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Frequently Asked Questions
Why
do I need to have my credentials evaluated?
If
you completed your education outside of the U.S., you must have your
credentials evaluated in order to have them understood and
recognized by educational institutions, employers, licensing and
certification boards in the U.S. A WES evaluation will provide you
with the U.S. academic equivalents for your credentials and allow
you to pursue further education or seek employment in the U.S.
When
should I have my credentials evaluated?
You
should have your credentials evaluated as early as possible so that
you can make the most out of the evaluation.
If you plan to continue your studies at a U.S. college or
university and have not yet decided where to apply, a WES evaluation
can help you make that decision by showing you how your educational
credentials are viewed in the U.S..
You can use that information to apply to schools that are
appropriate for your educational background.
Likewise, if you are seeking employment, the evaluation will
help you identify positions for which you have the requisite
educational background.
Does
the U.S. government evaluate credentials?
There
is no U.S. government agency that evaluates credentials. Credentials
are evaluated by universities and by private organizations such as
WES. A number of academic institutions have employees who evaluate
international credentials. Many other colleges and universities
require that international credentials be evaluated by an expert
service such as WES. WES
also evaluates credentials for employment with the government or in
the private sector.
How
widely are WES evaluations recognized?
WES
evaluations are recognized and accepted by universities, licensing
boards, government agencies and employers throughout the U.S.
WES is the largest and among the oldest of the evaluation
services the U.S. Each year, WES prepares evaluations for
approximately 50,000 individuals from all over the world. WES is a
founding member of NACES
(National Association of Credential Evaluation Services).
What
does a WES evaluation contain?
A WES evaluation
compares your credentials with their U.S. educational equivalents. The evaluation is advisory and it is designed to help
academic institutions, licensing boards and employers in the U.S.
understand foreign credentials.
WES
offers two types of evaluations:
- A
Document-by-Document
evaluation contains a description of your credentials, including
name, year awarded, name of institution attended, and major
field of study. It also provides the U.S. equivalent for each
credential. Sample
- A
Course-by-Course
evaluation
contains all of the information in a Document-by-Document
evaluation and in addition, it lists all post-secondary subjects
with their corresponding value expressed in terms of U.S.
semester credit and grade equivalents. Sample
Which
evaluation should I choose?
In
general, a Document-by-Document evaluation is sufficient for
employment or immigration. Universities,
colleges and professional licensing boards require the
Course-by-Course evaluation because it contains the detailed
information that they need. It is always a good idea to check with
the university, licensing board or employer who will receive your
evaluation if they have specific requirements.
What
is the cost of a WES evaluation?
A
Document-by-Document evaluation costs $100.00 and a WES
Course-by-Course evaluation costs $160. If you require additional
services, such as rush service, express delivery or a CPA Board
Evaluation, extra charges apply.
How
long does it take to obtain a WES evaluation?
WES
can complete your evaluation in 7 business days or less, depending
on the type of service that you request. However, if additional
research, correspondence or verification is required, the evaluation
will take longer. We recommend that you start the process as early
as possible and submit all documents as required to ensure the
timely completion of your evaluation report.
What
documents do I need to send for evaluation?
Obtaining
the appropriate credentials is extremely important in the WES
evaluation process. Detailed
instructions for your country of education are given at
http://www.wes.org/required
What
if my documents are not in English?
If
your documents are not in English, you must submit precise
word-for-word English translations together with your
foreign-language documents. WES does not provide translation
services. Translations prepared by the school or university that you
attended or by authorized translators in your home country are
acceptable. If you need
to find a translator in the U.S., you may wish to contact University
Language Services, Inc. 1-800-419-4601. Outside the U.S., call
212-766-4111. This
information is provided for your convenience only. All arrangements must
be made directly with the translation service of your choice.
How
does WES review credentials?
All
credentials are reviewed as soon as they arrive at WES. If WES
determines that a credential requires additional information or
verification, WES will contact the institution that issued it to obtain
the necessary information or to have it verified. For more details, please read
Understanding the WES Document Requirements and The
WES Evaluation Process.
How
long does WES keep files open?
Files
that are incomplete are placed on hold and kept open until all the
necessary documents, information or verification are received.
How
do I obtain additional reports of an evaluation that has already
been completed?
You
can order additional evaluation reports at any time by clicking here.
You can also call or email WES with your order.
My
address has changed; what should I do?
If
your address changes before we complete your evaluation, please go to our Applicant Status Page
to updated your information.
My
name has changed; what should I do?
If
your name has changed and the name that appears on your educational
credentials is different from your current name, you must submit an
official document (marriage certificate or other document) that
proves your legal change of name.
What
do I do if I have questions about my evaluation report?
If
you have questions about your evaluation report or disagree with its
conclusions, please write to the
Director of Evaluations. We will reply to you in writing.
I have completed additional studies and obtained new credentials since I had my WES evaluation done, and I want my new credentials added to the old evaluation. What should I do?
A new credential that was not part of the original evaluation constitutes a new application. WES requires that you submit a new application with the full fee.
How can I know whether WES has evaluated documents from my country or from the particular institution that I attended?
WES has been evaluating academic credentials since 1974 and has accumulated information on thousands of institutions and credentials from virtually all the countries in the world. It is also our responsibility to conduct research and obtain the necessary information when new credentials are submitted for evaluation. If you have a legitimate credential issued by a recognized institution, you can be certain that WES can evaluate it.
I have a university degree from my country, should I still submit my secondary school diploma?
If your secondary school diploma is available, we suggest that you submit it. If you do not have your secondary school diploma with you, we recommend that you
send us your university credentials. We will review your file and if we determine that the secondary school diploma is required to complete the evaluation, we will ask you to submit it.
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