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Frequently Asked Questions
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General Evaluation Questions
| What is a Credential or Transcript Evaluation? |
| • | 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. |
| • | 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 in 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). |
| • | 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. |
| Evaluation Types, Cost and Timing |
| • | 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. |
| • | 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
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| • | 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?
The standard processing time is seven (7) business days after receipt, review and approval of all documents and payment in full. 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. |
| • | 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. |
| • | What is the status of my evaluation?
WES provides an easy-to-use online tracking system for all applicants. While WES will send you email progress reports with your reference number, the best way to monitor the status of your evaluation is through our website with your email address(user name) and password. We recommend you check your status, while your file is in progress at least once a day. Our Customer Service staff sees the same information, so please do not call us to double-check the information presented online. |
| Academic Documents or Transcripts and Degrees |
| • | What documents do I need to send for evaluation?
Before submitting academic documents to WES, carefully review and follow the detailed document requirements for your country of education. WES' rigorous document verification process ensures that your credentials will be accepted by academic institutions, employers and government agencies in the U.S. |
| • | 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 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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Does WES recognize a three-year bachelor's degree from India?
WES recognizes selected three-year Bachelor's degrees from India as equivalent to a U.S. Bachelor's degree. Click here for more information. |
| • | Can you find my documents?
The easiest way for us to find your documents is through identifying your WES reference number on your documents. If you complete your WES application, you will get a reference number to put on your documents and you will get an email message notifying you when we receive your document. You will also be able to see that we have received it by entering into your account. If you have sent your documents before you completed the application process, it will be much more challenging to find your documents, even if you have it sent by express mail or courier because we need to know how to contact you. So we urge you to get a reference number before you have your documents sent to us and make sure that your educational institution indicates your WES reference number on any document they send to WES. Once we identify you, we can then contact you and update your file if you have applied. |
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WES ICAP (Transcript and Evaluation) General Questions
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What is WES ICAP?
WES ICAP (International Credential Advantage Package) is a service that allows applicants to store their verified academic transcripts with WES
and have them delivered to academic institutions together with their credential evaluation reports. Once stored with WES, transcripts can be delivered to any academic institution at any time, now or in the future. Transcripts are sent to academic institutions only.
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| • | What is the advantage of WES ICAP?
WES ICAP allows individuals educated abroad to have their credentials evaluated by WES and to have their transcripts stored at WES ready to be delivered to any academic institution at any time. Since you have to submit official academic transcripts to WES,
you can save time and money by using those same transcripts when you apply to different institutions. With WES ICAP you have the advantage of having your verified transcripts stored at WES ready to be delivered quickly and efficiently to any institution at any time. |
| • | What is the difference between the WES ICAP service and the WES Basic evaluation?
When you order the WES ICAP, academic institutions receive a package that contains your evaluation report together with copies of the academic transcripts that are stored at WES. The WES Basic service consists of the evaluation report only and does not include transcripts. |
| • | How long does WES store academic transcripts?
Transcripts are stored indefinitely. |
| • | Why doesn’t WES release my transcripts to me?
Official and verified academic records are usually transmitted from institution to institution only. In keeping with that practice, WES releases verified transcripts only to recognized academic institutions, but not to individual applicants. If you want to obtain transcripts for your own files, you must contact the institution that you attended and request a copy from them. |
| • | Can I obtain a copy of the transcript that I have stored at WES?
No, WES does not release transcripts in any form to individual applicants. If you need a copy, please contact the institution that you attended. If you want to have your transcript sent to an academic institution, please visit our website and place an order. |
| • | What if the purpose of the evaluation is not to continue my education, should I still order WES ICAP?
We would advise you to order the WES ICAP because it means that your transcripts will be stored at WES. If you want to continue your education in the future, your evaluation and transcripts will be ready and waiting to be sent to any academic institution. |
| • | What will I receive as part of the WES ICAP?
You will receive your evaluation report but not copies of your transcripts because WES releases transcripts only to academic institutions. |
| • | If I don’t order a WES ICAP when I first apply for an evaluation, can I do it later?
Yes, you can always upgrade to the WES ICAP if your transcripts were received by WES after January 1, 2007. If your evaluation was completed, the fee to retrieve your transcripts, upgrade to WES ICAP and have your transcripts stored is $80.00. If the evaluation has not been completed, the upgrade fee is $45.00. |
| • | I have a completed WES evaluation, can I still order WES ICAP?
If WES received your transcripts after January 1, 2007, you may order an upgrade to WES ICAP. Click here.
If WES received your transcripts before January 1, 2007, you should contact WES to check if you are eligible for the WES ICAP. |
| • | How do I know if the institution where I want to apply accepts the WES ICAP?
WES will send the ICAP package to any institution. However, if you have any questions about the type of evaluation that you should order, or whether they will accept the WES ICAP package, please contact the institution directly. |
| • | I ordered a WES ICAP, but why were my transcripts not included when I received my evaluation?
Individual applicants receive only their evaluation report. WES sends transcripts to academic institutions only. |
| • | How long does it take for WES to deliver the WES ICAP to an academic institution?
The standard processing time is seven (7) business days after receipt, review and approval of all documents and payment in full, or sooner if rush service was ordered. |
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Changes: Addresses, Names and More Reports
| • | 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. |
| • | 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 update your information. |
| • | My name has changed; what should I do?
A WES evaluation report is always issued under the name indicated on the academic record(s). If your name is different than the name that appears on your educational credential(s), you must submit proof of your name change (e.g. marriage certificate or other official document) for identity verification purposes. |
| • | What do I do if I have questions about my completed 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. |
| General Questions |
| • | I am experiencing problems paying by credit card.
WES offers several secure payment options. If you cannot pay by credit card, you may pay by personal check, money order/bank draft, or bank transfer. Please make checks payable to World Education Services. When you get to this part of the application, just select pay by check/money order. |
| • | The website doesn’t seem to be working. I cannot go to the next page.
If you are receiving an error message when you are inside the website, go back and start from the home page again. If you are having problems moving between pages within the online application, please understand that you can’t skip a step once you have begun the process. If you would like to see all the steps involved in the application, download a paper copy as a PDF. Sometimes the computer system may stall because of internet related issues. As long as you have a user name and password, you can go back and continue in the application process. |
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