ABOUT WES CREDENTIAL EVALUATIONS:

ABOUT WES CREDENTIAL

EVALUATIONS:

A Guide for Individuals with Academic Credentials Earned

Outside of the U.S. and Canada

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1

Why Evaluate Your International Academic Credentials? ............................................................. 2

Top Five Tips for Selecting an External Evaluation Service .................................................... 2

Credential Evaluation for Dierent Purposes ................................................................................ 3

For Education ............................................................................................................................ 3

For Employment ....................................................................................................................... 5

For Licensing with Professional Licensing Bodies/Boards ...................................................... 5

For Immigration, Work Permits, or H-1B Visas ........................................................................ 6

How to Get a Credential Evaluation ............................................................................................... 7

What Are the Dierent Kinds of Evaluation Reports? .............................................................. 7

How Much Does an Evaluation Cost? ....................................................................................... 8

How Are Foreign Credentials Evaluated? ................................................................................. 8

Does Everyone Recognize the Results of Credential Evaluation Reports? ............................. 8

Understanding WES Required Documents .............................................................................. 8

Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 9

INTRODUCTION

A credential evaluation report is an important part of your application to schools, jobs, or

immigration authorities in the U.S. and Canada—it’s how these institutions understand the value

of your academic achievements.

For example, a credential evaluation report can help university admissions oicers make

admissions decisions by taking your prior education and experience into account. The time and

energy you invested in your education pays o when your academic credentials are understood

and recognized.

WHY EVALUATE YOUR INTERNATIONAL

ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS?

In North America, there are many challenges to the recognition of international academic

credentials; however, with some basic research and planning, you can make the process

advantageous for yourself and accomplish your professional and educational goals.

As an international student or immigrant to Canada or the U.S., you must do your part to ensure

immigration authorities, employers, colleges, universities, and professional licensing bodies/

boards give appropriate recognition to your international academic credentials. One way of

gaining this recognition is using external evaluation services like World Education Services (WES).

External evaluation services like WES play a signicant role in facilitating recognition; however, it

is ultimately the recognition by employers, professional licensing bodies/boards, and academic

institutions that formalizes the value of international credentials. Generally, you may need to

authenticate and evaluate your academic credentials for four main purposes:

Higher education, continuing education, and transfer credits

Employment

Licensing with professional licensing bodies/boards

Immigration, work permits, or H-1B visas

Top Five Tips for Selecting an External Evaluation Service

When selecting a credential evaluation service, keep the following tips in mind:

1. Call the academic institution or licensing board that you are applying to and ask about

their international academic credential authentication and evaluation requirements to

ensure the service you select is accepted.

2. Obtain an evaluation report that is useful for more than one purpose.

3. Find out if the evaluation service charges a separate fee for each academic credential or if

the fee is per person for all of your credentials.

4. Find out if the evaluation service shares the authenticated academic documents with

institutions and licensing boards, potentially saving you time and money by eliminating

the requirement for you to arrange yet another set of oicial transcripts to be sent by your

overseas institution to North American institutions or licensing boards.

5. Get a preview of your U.S. and Canadian academic equivalency and U.S. GPA before

applying to external evaluation services.

As a potential international student or immigrant to North America, it is very advantageous to do

some basic research and learn who requires evaluation reports, the types of evaluation reports

available, and from which external evaluation service your report must be obtained.

As a general guideline, go with an external evaluation service whose evaluation reports are

known to be accepted by employers, educational institutions, licensing boards, and immigration

authorities. It is also benecial for you to purchase an evaluation report that can be used for all

four purposes or at least for more than one purpose.

CREDENTIAL EVALUATION FOR

DIFFERENT PURPOSES

For Education

Foreign credential evaluation is a process that converts the academic credentials that you earned

outside of the U.S. or Canada. At the end of the process, you will receive a credential evaluation

report that includes information about your original credentials as well as its U.S. or Canadian

equivalency. This report allows your education to be understood by anyone who is familiar with

the education system in the U.S. or Canada. The following image shows a sample WES Course-by-

Course analysis.

