Credential Evaluation: Why is it necessary?

The elementary foundation stone of one’s career in Education. The amount of time and energy one invests in education is crucial to his/her future success. If these educational degrees do not get recognised justifiably by foreign universities, then all the hard work might seem a waste. Therefore, it is vital to get your degrees/diplomas evaluated by expert organisations before applying to foreign universities. Let us discuss everything about credential evaluation and why it is necessary.
Procuring a credential-evaluated degree is the first step for an international student before applying to universities abroad and also for skilled workers aspiring to work abroad/ gain employment. In short, credential evaluation helps you to achieve recognition for your academics. Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), World Education Services (WES), and Educational Perspectives (EP) are three of the famous agencies that provide this kind of service. Before we get to know about ECE, WES and EP, let’s understand the concept and requirements of a Credential Evaluation.
- What is Credential Evaluation?
- Why is Credential Evaluation Necessary?
- Types of Evaluations Offered by Credential Evaluators
- Credential Evaluation from ECE, WES and EP
- Credential Evaluation FAQs
What is Credential Evaluation?
In simple terms, credential evaluation meaning is the valuation of your degree/ diploma through expert analysis. It basically analyses your national education degree to provide an American or Canadian equivalent, i.e. it converts your academic credentials to fall in line with the academic credential system in that of the USA or Canada. It is done mainly for countries such as Canada and the USA as they do not have a national education ministry to evaluate foreign degrees. Hence, universities, employers, etc expect an evaluated degree from independent credential auditors. While some US universities evaluate degrees on their terms, most of the time, the university will ask for an evaluated degree. Even if you are called upon for a job in these countries, you need to submit an evaluated degree during the documentation process. As it is a crucial process, only an expert with an all-around knowledge of international education systems can perform a full credential evaluation.
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Why is Credential Evaluation Necessary?
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The necessity of a credential evaluation arises from the fact that the education system of each of the countries in the world is distinct from each other. Thus, accurate and precise validation of a candidate’s marks/percentage and degree can be rightly calculated only through a proper evaluation. This is where organisations like WES and EP step in. They can analyse and compare the degree given by a certain university to that of the U.S. or Canadian education system so that your hard work is duly recognized, along with prior education and experience. To throw more light, here is why credential evaluation is necessary:
- Credential evaluation recognises foreign education because education systems vary globally.
- International applicants can understand where they stand through credential evaluation based on the country they are applying to, especially in the USA and Canada.
- Credential evaluation is also essential for admission committees and immigration professionals to get student or skilled worker visas.
- Credential evaluation is also necessary because it helps institutions authenticate the actual performance of international applicants based on their grading systems.
- Finally, credential evaluation is an assessment of credentials through document submission. Thus, this way, fraud documentation submissions can be avoided.
Thus, these are the broad reasons why credential evaluation is necessary and how it aids smoother transitions from one country's education system to another.
Types of Evaluations Offered by Credential Evaluators
There are three types of evaluations offered by credential evaluators and they are as follows:
Type of Evaluation | Purpose |
Required Documents
|
---|---|---|
Course by Course Credential Evaluation | College admissions, transfer credits, advanced degrees, professional licensing |
Original or certified copies of school
transcripts showing subjects, grades, and credit hours.
|
Educational Credential Evaluation (document by document) | Employment, immigration, university admission (no transfer credit) |
Original or certified copies of diplomas, certificates, and transcripts with English translations.
|
Professional Work Experience Evaluation | Immigration (H-1B visa) |
Certified copies of academic documents, detailed
resumes,
reference letters, and English translations.
|
These are ideally the broad types of reports that credential evaluators give. They may vary in costs or offerings based on each credential evaluator.
Credential Evaluation from ECE, WES and EP
Let us discuss about the three agencies and see how they work:
Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
Formed in 1980, ECE is a non-profit organisation that has helped more than 600,000 internationally educated people, including almost 40,000 from India over the past 10 years, receive recognition for their educational achievements. The ECE Reports are valid for five years. Colleges, universities, employers, and governments trust this organisation to evaluate international education as part of their admission or hiring process.
ECE generates reports that are:
- Completed fast with an average turnaround of five business days
- Developed with the highest level of quality and integrity
- Offered at a competitive, often the lowest, cost
- Easy to order online
- Supported by excellent customer service that has earned ECE a 95% customer satisfaction rating
ECE Evaluation Cost
ECE evaluation cost based on each report is as follows:
Type of ECE Report | ECE Evaluation Cost |
---|---|
General ECE Report | USD 100 |
General ECE Report with GPA | USD 130 |
Course by Course ECE Report | USD 195 |
High School and University Level Course by Course ECE Report | USD 235 |
Subject Analysis ECE Report | USD 275 |
ECE received an A from the Better Business Bureau and the BBB Torch Award for Ethics in 2018. Besides, it was a founding member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) in 1987.
Read: How does ECE help in the evaluation of your documents?
What is WES evaluation?
