pay for ICES before you confirm you need it.
Build your free pathway in 2 minutes and see whether ICES is on it — before you open an account.
Guidance only. Credential, nursing registration, and immigration requirements may change — always confirm with the official source.