Name: SAMPLE, Sample

Date of Birth: Month 01, 1993

Date: September 29, 2017

Ref #:

Page: 1 of 2

CREDENTIAL EVALUATION AND AUTHENTICATION REPORT

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING THIS REPORT: An explanation of the terms used in this report can be found on the reverse side. This report is valid

only when printed on watermarked paper and sealed with an oicial WES stamp on each page.

____________________________________

CREDENTIAL EVALUATION AND AUTHENTICATION REPORT

Name: KURIAN, Dynu K. (Kunjandy) Date : September 25, 2017

Date of Birth: February 23, 1993 Ref #: 2905157/me

Page: 1 of 3

————————————————————

CANADIAN EQUIVALENCY SUMMARY

Bachelor's degree (four years)

CREDENTIAL ANALYSIS

1. Name On Credential: Sample Sample

Credential Authentication: Official transcripts were sent directly by the institution

Country: India

Credential: Bachelor of Engineering

Year: 2015

Awarded by: Anna University

Status: Recognized Institution

Admission requirements: High school graduation

Length of program: Four years

Major/Specialization: Mechanical Engineering

Canadian Equivalency: Bachelor's degree (four years)

This report identies and describes each credential, including:

name of credential, requirements for entry and program length,

and the equivalent degree in terms of Canadian education.

Name: SAMPLE, Sample

Date of Birth: Month 01, 1993

Date: September 29, 2017

Ref #:

Page: 2 of 2

COURSE-BY-COURSE ANALYSIS

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING THIS REPORT: An explanation of the terms used in this report can be found on the reverse side. This report is valid

only when printed on watermarked paper and sealed with an oicial WES stamp on each page.

WES is recognized by the Government of Ontario and is a designated service provider of educational credential assessment (ECA) for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

__________________________________

COURSE-BY-COURSE ANALYSIS

Name: KURIAN, Dynu K. (Kunjandy) Date : September 25, 2017

Date of Birth: February 23, 1993 Ref #: 2905157/me

Page: 3 of 3

—————————————————————————————

INSTITUTIONS - DATES - SUBJECTS Credits Grades

—————————————————————————————

Computer-Aided Machine Drawing Lab 1.0 B+

Manufacturing Technology Lab 1.0 B+

2013-2014

Environmental Science and Engineering 3.0 C

Thermal Engineering 3.0 B

Dynamics of Machinery 3.0 B

Design of Machine Elements 3.0 B

Engineering Metrology and Measurements 3.0 B

Applied Hydraulics and Pneumatics 3.0 B

Thermal Engineering Lab 1.0 B

Dynamics Lab 1.0 B+

Metrology and Measurements Lab 1.0 B

CAD and CAM Lab 1.0 A

Communication Skills Lab 1.0 B

Unconventional Machining Processes 3.0 B

Gas Dynamics and Jet Propulsion 3.0 B+

Design of Transmission Systems 3.0 C

Finite Element Analysis 3.0 B

Automobile Engineering 3.0 C

Thermal Engineering Lab 1.0 A

Design and Fabrication Project 2.0 A

Principles of Management 3.0 C

2014-2015

Total Quality Management 3.0 B

Process Planning and Cost Estimation 3.0 B

Robotics 3.0 B+

Mechatronics 3.0 B

Computer-Integrated Manufacturing 3.0 C

Power Plant Engineering 3.0 B+

Computer-Aided Simulation and Analysis Lab 1.0 A

Mechatronics Lab 1.0 B+

Maintenance Engineering 3.0 B+

Advanced Internal Combustion Engines 3.0 B

Comprehension 1.0 A

Project Work 3.0 A

Engineering Economics and Cost Analysis 3.0 B+

SUMMARY

Total Undergraduate Semester Credits: 158.0 GPA: 2.81

This report lists

each course you have

taken, a semester

credit, and grade

equivalent.

This evaluation type is usually required for

applications to post-graduate programs, students

interested in transferring schools before completing

their degree, and licensing board applications.

This report

includes a GPA

(grade point

average).

