If you are planning to study, work, or immigrate to the United States with a foreign degree, you will likely need a Course-by-Course Credential Evaluation.
But what exactly is it? How is it different from a general evaluation? Who needs it? How does it impact your academic or immigration future?
This whole read explains everything you need to know about Course-by-Course evaluations, including purpose, process, documents required, benefits, cost, processing time, immigration use cases, common mistakes, & how to choose the right evaluation agency.
What is a Course-by-Course Credential Evaluation?
A Course-by-Course Credential Evaluation is a detailed academic report that analyzes each subject (course) you completed in your foreign degree & converts it into its US equivalent.
Unlike a general evaluation, this report:
- Lists each course individually
- Converts grades into US GPA format
- Shows US semester credit equivalency
- Identifies course levels (upper division / lower division / graduate level)
- Determines the US degree equivalency
In simple terms, it breaks down your entire academic history into a format that US institutions & agencies understand.
Why is Course-by-Course Evaluation Important?
This type of evaluation is often necessary when:
- Applying for admission to US universities
- Transferring credits
- Applying for professional licenses
- Seeking teacher certification
- Filing employment-based immigration petitions
- Meeting USCIS educational requirements
- Applying for H-1B or EB category visas
- Joining regulated professions (engineering, nursing, accounting, etc.)
It provides a complete academic breakdown, which makes it more detailed & reliable than basic evaluations.
Course-by-Course vs Document-by-Document Evaluation!
Understanding the difference is essential.
| Document-By-Document Evaluation | Course-By-Course Evaluation |
|---|---|
| Provides overall degree equivalency | List each subject completed |
| Does not list individual courses | Converts foreign grades to US GPA |
| Does not calculate GPA | Calculates total credit hours |
| Used for general employment or immigration purposes | Shows subject-wise equivalency |
If you are applying to a UNIVERSITY or licensing board, you almost always need a Course-by-Course evaluation!!
What Information Is Included in a Course-by-Course Evaluation?
A standard report usually has:
- Applicant Information - Name, Date of Birth, Country of Education.
- Institutional Recognition - Confirmation that your university is officially recognized/accredited.
- Degree Equivalency - For example, Bachelor of Technology (India) = US Bachelor of Science, Master of Commerce = US Master’s Degree
- Course Listing - Each subject you completed, such as Mathematics, Data Structures, Financial Accounting & Organic Chemistry
- Grade Conversion - Foreign grades need to be converted into US grade levels (A, B, C, etc.).
- GPA Calculation - Your increasing Grade Point Average in US style (scale: 4.0).
- Credit Hour Conversion - Indicates how many semester credits equal one course in the United States system.
- Course Level Identification - Specifies if the course is - Lower Division, Upper Division & Graduate Level
Who Needs a Course-by-Course Evaluation?
You may need it if you are –
- An international student entering US universities
- A professional applying for a license
- A teacher who is applying for certification
- A Nurse Applying for a Job in a US based Board
- A PE License Application by an Engineer
- An immigration applicant who is an H-1B visa applicant
- An transfer student
- A CPA or Accounting applicant
Licensing boards often need course-by-course evaluation as these boards need course-level information.
When Is Course-by-Course Evaluation Required for Immigration?
While sometimes accepted document-by-document, course-by-course evaluations for USCIS are generally recommended in:
- Proving specialty occupation for H-1B visa
- Proving equivalency for EB-2 NIW
- Showing degree relevance to job role
- For example, Peterson’s
Education + Experience Equivalency If the case is one of subject relevance (for example, Computer Science degree in the case of a required qualification for a software developer), then course-level details are relevant.
Documents Required for Course-by-Course Evaluation!
Most will require:
- Degree Certificate
- Combined Mark Sheets
- Semester Transcripts
- Official Transcripts (either in a sealed envelope or via electronic verification)
- English Translations (for non-English documents)
- Copy of Passport or ID
- Some agencies will require direct document submission from the University.
Step-by-Step Process of Course-by-Course Evaluation!
