CRS Education Points Explained
Level of education awards up to 150 Core Human Capital points for single applicants (140 with an accompanying spouse), and also unlocks up to 50 additional Skill Transferability points when paired with strong language scores or Canadian work experience.
Official IRCC CRS Education Points Schedule
Rule 2026.2 · Verified 2026-11-04| Credential Level | Single / Non-Accompanying (Max 150) | With Accompanying Spouse (Max 140) | Spouse Factor (Max 10) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than secondary school (high school) | 0 pts | 0 pts | 0 pts |
| Secondary diploma (high school graduation) | 30 pts | 28 pts | 2 pts |
| One-year degree, diploma or certificate | 90 pts | 84 pts | 6 pts |
| Two-year program at a university, college, trade or technical school | 98 pts | 91 pts | 7 pts |
| Bachelor’s degree OR three+ year program | 120 pts | 112 pts | 8 pts |
| Two or more certificates, diplomas, or degrees (one must be 3+ years) | 128 pts | 119 pts | 9 pts |
| Master’s degree, OR professional degree needed to practice in a licensed profession | 135 pts | 126 pts | 10 pts |
| Doctoral level university degree (Ph.D.) | 150 pts | 140 pts | 10 pts |
Education and CRS Points
IRCC assigns CRS education points according to the highest verified academic credential you have completed—or through the "Two or more certificates, diplomas, or degrees" rule when one completed program lasted at least three years.
Beyond Core Human Capital points, post-secondary credentials fall into two Skill Transferability tiers: Tier 1 (one-year, two-year, or bachelor’s credentials) and Tier 2 (two or more credentials, master’s, professional degrees in medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, optometry, law, chiropractic, or pharmacy, or doctoral degrees).
Canadian and Foreign Education
If you earned your degree, diploma, or certificate at an eligible Canadian designated learning institution (DLI), you can claim both Core Education points and Additional Points for Canadian Study (+15 points for a 1–2 year credential, or +30 points for a 3+ year, master’s, professional, or doctoral credential).
If your education was completed outside Canada, you can claim Core Education and Skill Transferability points only if you hold a valid Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from an IRCC-designated organization confirming the Canadian equivalency.
Educational Credential Assessment
An ECA report must be less than five years old when you submit your Express Entry profile and permanent residence application. Designated organizations include WES, ICAS, CES, IQAS, ICES, MCC (for physicians), and PEBC (for pharmacists).
Always select the credential level that matches the "Canadian Equivalency" line on your official ECA report rather than the literal title of your home-country diploma.
Two or More Credentials
To claim the "Two or more certificates, diplomas, or degrees" tier (128 points single / 119 with spouse), both credentials must be recognized (Canadian or ECA-verified), and at least one of the credentials must be for a program of three years or longer.
Completing a one-year post-graduate certificate after a three-year or four-year bachelor’s degree is one of the most common ways candidates move from Tier 1 to Tier 2 in Skill Transferability.
Education and Skill Transferability
Moving from a single Bachelor’s degree to "Two or more credentials" or a Master’s degree adds 8 to 15 Core points, plus up to 25 extra Skill Transferability points when paired with CLB 9+ language proficiency or Canadian work experience.
Practical Calculation Example: Bachelor’s vs Master’s with CLB 9
Liam (single, age 28, CLB 9 across all 4 English skills, no Canadian work experience) holds a 4-year foreign Bachelor’s degree (ECA verified). He earns 120 Core education points + 25 Skill Transferability points (Education + Language) = 145 points from education.
Common Assessment Mistakes
- Claiming points for an uncompleted degree or a foreign degree that has not yet received an official ECA report.
- Selecting "Master’s degree" when an ECA report evaluates a foreign master’s degree as equivalent to a "Four-year Bachelor’s degree" in Canada.
- Claiming Canadian Study additional points (+15 or +30) for distance-learning programs or ESL/FSL language courses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an ECA if I completed my highest degree in Canada?
No. You do not need an ECA for a degree, diploma, or certificate awarded by a recognized Canadian post-secondary institution. You only need an ECA if you also want to claim points for a foreign credential (such as combining a foreign bachelor’s with a Canadian 1-year certificate for "Two or more credentials").
Which professional degrees qualify for Master’s-level CRS points?
IRCC only accepts professional degrees in Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry, Optometry, Law (LL.B. / J.D.), Chiropractic Medicine, or Pharmacy at the 135/126-point tier. Engineering or Accounting bachelor’s degrees are assessed at the Bachelor’s tier.
Can two two-year diplomas count as "Two or more credentials"?
No. IRCC rules explicitly state that at least one of the credentials must be for a program of study of three years or more.
Calculate Your Exact Education Points
See how education points combine with language proficiency, skill transferability, and additional factors in the full calculator.