Education as defined by CIC:-
Officers should assess programs of study and award points based on the standards that exist in
the country of study. The Regulations do not provide for comparisons to Canadian educational
standards.
If the applicant has an educational credential referred to in a particular paragraph in R78(2) but
not the total number of years of study required by that paragraph, officers should award the
number of points set out in the paragraph that refers to the number of years of study completed by
the applicant [R78(4)].
Example: 1. If an applicant has a master‘s degree, but only 16 years of education, the officer would
compare the credential and years of study to the education points chart below and, in this case, award
22 points;
Example: 2. If an applicant has a four-year bachelor‘s degree and 16 years of education, an officer
would award 20 points, as a single two, three, or four-year university credential at the bachelor‘s level,
combined with at least 14 years of full-time study, is worth 20 points.
Note: Medical doctor degrees are generally first-level university credentials, in the same way that a
Bachelor of Law or a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology is a first level, albeit ―professional‖ degree
and should be awarded 20 points. If it is a second-level degree and if, for example, it belongs to a
Faculty of Graduate Studies, 25 points may be awarded. If a bachelor‘s credential is a prerequisite to
the credential, but the credential itself is still considered a first-level degree, then 22 points would be
appropriate. It is important to refer to how the local authority responsible for educational institutions
recognizes the credential: i.e., as a first-level or second-level or higher university credential.
Note: R 78(1) defines ―full-time equivalent‖ in respect of part-time or accelerated studies, the period that
would have been required to complete those studies on a full-time basis. In these cases, officers
should award points for the credential and years of study that would have been required to complete
the studies at the time the application is made.
Pursuant to R77, officers should award points for the credential and years of study that the
applicant has completed at the time the application is made. If further study is completed and
documentation submitted between application and assessment, officers must award the points for
the highest educational credential obtained at the time of assessment.
A distance learning credential is eligible for points as long as it meets the definition of a credential
as outlined in R73. If the credential is not described in terms of number of years duration (i.e.,
three-year bachelor‘s degree), officers should apply the definition of full-time equivalent study and
knowledge that the visa office has acquired on local education institutions and credentials.
There is a high incidence of fraud in this area. Verification checks should be conducted with
issuing institutions to ensure that program integrity standards are respected.
Pursuant to R78, officers should assess the application and award the applicant up to a maximum
of 25 points for education as follows
Credential and number of years of education Points
Secondary school has not been completed (i.e., no diploma obtained) and the
applicant has no trade or apprenticeship educational credentials
0
Secondary school educational credential 5
One year post-secondary educational credential, other than a university
credential, and at least 12 years of completed full-time or full-time equivalent
studies
12
One year post-secondary educational credential, other than a university
educational credential, and at least 13 years of completed full-time or full-time
equivalent studies
15
One year university educational credential at the bachelor‘s level, and at least 13
years of completed full-time or full-time equivalent studies
15
Two year post-secondary educational credential, other than a university 20
OP 6 Federal Skilled Workers
2010-12-14
educational credential, and at least 14 years of completed full-time or full-time
equivalent studies
A university educational credential of two years or more at the bachelor‘s level,
and at least 14 years of completed full-time or full-time equivalent studies
20
Three year post-secondary educational credential, other than a university
educational credential, and at least 15 years of completed full-time or full-time
equivalent studies
22
Two or more university educational credentials at the bachelor‘s level and at
least 15 years of completed full-time or full-time equivalent studies
22
University educational credential at the master‘s or doctoral level and at least 17
years of completed full-time or full-time equivalent studies
25
Note: Subsection 78(3) of the IRPR provides that points are to be awarded on the basis of the single
educational credential that results in the highest number of points. For example, an applicant with a
master‘s degree that was completed after 16 years of education, and who spends an additional year
in school after obtaining it would be awarded 22 points. That the applicant spent an additional year in
school does not turn a 16 year master‘s degree into a 17 year master‘s degree and would not result in
being awarded 25 points.
Hope its helpful.
