How Many Express Entry Points Do I Get for My Education?
Education is one of the core human capital factors in Canada's Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), and the point value depends heavily on your exact credential level — with a different scale depending on whether you're applying with a spouse or common-law partner.
💡 Quick Summary
A doctoral degree earns the maximum education points (150 without a spouse, 140 with a spouse). A bachelor's degree earns 120 (or 112 with a spouse). Foreign credentials require an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to count.
Express Entry CRS Education Points Table
| Credential | No Spouse | With Spouse |
|---|---|---|
| Less than secondary school | 0 | 0 |
| Secondary school diploma | 30 | 28 |
| One-year post-secondary credential | 90 | 84 |
| Two-year post-secondary credential | 98 | 91 |
| Bachelor's degree (3+ years) | 120 | 112 |
| Two or more credentials, one 3+ years | 128 | 119 |
| Master's / professional degree | 135 | 126 |
| Doctoral degree (PhD) | 150 | 140 |
Why Foreign Credentials Need an ECA
If your degree or diploma was earned outside Canada, IRCC requires an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from a designated organization confirming your credential's Canadian equivalency before it counts toward your CRS education points.
Education Is Only One Piece of the CRS Score
Your total Express Entry CRS score also includes points for age, language ability (all four skills), Canadian and foreign work experience, and additional factors like a provincial nomination or a valid job offer. Education points alone won't determine your draw eligibility — they combine with these other factors for your full score.
CRS point values are set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and are subject to change. Always confirm current point values on the official IRCC website before relying on this for an application decision.