Higher Education, Continuing Education, and Transfer Credits

The United States is a top destination for students around the world, and upon arrival to Canada,

statistics show that a very large number of immigrants pursue further education. For instance,

an immigrant with a bachelor’s degree from his or her home country is likely to pursue a master’s

level education upon arrival in Canada or they may consider getting another bachelor’s degree

with promising employment opportunities in a specic sector of the economy.

It is almost certain that the academic institution in the U.S. or Canada to which you are applying

will require an authentication and evaluation report of your past academic credentials.

Some North American institutions and their sta conduct the evaluation process at their own

admissions oice; others refer students to external evaluation services like WES.

To pursue higher education, you must demonstrate that you have the prerequisites to enter the

program, have the necessary grade point average (GPA), or have taken the equivalent courses

elsewhere. This is determined through a detailed, formal evaluation report, or a Course-by-

Course evaluation report.

When an academic institution grants you admission based on your previous international academic

training, it is considered recognition. One of the most tangible ways to receive recognition is when

you are able to negotiate “transfer credits” or “advanced standing,” which can help you save tuition

money and time by not having to repeat similar courses that you have already taken outside of

North America. A Course-by-Course report includes converted credit hours for your courses as

well as a GPA equivalency. Before applying to any institutions, you may want to use the free iGPA

Calculator from WES to estimate whether you meet the targeted institution’s GPA requirement.

How to Transfer Credits for Courses Taken Abroad

If you want to attend a college or university in the U.S. or Canada, you may be able to transfer

some credits for courses you have already taken. The decision to accept credits earned abroad

varies from school to school, but here are some of the factors many universities consider:

• Is the institution you attended recognized by your country’s ministry of education?

• Are the courses you have taken similar to those oered by the institution you would like

to attend?

• Do the courses you have taken meet the requirements for the degree and major you would

like to transfer into?

Many academic institutions may allow you to transfer credits but limit how many foreign credits

they accept. You should contact the admissions oice of the institution you want to attend to

learn their policy.

If the school does accept foreign credits, you will likely be asked to provide some or all of the

following documents:

• Oicial academic transcripts from the institution you attended

• A formal English translation of your transcripts

• A credential evaluation report

• Oicial syllabi or catalogs that describe the courses you have taken

The process of transferring credits can be a long one, and you may not know which credits, if any,

have been accepted until your studies begin. However, if your credits are accepted, you can save

both time and money.

If you are an international student and want to learn more about studying in the U.S., read

Education USA’s series Your Five Steps to U.S. Study.

Credential Evaluations for Financial Aid

Once you have obtained a credential evaluation for your admissions application, you can also

use it for scholarships and other nancial aid applications that require you to report your GPA.

This will allow you to apply for funding outside of the school where you sent your report. Merit-

based scholarships in particular usually have GPA requirements for consideration. A credential

evaluation can increase the number of funding sources available to international students.

For Employment

Increasingly, employers are committing themselves to diversifying their workforce and tapping

into the global talent pool; this is a win-win for businesses and job seekers alike. On the other

hand, numerous studies have shown that human resources (HR) departments have little or no

training in weighing the value of international academic credentials. Traditionally, this is not part

of HR training; however, the international mobility of labor is changing this.

One simple rule is this: As a job seeker, when you are applying for a job and the job posting has an

education requirement, it is highly recommended that you get a credential evaluation report and

indicate your Canadian or U.S. equivalency in your résumé.

Here’s an example of how you would phrase this in your résumé:

“Equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from a U.S. (or Canadian) university, as determined

by World Education Services (WES).”

You may want to re-emphasize your Canadian or U.S. equivalency in your cover letter as well.

Furthermore, you might consider submitting a copy, online or otherwise, of the evaluation report

with your cover letter and résumé.

Also, you should share your academic equivalent information as early as possible in the

application process, and do not wait until the job interview. Employment and career coaches

advise that getting the job interview is more than 50 percent of the whole process of securing a

job. With an evaluation report, you increase your chances for employers to screen you in rather

than out.

Nowadays, there is a way of knowing your Canadian or U.S. academic equivalency before you

pay the fee for an oicial evaluation report. WES has developed the Degree Equivalency Tool for

individuals and institutions to preview the Canadian and the U.S. equivalencies for degree-level

credentials for over 160 countries. Keep in mind that these equivalency results are unoicial,

results are not based on authenticated documents, and institutions usually require an oicial

result/formal report from external evaluation services.

