IRCC Counts Your Online Learning during Covid-19
Traditionally, online education did not contribute to Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points if more than half of a program was completed remotely. However, many students around the globe during the COVID-19 pandemic were forced to leave their traditional classroom settings in favour of online learning platforms. In response to these inevitable circumstances, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently made an update to this policy, allowing Express Entry candidates to receive Canadian educational credential points for online programs.
According to IRCC, this new provision applies to individuals who obtained Canadian degrees, diplomas, or certificates through online platforms between March 2020 and August 2022. Even if the entire program was conducted remotely from outside Canada or on a part-time basis, eligible candidates are entitled to earn CRS points. The IRCC has outlined specific steps for candidates meeting these criteria. It is crucial for such individuals to update their Express Entry profiles accordingly. Some candidates in the Express Entry pool may have already received notifications from IRCC informing them of this policy alteration.
The communication from IRCC emphasizes that individuals who have claimed a Canadian educational credential must update their profiles by answering three additional questions in the education history section.
These questions include:
- Information about the extent of in-person study or training, any study or training completed in Canada
- Whether the study or training was undertaken on a full-time basis in pursuit of the credential
Failing to provide complete responses to these questions could result in a reduction of their CRS score, potentially impacting their prospects of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence.