WES offers credential evaluation services since its origin in 1974. The evaluation process starts with the candidate sending all the required documents to the organisation. Next, a credential evaluator is assigned to verify and authenticate the documents sent by the candidate. Once it is done, the credentials are assessed based on the following points:
- The education system of your country
- The reputation of the educational institution you attended
- The curriculum and content of your programme
- Any other requirements you had to fulfil while getting admission to the university/college
WES Evaluation Cost
The cost of WES credential evaluation per report, based on each level is as follows:
WES Evaluation Types | Fees |
---|---|
Freshmen Admissions | |
Document by Document Evaluation | USD 160 |
Course by Course Evaluation | USD 111 |
Graduate Admissions | |
Document by Document Evaluation | USD 176 |
Course by Course Evaluation | USD 225 |
Post this, the obtained data is then calculated according to the American or Canadian standard depending upon the university/ country you will be going to. This includes the grades obtained, credit hours, and courses converted to their American or Canadian equivalent points. After the first evaluation report is generated, it is sent for a review to check its accuracy and then, sent for approval to a senior credential evaluator. The whole process takes about 7-8 business days right after the verification of the candidate’s documents.
Know more about How WES converts Grades to GPA? and the WES report on How Master's Students Choose Institutions
Educational Perspectives (EP)
EP is a non-profit international education research organisation dedicated to assisting candidates in evaluating their educational degrees to be accepted internationally. They boast of highly experienced evaluators who are actively involved in international education. Being members of the National Association of Graduate Admission Professionals (NAGAP), American Association of Collegiate Registrars (AACRAO), and the European Association for International Education (EAIE), the evaluator is up-to-date with any change in the evaluation process.
Since 2003, EP itself has been a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). It is also one of the Groningen Declaration's signatories that attempts to find a common platform for individuals seeking academic and professional help for international mobility worldwide. The declaration ensures that interested parties and stakeholders unite to serve such candidates. Known for their quick response, EP usually takes five business days to complete a credential evaluation.
Yes, all the graduates receive a British degree irrespective of the campus locations. Programs follow similar patterns and examinations on all campuses. The degree awarded is even recognised by the reputed institutions and also approved by Royal Charter in UK.
The University of Hertfordshire has a 70% acceptance rate, making it easy to get into and having simple admissions requirements. Academic achievement, English language proficiency, references, and many other factors are taken into consideration while making the selection. At Hertfordshire, some programs may require four to five years of experience. To enroll in any programme at Hertfordshire University, students must meet the qualifying requirements. In addition, students with average performance can showcase their relevant experience or extracurricular activities participation to increase their selection probability.
England Newcastle University is one of the top choices among international students due to the university's world-class programs, an impressive return on investment, vibrant campus life, and more. As per the reviews posted by students on Shiksha, the university has obtained the following stars:
Parameters | Stars (Shiksha Reviews) |
---|---|
Overall | 3.7 |
Public Transportation | 4.5 |
Safety | 4.4 |
Quality of Faculty | 4.4 |
Student Life | 4.1 |
Value for Money | 3.6 |
Indian Food | 3.4 |
Permanent Immigration | 3.4 |
Post-study Jobs | 3.4 |
Part-time Work | 3.3 |
Internships | 3.0 |
After applying to Hertfordshire University UK, the applicants are going to receive an initial decision about their application within 2-3 working days. After the submission of the application and documents, the applicants are required to pay their tuition deposit. Then, complete the Sponsorship interview and the financial declaration. International students are required to pay a deposit of £5,000 before registration. The balance can be paid in line with the liability dates related to the year and entry of the semester.
Coventry University is one of the renowned universities popular for its rankings, academic structure, facilities, research opportunities, and location. The university offers over 130 UG and 100 PG programs across four faculties. Coventry University also ranked no. 1 for student-staff ratio in midlands as per 'The Complete University Guide 2025' and rated gold for student experience as per the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023).
Johnson and Wales University application fees for international students is zero. Johnson and Wales University does not charge any fees for applying to either undergraduate or to graduate programs. International students can apply throught the official application portal of Johnson and Wales University.
Yes, the TOEFL iBT is accepted by 100% of universities in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as by most major institutions in Canada and Europe. Over 13,000 universities and colleges in 160+ countries accept TOEFL scores.
While now you must be clear about why students require a Credential Evaluation, there must be a lot of questions arising in your mind regarding it. Here are a few FAQs to clear your doubts:
If you have any questions, please drop us a comment below, and we'll be happy to resolve your queries!
Credential Evaluation FAQs
Q. What are the different kinds of Evaluation Reports?
Q. How much does a Credential Evaluation cost?
Q. Is Credential Evaluation universally recognized?
Q. What to do if my university is not listed in WES?
Q. How much does NACES evaluation cost in India?
NACES Evaluation Type | NACES Evaluation Cost in USD | NACES Evaluation Cost in India in Rupees |
---|---|---|
Standard (3 day) | $165 | INR 13,669.67 |
Rush (3 day) | $215 | INR 17,811.78 |
Special (1 day) | $265 | INR 21,954.06 |
Same day | $365 | INR 30,238.61 |

Aishwarya is a professional Writer currently working as a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. She has over 5 years of experience and is skilled at creating Online Content with leveraged knowledge i... Read Full Bio
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International students whose native language is not English must meet the University of Essex English language requirements to get admission. The university accepts IELTS scores as proof of English language proficiency. Mentioned below are the IELTS scores required for UG and PG admission at the university:
English Language Test
Score
IELTS
Overall score of 5.5 to 8.0 with minimum of 5.5 to 7.5 in each section
The university also accepts the score of other English language tests such as TOEFL and PTE for admission to undergraduate and graduate programs:
English Language Test
Score
TOEFL iBT
Overall score of 72 to 114
PTE
Overall score of 59 to 84 with minimum of 59 to 80 in each section
Also read: Required IELTS Score for UK Universities