In addition, research has shown that sometimes immigrants start with a lower salary level

than their counterparts who have completed their formal education in North America. A formal

evaluation report can provide you with an advantage in negotiating a better starting salary.

A formal evaluation report can be useful for promotion opportunities that may become available

within the company where you are working. For promotion opportunities, employers are bound

to provide an equal opportunity for all their qualied sta. With an equivalency report in hand,

you will be in an advantageous position to compete for promotions.

For Licensing with Professional Licensing Bodies/Boards

There are thousands of professional licensing bodies and boards in North America. Normally,

one of their requirements is the authentication and evaluation of international academic

documents. It cannot be emphasized enough that the best way to proceed is to contact the

appropriate licensing board directly before applying to external evaluation services.

Internationally trained engineers and accountants can oen secure related employment

with appropriate compensation level without a license. These positions can be secured and

negotiated by presenting evaluation reports. However, in other regulated professions—like the

healthcare sector—it is unlikely that you would be able to secure an employment oer working

at the clinical level without a license.

Candidates should always check with the licensing/certication board or agency to nd out

what type of credential evaluation is required. Most boards require a WES Course-by-Course

evaluation. Some boards also require oicial copies of your academic transcripts. This

requirement can be accommodated by purchasing the WES International Credential Advantage

Package (ICAP), which is a service WES provides where WES will store your veried transcripts and

evaluation report for easy sending later.

Some licensing boards conduct authentication and evaluation in-house, and others outsource

this service to external evaluation services. If you intend to obtain a license in your occupation,

consult the licensing board rst. Some research or a simple phone call asking what type of

evaluation report they require can save you considerable time and money.

For Immigration, Work Permits, or H-1B Visas

For skilled or economic class immigrants to Canada, there is a formal requirement by

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for candidates to submit their Canadian

academic equivalency or Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) with their immigration

applications. Under the new immigration policies, Express Entry, educational attainments have

a higher value. The primary applicants, including their spouses, can receive points toward their

total Comprehensive Ranking System (CSR).

For the U.S. H-1B Visa, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services require a bachelor’s degree or

higher degree or its equivalent evaluation report.

HOW TO GET A CREDENTIAL EVALUATION

WES oers credential evaluations that verify and evaluate high school and post-secondary

credentials from more than 150 countries. You can also learn the equivalency of your foreign

education by using the free Degree Equivalency Tool.

Before you apply, be sure to watch our step-by-step videos that walk you through the WES

application process for both the United States and the Canadian ECA Application for

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Before you begin your application:

Review your required documents list. Make sure you can meet these requirements before you

submit your application.

Determine the evaluation type you need. All WES evaluations include a statement of

authenticity for each credential evaluated. There are several evaluation types available based

on the level of education you earned and the purpose of your evaluation:

- A Course-by-Course report includes a U.S. equivalency of your credential, a list of

courses you have taken with the grades you earned, and a U.S. GPA (grade point

average). This evaluation type is usually required for applications to post-graduate

programs, students interested in transferring schools before completing their degree,

and licensing board applications.

- A Document-by-Document report includes the U.S. equivalency of your credential.

This is typically required for freshman admission to universities, employment, and

immigration.

- The CPA Supplemental report provides additional analysis of your business and

accounting courses for CPA (certied public accountant) boards.

Be prepared to ll out the application accurately.

Are you ready to begin the credential evaluation process? Apply now.

What Are the Different Kinds of Evaluation Reports?

In general, an individual can request a “basic” credential evaluation that describes the credential,

or a “detailed” (sometimes called “course-by-course”) report that provides additional information

on the student’s grades, credit hours, and course content. Credential evaluations consider the

value of the credential in the context of the country’s educational system, whether the university

is recognized, credential name, entrance requirements, program length, major/specialization, and

the date it was awarded. The evaluation report includes all of this information about the original

credential, along with the U.S. equivalency.