The procedures for obtaining a course-by-course evaluation will take many different steps that must be completed in order.
1) Find a recognized agency for your evaluation (i.e. member of NACES or AICE, USCIS-accepted, experience with immigration cases etc.).
2) Fill in the online application with your personal information & upload the required documents.
3) Pay for your evaluation (fee amount is based on where you received your education, how many credentials you have & how quickly you would like to receive it).
4) The evaluation agency will verify the institutional approval for your school, the authenticity of your academic records & the academic structure that you completed.
5) The experts will conduct an academic analysis in the evaluation of your records, they will convert your grades to a US grade scale, credits to US, degree level to US degree equivalent and course level to a US course level.
6) Your evaluation report will then be sent to you in PDF or hard copy fo
Cost and Processing time of Course-by-Course Evaluation!
| Services | Economy | Standard | Express |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 to 7 Days | 3 to 4 Days | 1 to 3 Days | |
| Academic Equivalency Evaluation | $119 | $179 | $229 |
| Course by course evaluation | $419 | $519 | $619 |
| Academic and Experience Based Equivalency Evaluation | $449 | $499 | $549 |
How GPA Is Calculated in Course-by-Course Evaluation?
Each foreign grade is converted into US equivalent letter grades.
Example:
| Foreign Grade | US Grade | GPA |
|---|---|---|
| 75% | B | 3.0 |
| 85% | A | 4.0 |
The agency then calculates increasing GPA based on US semester credits.
This GPA is important for:
- University admissions
- Scholarship eligibility
- Professional licensing
Common Mistakes to Avoid for your Course-By-Course Evaluation!
- Incomplete copies
- Unofficial documents sent
- Unrecognized agencies used
- Not checking for university-specific requirements
- Assuming that a document-by-document review will answer
- Before you apply, confirm what type of evaluation is required.
How to Choose the Right Evaluation Agency?
When choosing an agency, look for:
- NACES or AICE Membership - the organizations which evaluate credentials.
- USCIS Acceptance - Essential for appeals.
- University Approval - Some universities will list approved agencies.
- Clear Pricing - Avoid hidden fees.
- Fast Processing - Ensure you get documents as quickly as possible.
Course-by-Course Evaluation for Indian Degrees!
Education for Indian applicants (similar to other countries) is generally treated this way:
- 3 year degree = may not count as a US BS degree
- US BS = 4 Year B.TECH degree
- US MS - M.TECH or MBA
The following information is relevant under the value system we discussed previously:
- Combined credentials plus work experience = different than when evaluating separate credentials
- Evaluating combined degrees = different than evaluating (years of combined studies)
- Filing EB-2 petitions = different from each other.
Benefits of Course-by-Course Evaluation!
- A degree evaluation provides accurate academic breakdown
- Provides assistance to your credibility when applying for immigration
- Provides a basis to assist with credit transfer evaluation
- Some licensing boards may require a course-by-course evaluation
- Used for confirming GPA is accurate
- Will help support proof of specialty occupation
- Provides a comprehensive academic representation of your education.
Conclusion!
A Course-by-Course Credential Evaluation is a vital part in assessing your international education against the US academic system, it is a detailed report of your education & credentials.
Your Course-by-Course Credential Evaluations will be needed when you are open to submitting your credential evaluations for your admission to a university, you want to use your credential evaluations to apply for a professional license, you want to file an H-1B petition or apply for an EB-2 NIW visa. It is very important that you have your qualifications translated into the US academic system.
You must select the right evaluation agency & provide complete documents for the evaluation to have a positive effect on your admission to schools & for your success with the immigration process.
Frequently Asked Questions!
It depends on what you are using the evaluations for as most universities & licensing boards will need this type of evaluation.
Not always but it is generally recommended to obtain a course-by-course evaluation if the relevance of your degree is in question.
The great majority of evaluations are not dated, however, institutions may request that you provide them with a more recent evaluation report.
Yes, it is the choice of the evaluating agency to combine multiple credentials.
You will need to have your documents translated & certified into English.