1. What is changing?

The University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies has made the difficult decision wind down the Comparative Education Service, commonly known as CES.

Effective October 22, 2026 at 9:00 am EDT, CES stopped accepting new applications and requests for credential assessment services. CES will continue processing and completing applications received before this date, as described below.

2. Why is CES winding down?

CES has experienced declining application volumes and financial pressures in an increasingly competitive credential assessment market. After careful review, the University determined that continuing CES service is not financially sustainable. The University remains committed to supporting and processing active client and partner applications submitted before 9:00 am EDT on October 22, 2026, in accordance with CES’s terms and conditions.*

* Creating an account, starting an application, or sending documents without submitting and paying for an application before October 22, 2026 does not constitute an active application.

3. Will my existing application still be processed?

Yes. CES will continue to process applications submitted and paid for before 9:00 am EDT on October 22, 2026.

CES can complete an assessment only after receiving all required documents and information. Additional time may be needed if CES must verify documents or contact an educational institution or another authority.

The CES Terms and Conditions state that the University does not guarantee the issuance of a report if it is not satisfied with the official documents received or cannot obtain the required information or verification from the applicable institution.

4. Can I submit missing documents after October 22, 2026?

Yes, provided your application was submitted and paid for before the deadline*. You should arrange for all outstanding documents to be sent as soon as possible.

CES may establish a final deadline for receiving outstanding documents. Any such deadline will be communicated directly to affected applicants.

* Creating an account, starting an application, or sending documents without submitting and paying for an application before October 22, 2026 does not constitute an active application.

5. Is CES guaranteed to complete my application?

CES will make every reasonable effort to complete eligible existing applications. However, CES may be unable to issue a report if:

• required documents or information are not provided;
• documents cannot be authenticated or verified;
• an institution or authority does not respond to a verification request;
• documents are suspected or confirmed to have been altered, falsified, forged, or misrepresented; or
• another circumstance prevents completion of the assessment.

For more information, review the CES Terms and Conditions.

6. Will processing times be affected?

Processing times may be longer during the winding down period. Completion times will depend on the volume and complexity of applications, the completeness of each file, verification requirements, and response times from educational institutions or other authorities.

Applicants should monitor their email associated with their CES account and respond promptly to requests for information or documents.

7. Can I change my existing application?

Requests will be reviewed individually. CES may not be able to accommodate a change that amounts to a new service request after October 22, 2026.

Submit your request through the CES Help Centre support request form and include your full name and application or reference number.

8. Will I receive a refund because CES is winding down?

The CES Terms and Conditions generally do not have provisions for refunds for cancelled or incomplete applications, processing times, or applications that are no longer required. If CES determines that an application cannot be completed for operational reasons directly related to the wind down, the University will review the circumstances and contact the affected applicant.

9. How will I receive my completed report?

CES will continue to issue completed reports using the delivery method applicable to the service requested. Applicants should ensure that their email address and other contact information remain current throughout the wind down of services.

10. Will my report remain valid after the closure of CES?

The winding down of CES does not change the issue date or content of an assessment report that has already been issued.

For immigration purposes, an Educational Credential Assessment is generally valid for five (5) years from its issue date. Educational institutions, employers, regulators, government agencies, and other recipients establish their own acceptance requirements. Report holders should confirm the applicable requirements directly with the organization receiving the report.

11. Can I order a duplicate report?

CES will continue processing eligible duplicate-report requests during the wind down period, subject to record availability, identity verification, applicable fees, and any published deadlines.

For duplicate report requests received on or after October 22, 2026, CES will issue a general-purpose duplicate copy only and will not provide customized reports for regulatory bodies, including nursing regulators. Applicants should confirm directly with the receiving organization that a general-purpose duplicate copy meets its requirements.

The University is developing a longer-term process for accessing eligible retained reports after CES concludes active operations. Further information will be published on the CES website when available.

12. What should I do if I already have a CES report?

Report holders should:

• retain the original report and related correspondence;
• keep a record of their CES application or reference number;
• check that their personal and contact information is accurate;
• request required duplicate or third-party copies before any published deadline; and
• confirm the requirements of the organization receiving the report.

The University will provide advance notice of any changes to access through the CES applicant portal. Applicants should not rely on indefinite portal access as their only means of retaining a report.

13. What will happen to my records and personal information?

CES records will not be immediately destroyed when active operations end. The University of Toronto will continue to manage retained records in accordance with applicable law, University policies, privacy and records-management requirements, the CES Terms and Conditions, and relevant contractual obligations.

Retention periods vary according to the application and record type. Certain information and assessment records may be retained for at least 10 years.

14. Will CES return the documents I submitted?

Documents submitted to CES are not generally returned. Academic records received directly from an institution become part of the CES record and are not normally returned or released to the applicant or another party.

15. Will my information be transferred to another assessment provider?

A transfer may occur if it is authorized by the applicant, required or permitted by law, or completed through an approved transition arrangement with a CES partner.

Affected applicants will be informed if a transition arrangement requires action on their part.

16. How can I request access to or correction of my personal information?

Requests concerning access to or correction of personal information may be sent to scs.privacy@utoronto.ca. Identity verification will be required before personal information can be released.

The University may be required to retain certain records for legal, contractual, audit, verification, fraud-prevention, or records-management purposes. As a result, it may not be possible to delete all records immediately upon request.

17. What should I do if I find an error in my report?

Report the error as soon as possible through the CES Help Centre support request form. Under the CES Terms and Conditions, errors or omissions should be reported within 30 days of the report’s issue date.

Include your full name, application or reference number, report issue date, a description of the suspected error, and relevant supporting information.

18. Can I still request a review or appeal?

Yes. Applicants whose reports are issued during the wind down will retain access to the applicable review and appeal processes.

Concerns about an assessment outcome should generally be raised within 30 days of the report date. If the matter is not resolved through the initial review, an eligible applicant may submit an official appeal within 90 days of the report date, subject to applicable requirements and fees.

The University will provide instructions for eligible review or appeal deadlines that extend beyond active CES operations.

19. What happens if I applied through a CES partner?

CES is coordinating directly with its partners regarding affected applications and transition arrangements.

Applicants associated with the National Nursing Assessment Service, the College of Nurses of Ontario, Niagara University, or the University of Toronto Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty and Academic Life should follow instructions from the applicable partner or their established contact. Applicants should not submit a second application unless instructed to do so.

20. Can CES recommend another credential assessment provider?

CES cannot select a provider or guarantee that another provider’s assessment will be accepted for your intended purpose.

Before applying elsewhere:

• immigration applicants should consult current instructions from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada;
• individuals seeking professional licensing or registration should contact the appropriate regulator; and
• applicants seeking admission should contact the receiving educational institution.

Another provider may have different application, documentation, authentication, consent, and fee requirements. Documents previously provided to CES may not be transferable or reusable.

21. How can I contact CES?

Submit inquiries through the CES Help Centre support request form.

Include your application or reference number, if applicable. Do not send identity documents, financial information, passwords, or complete academic records by unsecured email unless instructed to do so.

Due to an anticipated increase in inquiries, response times may be longer than usual. Submitting multiple requests about the same matter may delay the response.

22. Where will further updates be published?

Updates will be posted on the SCS website. CES may also communicate directly with affected applicants by email or through the applicant portal.

Applicants should keep their contact information current, check their junk or spam folders, monitor their accounts while they remain available, and respond promptly to requests from CES.