For an additional cost, a detailed report will analyze each course on the transcript, and convert

credit hours, grades, and course levels to their U.S. equivalents. Some agencies will calculate

a grade point average (GPA), which is the standard way of reporting academic achievement in

the U.S. A WES Course-by-Course evaluation is almost always necessary when an individual is

applying for transfer credit, or a graduate degree.

How Much Does an Evaluation Cost?

The cost of an evaluation depends upon many factors—the degree of detailed analysis required

for your purpose, whether or not an agency charges for each credential it evaluates, processing

time, etc. Fees for “basic” reports typically range from USD $70 to $150; “detailed” reports range

from $150 to $350 (plus any applicable mailing or courier costs).

How Are Foreign Credentials Evaluated?

Agencies use a variety of research tools and resources to determine the status of foreign

academic institutions and to assess an individual’s academic achievement within the U.S.

system and standards of education.

Over the last 40 years, WES has collected data from more than 200 countries and jurisdictions,

including:

• 40,000 educational institutions

• 20,000 academic credentials and equivalencies

• 1,600 grading scales

These resources ensure that your WES evaluation is based on the most current and rigorously

researched information available, ensuring your evaluation is accurate and fair.

Does Everyone Recognize the Results of Credential Evaluation Reports?

No. Evaluation reports are advisory and not binding on any institution. Ultimately, the institution

receiving the credentials has the authority to make the nal decision on how they’ll recognize the

credentials and isn’t bound by the opinions and recommendations of the evaluation service—

even if they require or recommend the service.

Understanding WES Required Documents

Academic credentials are valuable documents (for example, a certicate, degree, or diploma) that

you earned at an academic institution. If you are seeking education or employment opportunities

in Canada or the U.S., it is important to have your credentials evaluated by WES to prove the

validity and authenticity of your documents.

The documents that are sent to WES must be:

• Issued by recognized educational institutions

• Issued or translated into English

• Signed and sealed by authorized oicials (see example below)

Seal or stamp

overlaps ap closure

Oicial

oicer’s

signature

SAMPLE

Back of the sealed envelope:

A seal, stamp, or signature must be across the back ap as shown below.

Note: WES cannot accept any documents if the envelope was opened or if a seal,

stamp, or signature is missing.

Front of the sealed envelope:

The WES reference number must be included above WES’ address as shown below.

An oicial envelope

Name of Academic Institution

Address

WES Reference No.

World Education Services

Documentation Center

P.O. Box 5087

Bowling Green Station

New York, NY 10274-5087

U.S.A.

WES reference

number above

address

SAMPLE

How to Send Academic Documents

in a Sealed Envelope to WES

The WES application form and the

Required Documents sections of our

website provide instructions on the

documents required for each country.

Please read and follow those

instructions carefully.

Instructions on which documents to

submit to WES and how to submit them

will vary depending on the country you

studied in. It is important to carefully

follow the provided instructions to make

sure your evaluation is completed on

time. WES also recommends requesting

credentials from the academic

institution(s) you attended and

submitting your application as early as

possible to avoid any delay.

If requested, you may need to send the

original documents to WES and WES

may submit documents for verication

to the institution(s) that issued them.

If the institution(s) charges a fee in

exchange for information, it is your

responsibility as the applicant to pay the

institution directly.

If you have additional questions about WES credential evaluations, please visit

our Help Center.

CONCLUSION

A credential evaluation is a key step in helping academic institutions, employers, professional

licensing bodies, and immigration oicials understand your educational background. As a skilled

immigrant or international student, if you are clear about what is required and deliberate about

your intentions when obtaining a credential evaluation, your chances of receiving recognition will

be greatly increased. WES is dedicated to helping you achieve your educational and professional

goals in the United States and Canada by providing trusted education evaluations and advocating

for a future where there are no boundaries to global mobility.

Ready to begin the credential evaluation process? Apply now.

Our Expertise. Your Success.

WES Advisor is an initiative of World Education

Services, a non-prot with more than 45 years of

experience in international education.

We provide advice and resources for international

students and skilled immigrants to help them make

informed decisions about education, employment,

immigration, and integration opportunities in the

U.S. and Canada.

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