Common Questions

An international credential evaluation is the process of aligning the learning experiences and benchmarks between different education systems around the world. Around the world, education systems are structured to meet the needs of the people living in the country or region. The way in which students progress through the system, the assessment of student performance, and the documents that are awarded at each level and type of education are designed to reflect experiences in that education system, and understood by education providers, the labor market, and the citizenry of that place. With an increasingly globally mobile population, individuals often need to find a way to put their educational experiences into the context of their new residence. A credential evaluation provides that opportunity by providing information about comparable educational benchmarks, grades, and what opportunities the credential can be used to access in the originating system. Because education credentials offer access to opportunities that wouldn't be available to an individual without a particular level or type of education, credential evaluations will often provide verification of the individual's experiences.

Credential evaluations can provide access to opportunities for individuals who have been educated in international settings. While not always needed, an evaluation provides important context into a person's academic background for employers, school administrators and others.

In order to perform an evaluation of international credentials, an evaluator will need access to all educational records. This includes transcripts, certificates, diplomas, and in some cases, additional information about specific coursework such as a syllabus. Academic documents are considered "original" if they have been provided by the issuing body, institution, or educational authority. Documents are considered "official" if they have been authenticated by the issuing body, institution, or educational authority and submitted directly to an evaluation agency without third-party contact. In many cases, a translation into English is also required. Occasionally, it is possible to conduct an advisory evaluation using copies of documents. There are very limited number of circumstances in which it is impossible to obtain official documentations. Some credential evaluation professionals may be able to assist individuals with these special circumstances, though it is more difficult than a standard evaluation process.