What Is a Credential Evaluation?
A credential evaluation report compares your academic qualifications to standards in the U.S. or Canada. It helps higher education institutions, employers, licensing boards, and immigration authorities better understand the value of the education you received.
Credential Evaluations for Students & Immigrants
A WES credential evaluation can support your application requirements for university or college admissions, help you obtain professional licensing and employment opportunities, and be upgraded over time as you earn additional academic credentials.
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Do you know what kind of credential evaluation you need? Learn about your options and preview the potential cost of your evaluation report?
Learn about your options and preview the potential cost of your evaluation report.
What documents do you need to send WES? Enter information about your educational background to preview your list of required documents.
This free tool lets you see what your credentials might be equivalent to in Canada. Discover the value of applying for an official report from WES.
A WES Digital Badge is a web-enabled version of your credential evaluation, which means that it can be verified online–instantly. This gives you maximum visibility and recognition.
Our live and on-demand events are designed to assist international students and skilled immigrants in their quest to pursue an education or career in the Canada.
World Education Services (WES) is designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to provide Educational Credential Assessments (ECAs).
WES applies a structured, evidence-based methodology to determine the Canadian equivalency of international educational credentials. As a member of the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada (ACESC), WES aligns its assessment practices with recognized Canadian and international standards, including principles reflected in the Lisbon Recognition Convention (LRC) and the Pan-Canadian Quality Assurance Framework for the Assessment of International Academic Credentials (QAF). These frameworks support assessment outcomes that are transparent, consistent, fair, and accountable.
Assessment decisions are made through an established organizational methodology rather than the opinion of an individual evaluator. WES considers multiple factors, including the recognition status of the awarding institution and program, admission requirements, the credential’s level and placement within the home education system and applicable qualification frameworks, program length and structure, curriculum scope and academic rigor, progression opportunities, and the purpose and value of the credential in the country of education.
This methodology is supported by extensive credential research, documented policies, established assessment precedents, and proprietary international education reference data developed and maintained by WES over several decades. WES’ knowledge infrastructure includes information on educational institutions, recognition and accreditation status, credentials and qualifications, grading and credit scales, majors, education system structures, and historical and current assessment precedents.
Together, these tools and processes enable WES to evaluate credentials within their appropriate academic and national context while applying criteria consistently across use cases such as employment, further education, and entry into regulated professions. WES also maintains internal review and approval processes involving subject matter experts, educational standards leadership, and operational stakeholders to ensure methodology updates, policy changes, and education system reviews remain current, reliable, and aligned with evolving best practices.
Do you know what kind of credential evaluation you need? Learn about your options and preview the potential cost of your evaluation report?
Learn about your options and preview the potential cost of your evaluation report.
What documents do you need to send WES? Enter information about your educational background to preview your list of required documents.
This free tool lets you see what your credentials might be equivalent to in the U.S. Discover the value of applying for an official report from WES.
A WES Digital Badge is a web-enabled version of your credential evaluation, which means that it can be verified online–instantly. This gives you maximum visibility and recognition.
See how your grades compare on the 4.0 grading scale used in the United States. Conversions are based on the most common grading scales for your country of education.
WES Career Pathways e-guides provide guidance and resources to internationally trained immigrants and refugees seeking to use their education and credentials in the U.S.
Our live and on-demand events are designed to assist international students and skilled immigrants in their quest to pursue an education or career in the U.S.
WES applies a structured, evidence-based methodology to determine the U.S. equivalency of international educational credentials. As a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), WES aligns its assessment practices with recognized U.S. and international standards, including principles reflected in NACES’ Statement of Professional Standards. These principles support assessment outcomes that are transparent, consistent, fair, and accountable.
Assessment decisions are made through an established organizational methodology rather than the opinion of an individual evaluator. WES considers multiple factors, including the recognition status of the awarding institution and program, admission requirements, the credential’s level and placement within the home education system and applicable qualification frameworks, program length and structure, curriculum scope and academic rigor, progression opportunities, and the purpose and value of the credential in the country of education.
This methodology is supported by extensive credential research, documented policies, established assessment precedents, and proprietary international education reference data developed and maintained by WES over several decades. WES’ knowledge infrastructure includes information on educational institutions, recognition and accreditation status, credentials and qualifications, grading and credit scales, majors, education system structures, and historical and current assessment precedents.
Together, these tools and processes enable WES to evaluate credentials within their appropriate academic and national context while applying criteria consistently across use cases such as employment, further education, and entry into regulated professions. WES also maintains internal review and approval processes involving subject matter experts, educational standards leadership, and operational stakeholders to ensure methodology updates, policy changes, and education system reviews remain current, reliable, and aligned with evolving best practices.
For Refugees and Displaced Persons
WES strives to open pathways for individuals with international credentials. Individuals who have been displaced as a result of adverse circumstances in their country and have limited proof of academic achievements may be eligible for an alternative credential assessment through the WES Gateway Program.
Why Choose WES?
Over the past 50 years, we have led and shaped the credential evaluation field. As a founding member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) and a member of the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada (ACESC), we uphold ethical and fair standards in the educational credential assessment of international qualifications.
We have a diverse staff and a custom-built database containing over
50
years of research.
We have knowledge of institutions in
203
Countries and territories
4M+
Trusted Evaluations
provided to international students and professionals
We evaluate knowledge of institutions from
60,000+
Institutions