Mikeypm

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if anyone has any recent experience submitting an application for credential assessment ?

Any opinions on the company's authorised by CIC that do the assessment, IE timescales and how professional these company's are? There seems to be different costs for CES,ICAS and WES.

Also has anyone submitted nvq's or professional qualifications for assessment?

I'm planning to get my application for FSW2 off shortly so would appreciate any feedback people have regards whether any of the company's are quicker than others and whether NVQ's or professional qualifications count for anything and whether it is worth my while sending these off?

So any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Mike

Jennyw13

Hi MikeyPM, just wondered if you bothered getting your NVQs assessed? Both hubby & I have them & are about to move on TWP but I'm not sure if they are worth getting assessed?

wardy_1990

ditto I have NVQ's and if they accepted them as equivalent quals would save me a lot of trouble

Mikeypm

Maybe ICAS or CES may consider the NVQ's but after several attempts WES didn't not recognise them or include them on my report. I have sent them anyway with copies of my communications with WES and a covering letter. I may not get any points for them but I didn't see any harm in sending them in.

chrisro55

Hi, realize I'm digging up an old thread, but what was the outcome on the NVQ assessment with ICAS / CES ?

Mikeypm

Some of the nvqs were considered by WES as professional study and therefore not considered at all and then others were considered as equivalent to secondary school level. Bearing in mind these courses were done in higher education and therefore after secondary school I'm not sure on WES reasoning. But it is what it is and now just waiting for the next stage of the PR process.

SUNSHINEGIRL_X

I had my City and Guilds hairdressing sent to WES for FSW EE. I posted it on 4th Feb. city and guilds posted transcript same day. I got results on 16th March. results

Complition of trade certificate.

chrisro55

I presume this assessment was based on your Level 3 NVQ?

The response I had from WES for a Level 2 C&C / NVQ (highest NVQ there was when I completed my trade apprenticeship back in 1997!) was that a NVQ 2 is only considered "equivalent of completion of secondary-level vocational study and training" As such a formal ECA report cannot be issued for an NVQ L2 alone.

did they offer any commentary on your L2 NVQ that you submitted?

SUNSHINEGIRL_X

No they only sent 1 answer back no remarks on either qualifications sent. Just the equivalent Mark.

Mikeypm

That's the answer they gave me on an nvq 3 and 4

Aviator

This confirms the equivalent Canadian skill level, but it is not a transferable qualification to Canada. City and Guilds and NVQ are not recognised or accepted in Canada. These are of little (no) value in getting work, provable hours worked can help in eligibility to sit the trade exam in most provinces.

In provincially certifiable trades, one still has to take the trade exam. If one has the required number of hours, it is possible to challenge the exam without further education.

Challenging Exams | Industry Training Authority

SUNSHINEGIRL_X

Yes your right. I've Already got my letter from Alberta Industry and trade. They have copies of all my certificates and have contacted all previous employers for the experience history.
I have to contact them within 1 week of landing to give them all my new employers details and my address. I will then have to take my exam within a certain time frame. I have 2 chances to pass.

chrisro55

for reference, this was the comprehensive response received from CES on apprenticeships / vocational qualifications - may be useful info for anyone searching for clarification in the future.


"Thank you for your interest in the Comparative Education Service, University of Toronto.

CES assesses foreign secondary education credentials and postsecondary academic degrees and diplomas from recognized universities and colleges.

Unfortunately, CES does not assess any of the following:

· Apprenticeships, Competency based/Vocational qualifications/Training (e.g. City and Guilds Certificates, Trade certificates, National Vocational Qualifications, Massage or Shiatsu Therapy Training, Caregiver training, Personal Support Worker Training, Montessori Training, Microsoft Training)
· In-company training
· Professional licenses, memberships in professional bodies/associations and learned societies (e.g. Association of Chartered Certified Accountants [ACCA] – examinations or fellow or Member of the Association, Institution of Engineers, Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Royal College of Surgeons, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan [ICAP], British Computer Society)
· Short-term, non-formal, non-academic programs
· Board of Examination in General Nursing and Midwifery diplomas (e.g. Pakistan Nursing Council)
· Second-language training programs (e.g. ESL)
· Work experience
· In-progress academic programs
· Certificates issued for professionally-oriented studies in conjunction with academic studies (e.g. Certificat de Absolvire (Graduation Certificate) from the Teacher Training Department or Pedagogical Seminar)
· Canadian post-secondary qualifications

Therefore, we will not be able to assist you in this matter.

We recommend that you contact other credential assessment organizations to see if they could provide assistance for you."

beckiwoo

^thanks for that's - means I'll have to go with WES to get my NVQ assessed

chrisro55

And for completeness, the response from ICAS on Vocational Qualifications.

"Thank you for your enquiry.

The Canadian Immigration Assessment Package is the type of report which is valid for all immigration programs which require an ECA or for which an ECA is optional. It is our understanding that for the FSTP, an ECA is optional. Please note that the ECA will include only your academic qualifications and will not include trade certifications or apprenticeship training. Trade certification is a separate process which is completed through the appropriate government Ministry in the province in which you intend to work and can usually only be completed in Canada.

While we can provide some assessment of an NVQ Level 2, an assessment of this alone will not be very meaningful. We would require all GCE/GCSE examination results to prepare an assessment of your secondary education is as well.

CIC requires that all assessments for this purpose be prepared on the basis of documents received directly from the institution/body which awarded the qualification. Original documents, attested or certified copies of documents will not be accepted. Please review the specific documentation requirements by country at ICAS - FSW.

Please contact us if you require any additional information or clarification.

ICAS of Canada"



Based on the above It seems that ICAS may evaluate NVQ’s / C&G qualifications, in conjunction with High school completion GCE/GCSE.

However in terms of EE ECA, then as it stands at present it appears there is exceptionally limited value in having anything other than a diploma or a degree evaluated.

So of the three main bodies for evalauaitions of ECA’s there are three quite different stances.

WES - based on feedback from others in early 2015, WES will evaluate C&G / NVQ 3 and above in isolation

CES – wont consider an ECA for any vocational qualifications alone

ICAS - may evaluate vocational qualifications in conjunction with secondary / post secondary qualifications.