Identify the title of the academic credential and the status of the program leading to the academic credential.
- Identify:
- the exact title of the academic credential, as written on the document, with the support of translation if needed;
- the exact name of the academic program leading to the academic credential.
- Confirm the recognition status of the program during the applicant’s period of study by checking:
- your organization’s information system;
- competent authorites of the issuing country, as primary sources of information;
- the website of the educational institution;
- other reliable primary or secondary sources (e.g., national information centres, established assessing organizations).
In the process, recognize possible differences between institutional and programmatic recognition, such as:
- recognized institutions offering both recognized and unrecognized programs;
- program-level recognition by competent authorities required for some recognized institutions but not for others;
- program-level accreditation by competent authorities required for entry-to-practice credentials in regulated occupations;
- possible time limits on program-level recognition;
- transnational or cross-border education programs, such as joint degrees, requiring recognition by competent authorities from one country or two or more countries, or by a supranational, overarching competent authority.
CICIC’s tool box can support your research process and provide a space to consult with other members of the pan-Canadian academic credential assessment community.