IQAS — International Qualifications Assessment Service (Alberta)
Alberta's credential evaluator — accepted by IRCC and many Alberta institutions.
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.
Requirements change. Always confirm with Government of Alberta (www.alberta.ca) and your destination regulator or school before you pay any fee.
Read this first
- IQAS is commonly slower than WES and ICES — build the timeline in early.
- IQAS is not a nursing licence route.
The must-know IQAS facts on one screen.
- What it is
- Credential evaluator
- Provider
- Government of Alberta
- Common destinations
- Canada
- Common uses
- study, immigration, employment
- Typically requested by
- IRCC, Alberta employers, Alberta schools
- Estimated cost
- CAD 200 – 250 (~USD 150 – 185)
- Estimated timeline
- 6 – 14 weeks
- Official source
- www.alberta.ca
- Sent directly by school / council?
- Yes — usually
- IRCC applicants who prefer a government-run evaluator for Express Entry.
- Alberta-based school or job applicants.
- Candidates whose target institution lists IQAS by name.
- Nursing candidates pursuing Canadian RN registration (go through NNAS).
- Candidates in a hurry — IQAS typical timeline is longer than WES.
Have these ready before you open the IQAS application.
- Academic transcripts (school-mailed)
- Degree / diploma certificate
- Professional credentials if claimed
- IQAS consent + payment forms
- Certified English / French translations
How the IQAS process actually works.
- 1
Confirm IQAS is accepted by your destination
Check IRCC, your school, or your employer.
- 2
Apply online + pay
IQAS accepts Canadian credit cards and some international cards.
- 3
Documents mailed directly
Your registrar must courier sealed transcripts.
- 4
Wait for evaluation
Plan 6 – 14 weeks including mail time.
- 5
Report issued
Electronic + mailed paper copies.
IQAS 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 Government of Alberta directly.
African-nurse checklist for IQAS.
- Chosen recipient accepts IQASIRCC / Alberta institution.
- Registrar request submitted
- Translation route for French documents
- CAD-capable payment method
- Long timeline planned — avoid IQAS if your deadline is tight
What IQAS really costs — itemised.
- CAD 200 (~USD 150)IQAS standard report
- CAD 15 – 25Additional copy
- USD 50 – 150Courier from Africa
- USD 40 – 150Translation
- USD 180 – 400Total planning rangeConfirm on alberta.ca.
Fees change often. Always confirm directly with Government of Alberta before paying.
Plan 6 – 14 weeks end-to-end.
- 1
Prepare documents
1 – 2 weeks.
- 2
Transcripts arrive
2 – 4 weeks.
- 3
Evaluation
8 – 12 weeks.
- 4
Report delivery
1 – 2 weeks (paper + electronic).
Mistakes that delay IQAS most often.
- Choosing IQAS on a tight deadline.
- Sending transcripts yourself.
- Confusing IQAS with NNAS — they are not the same.
What happens once IQAS is complete.
Submit IQAS to IRCC or institution
Electronic or paper, depending on recipient.
Continue destination-specific steps
Language test, visa forms, bridging where required.
IQAS questions nurses ask before they pay.
Is IQAS accepted for Canadian nursing licence?⌄
No — NNAS is the nursing-specific route. IQAS is accepted for IRCC and many Alberta institutions.
Why is IQAS slower than WES?⌄
IQAS is government-run with smaller staff. The evaluation stage alone can take 3 months in busy periods.
Can IQAS be done online?⌄
The application is online. Transcripts must still arrive by mail from your school.
Official IQAS 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.
ICES (through BCIT) is an IRCC-designated evaluator accepted for Canadian immigration education points and some Canadian schools — not for nursing licensure directly.
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 IQAS before you confirm you need it.
Build your free pathway in 2 minutes and see whether IQAS is on it — before you open an account.
Guidance only. Credential, nursing registration, and immigration requirements may change — always confirm with the official source.