Getting a foreign diploma recognized in the U.S.: credential evaluation (WES, ECE, NACES)

A degree earned abroad — in Uzbekistan, Russia, or another country — is not automatically recognized in the United States. In most cases an employer, university, or professional licensing board will ask you for a "credential evaluation" report — an official assessment stating what level your degree is equivalent to in the U.S. education system (for example, a bachelor's or master's degree). This reference explains the general process strictly on the basis of official sources — the U.S. Department of Education (ED), the Department of State, the NACES association, and the 8 CFR immigration rules. It is not legal advice; fees and rules change over time.

What a credential evaluation is and why it is needed

A credential evaluation is a report prepared by a private evaluation service that compares a foreign degree, transcript, and academic record with the U.S. system and states the U.S. equivalent (for example, "equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree"). It is needed for four main purposes: employment (an employer's decision), university admission, professional licensing (nurse, engineer, teacher and so on — licensed by state boards in the U.S.), and immigration (to establish degree equivalence on certain petitions). It should not be confused with an apostille: an apostille only authenticates that a signature and seal on a document are genuine, not the academic level — equivalence is determined by the evaluating agency.

Two types of evaluation: document-by-document and course-by-course

There are two main types. A document-by-document evaluation states what U.S. level each of your degrees is equivalent to, but does not list individual courses, credits, or a grade-point average (GPA); it is usually sufficient for employment and many immigration filings. A course-by-course evaluation additionally converts each course on the transcript into U.S. credit hours and grades and calculates a GPA on the 4.0 scale; it is generally required for graduate admission, transfer of credit, and most professional licensing. For that reason you should order the report type that matches your purpose.

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NACES and AICE: the two main associations

There are two main associations of evaluation services in the U.S.: NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, founded in 1987, with about 18 member companies) and AICE (Association of International Credential Evaluators, with about 10 members). The associations themselves do not perform evaluations — their member companies do; membership is voluntary, and these associations are not government agencies. Nonetheless, universities, employers, and licensing boards often require a report specifically from a NACES or AICE member. The U.S. Department of State likewise identifies these two as the field's main associations but does not endorse any specific company.

The main evaluation services and fees

All evaluation services are private, and fees and timelines vary. The largest NACES members include WES (World Education Services), ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators), Josef Silny & Associates, and SpanTran (The Evaluation Company). Indicative fees (2026): a document-by-document report is usually around $75–$140, while a course-by-course report (with GPA) runs around $150–$240 or more; rush service is available for an extra fee. Turnaround is usually from a few business days to about four weeks after documents are received. The applicant pays the fee; exact prices and timelines are shown on each agency's website.

There is no single federal authority in the U.S.

There is no single federal agency in the U.S. that "recognizes" a foreign degree. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) does not evaluate foreign degrees and asks that such requests not be sent to it. Recognition is decentralized: the decision is made by the "competent authorities" — the educational institution (for admission/credit), the employer (for hiring), the state licensing board (for professional licensure), and immigration authorities (for a visa/status). In most cases they ask the individual to obtain an evaluation report from a private service for a fee.

What documents are needed

Agencies usually require official transcripts (academic records), the degree certificate or its supplement, and certified translations for documents not in English; often the documents must be sent directly from the institution to the evaluator. Once again: the U.S. equivalence is determined by the evaluating agency, not by an apostille. For that reason you may sometimes need both an apostille and an evaluation report for different steps.

The role in immigration (H-1B and employment petitions)

On certain employment petitions — for example the H-1B "specialty occupation" visa — USCIS may accept a credential evaluation to establish degree equivalence for a person who does not hold a U.S. degree. Under 8 CFR §214.2(h)(4)(iii)(D), equivalence to a bachelor's degree may be shown, among other ways, through the assessment of a reliable evaluation service specializing in foreign credentials. The same rule allows experience to partly substitute for education — three years of specialized experience treated as equivalent to one year of U.S. college education (the "three-for-one" rule); however, this is not automatic — the experience must be in the specialty, at a professional level, and well documented.

Precautions

Key points to be careful about: choose only an evaluator that is a NACES or AICE member — many institutions and boards reject reports from non-members. Do not obtain a report from an unrecognized, fake, or "diploma mill" service. Match the report type to your purpose (course-by-course for graduate study/licensing; a document-by-document report is often enough for employment/immigration), or you may have to pay twice. Before ordering, find out which agency and which report type the receiving institution or board requires.

Note

This text is general information and does not replace legal or educational advice. Evaluation fees, timelines, and requirements change, and every case is unique. For exact requirements it is recommended to consult the receiving university, employer, state licensing board, or an immigration attorney.