Get Started with Your WES Credential Evaluation

Get Started with Your WES Credential Evaluation 

If you earned a degree or diploma outside of the United States or Canada, and you are seeking professional or academic opportunities in either country, the best way to demonstrate your qualifications is with a credential evaluation.    

Credential evaluation reports from World Education Services (WES) provide an accurate and authenticated record of educational qualifications earned in other countries. WES reports help schools, employers, and licensing and immigration officials understand the educational backgrounds of those who earned their credentials abroad. 

When to start your WES application  

You can apply for a WES evaluation report at any time. Even if you have not decided where you would like to live, work, or study in the U.S. or Canada, beginning the process now could make a huge difference later. You will be in a better position to meet important deadlines and to take advantage of opportunities when they arise. Plus, WES credential evaluations never expire. That means you can receive your report now and return to your WES account whenever you need to order additional copies

How to apply for a WES credential evaluation  

Getting started is easy! Watch the video below to learn how to create an account and start an application.  

Follow these steps to apply for a WES credential evaluation:  

1. Create an account.  

First you’ll need to create a WES account. As part of this step, you will be asked to verify your email address. Be sure to choose an email address that you will have long-term access to. 

2. Start the application.  

Once you have successfully created an account, you can start the application. If you studied at more than one educational institution or graduated from multiple programs, you will have the option of adding multiple credentials or degrees. To complete this step, make sure to have the following information on hand:  

• The complete names of the educational institution(s) where you studied   
• The exact name of the credentials you earned and of your major or program of study  
• The dates you studied in each program or at each institution 

 3. Add report recipients (optional). 

While completing your application you have the option of adding the institutions that will receive your report (the “recipients”). However, you do not have to. You can always return to your WES account later and purchase additional copies of your report, to send to recipients you identify.  

You may select higher education institutions, licensing or regulatory bodies, employers, or others as your recipients. You will automatically receive a copy of the report for yourself. Note: Some institutions will have multiple offices or departments that receive evaluation reports. Make sure to confirm that you are selecting the appropriate office.

4. Select your evaluation package.  

When ordering your report, you have the choice of two packages: Basic or International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP). 

• Basic Package: Includes your credential evaluation report, detailing degree equivalency and completed coursework (for Course-by-Course reports), delivered to you and to your selected recipients. 
• ICAP: Includes everything in the Basic Package, plus secure storage of your verified academic documents. WES also sends copies of your authenticated documents along with your report to your recipients. This is especially helpful since many institutions require verified transcripts in addition to the evaluation. ICAP saves you from having to request multiple sets of documents from your former schools. We suggest choosing this package if you have not yet selected your recipients, or if you plan to pursue multiple opportunities throughout your educational and professional lifetime. 

Read this blog post to help you determine the best WES credential evaluation report and package for you.  

5. Review the list of required documents.  

Once you have selected the credential evaluation report and package that is best for you, you will be presented with a list of required documents. Review the details carefully. These documents must be official—in other words, they must be sent directly to WES by the appropriate institution. In many cases, this will be the educational institution that awarded your degree. In some countries, you may need to obtain documents from a central issuing authority, such as a government agency.  

The list of required documents that you see during the application process is based on the information you supplied in your initial application. Once we receive these required documents, we may contact you by email to request additional information that further supports your application.  

6. Finalize and submit your application.  

Once you have reviewed the required documents, you will have a final opportunity to look over the information in your application. Check your details carefully, as inaccurate information can delay the production of your credential evaluation report.   

If you need to refer to your required documents at any point in the application process, you can find this information in your WES account.  

After you have confirmed that all the information provided is correct, you will be directed to our secure payment page.   

What happens after a WES application is submitted 

Once your application is complete, you will receive a WES reference number. Keep this number in a safe place, as you will need to include it in all document requests and any future correspondence with WES. This number will allow us to ensure that your documents are matched accurately to your WES evaluation.  

After submitting your WES application, you must then work with your institution to submit your official documents to WES.   

Once we have received all of your required documents and verified their authenticity, we will evaluate them and produce a report that will be delivered to you and to any additional recipients you selected during the application process. You can log in to your WES account at any time to check your application’s progress.   

After your evaluation is complete, you can always return to your WES account to order additional copies of your report. WES evaluations do not expire, so your evaluation will always be available to you in the future.*  

Learn more about our credential evaluation process and visit the WES Credential Advice Blog for more tips, tools, and resources to support your goals. 

*Due to regulatory requirements, applicants who obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) as part of the requirement to apply to certain Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) programs may, after 10 years, have limited access to their credential evaluation reports and other documents.