In our modern WORLD of globalization, educational achievement is not the only prerequisite to employment, professional job experience is also an important factor influencing job offers, immigration and licensing decisions. If you have gained skills through many years of performing jobs instead of having obtained a formal degree, obtaining a Work Experience Evaluation will assist you in converting your WORK EXPERIENCE into recognized academic equivalency in the United States.
What is Work Experience Evaluation?
The evaluation of work experience is a means for evaluating the value & quality of your work history by comparing it against educational & occupational standards from another country. Through work experience evaluations, you will be able to assess the skills you have gained through working & also gain an idea of the level of responsibility you have in your work experiences. The evaluation of work experience is often used for immigration, higher education, or licensure to prove that your work experiences meet qualifications to practice or study in the field or area you are seeking.
What is Work Experience Evaluation?
The evaluation of work experience is a means for evaluating the value & quality of your work history by comparing it against educational & occupational standards from another country. Through work experience evaluations, you will be able to assess the skills you have gained through working & also gain an idea of the level of responsibility you have in your work experiences. The evaluation of work experience is often used for immigration, higher education, or licensure to prove that your work experiences meet qualifications to practice or study in the field or area you are seeking.
Why is Work Experience Evaluation Important?
A work experience evaluation is a process of looking into your professional history for evidence of the value & relevancy of the work experience that you have obtained. The evaluation includes reviewing the job titles, job duties, job skills & how long you worked in your jobs.
Once you have the evaluations completed, the employer, university or immigration authority will have an opportunity to see how your experience compares to their standards. It will also provide a record of evidence that supports your practical skills & knowledge to the level of certain qualifications or needed requirements.
Where is Work Experience Evaluation Used?
1. Immigration Reasons
Work Experience Assessment is frequently used in employment-based visa types, such as:
- H-1B visa
- EB-2 visa
- EB-3 visa
As an example:
When a certain job requires a Bachelor’s Degree in the US but the individual being sponsored does not have an actual degree, the USCIS may consider a combination of educational & experiential equivalence.
2. Employment
When hiring foreign-trained professionals, some employers in the USA need a degree equivalency evaluation.
3. Professional Licenses
Some licensing boards have the potential to accept equivalency based on experience for professionals in technical-related occupations.
The 3-for-1 Rule of Work Experience Evaluation!
USCIS may use a “3-to-1 Rule” in definite immigration cases, including cases based on an H-1B visa.
3 Years of Specialized Work Experience is Equivalent to 1 Year of US College Level Education.
Example:
A US Bachelor’s Degree, For Example, is 4 Years in Length.
If you do not have a degree, you may have to show 12 years of relevant progressive experience.
However, there are 4 important factors that will affect the decision to approve your Case:
- The nature of your work.
- The level of responsibilities you had in your previous positions.
- The relevance of your experience to the Position you are applying for.
- The quality of your documentation.
Not all cases qualify for this rule. In order to qualify, your experience must be related specifically to the type of position you are applying for.
Who Can Issue a Work Experience Evaluation?
The evaluation of a work experience can be written by the following people:
- Professors who teach college-level classes & grant academic credit.
- Individuals who are considered experts in their field of study.
- Established & recognized agencies that provide credential evaluations.
For purposes of immigration, US Immigration & Citizenship Services (USCIS) requires:
- An expert opinion letter with an explanation about how the work experience compares to academic learning.
- An academic basis for the equivalency & not just an opinion.
Types of Work Experience Evaluations!
1. Experience Assessment Only
For candidates who possess only work history without a degree.
2. Work Experience Assessment
For candidates who have completed some college or degree but do not have enough work experience to support their education.
3. Technical Study Letter
A letter written by a Subject Matter Expert analyzing how the work experience aligns with degree-level qualifications.
Documents Required for Work Experience Evaluation!
Excellent job documentation is important. Some documents typically required are:
- A detailed RESUME (CV)
- Experience letters from your previous employers
- Your offers of employment
- Your promotion letters
- Your pay stubs (occasionally needed)
- Job Description
- Your Organizational Charts
- Academic Transcripts (if any available)
Each Letter of Experience must have:
- An Exact Job Title
- Employment Dates
- A detailed description of your job duties
- Signature of the supervisor issuing the letter
- Company Letterhead
If any experience letter is incomplete, unorganized, vague, etc., your APPLICATION may be rejected.
What Makes Work Experience “Progressive”?
USCIS frequently reviews work experience for “progressive” experience.
Progressive is defined to mean:
- More levels of responsibility – e.g, advancement from Entry Level to Senior Level
- Higher level of technical or specialized assignments
- Management or Leadership Responsibilities
- Increased Complexity of Problem Size
- More Independent Decision-Making
If your job function did not have any changes in 10 years that would not count toward being progressive.
Step-by-Step Work Experience Evaluation Process!
The Work Experience Evaluation Process is conducted in five logical steps:
Step 1 Profile Review – The evaluator will review the applicant’s resume & work history.
Step 2 Document Submission – The applicant will submit employment verification documentation.
Step 3 Academic Analysis – The evaluator will evaluate the applicant’s job description against U.S. college-level coursework.
Step 4 Equivalency Determination – The evaluator will determine if the applicant’s experience is equal to – US bachelor’s degree , US master’s degree (rarely for experience only cases).
Step 5 Final Evaluation Report – The applicant will receive a signed evaluation letter.
Key Factors Evaluators Consider
Evaluators look at:
- Complexity of Work
- Industry Standards
- Length of Employment
- Independence
- Management Responsibilities
- Job Relevance to Specialty Occupation
- Specialized Experience Required, Not Generalized.
Examples of Specialized and Generalized Experience – Experience as a Software Developer would generally meet your requirements, whereas as a general Administration Assistant would not typically be considered Specialized.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Work Experience Evaluation!
- Using generic letters of experience
- Copy-pasting job duties from online postings
- Lack of supervisor’s signature at the bottom
- Including irrelevant experience in the letter
- Exaggerating responsibility and inflating your duties
- Choosing an evaluator who does not meet the criteria to perform an evaluation
All of these errors may result in USCIS issuing a Request For Evidence or denying the case altogether.
Can Work Experience Replace a Degree Completely?
From time to time, yes, but it might not always be possible.
It varies based on:
- Type of Visa
- Strength of your Case
- Qualifications needed for the job
- Quality of Evaluation
If you are applying for an H-1B visa, work experience can qualify to substitute for a Bachelor’s Degree if it is properly documented.
In some EB classes, formal Degree requirements may be tighter than other classes of visas.
Benefits of Work Experience Evaluation!
- Qualifies for H-1B Visa if you do not have a formal degree
- Supports an immigration petition
- Shows professional competency
- Converts your skilled knowledge into an academic equivalent
- Increases your employment options
Work Experience Evaluation vs Credential Evaluation!
| Work Experience Evaluation | Credential Evaluation |
|---|---|
| Based on professional experience | Based on academic degrees |
| Used when degree is missing | Used to verify foreign education |
| Requires detailed job proof | Requires transcripts & diplomas |
| Often used for H-1B | Used for immigration & admissions |
When You Should Consider Work Experience Evaluation?
You will want a work experience evaluation if:
You do not have a bachelor’s, you have an unrelated degree to your current job, you have 10+ years of expertise in a narrow niche area or you are seeking an H1B or have received an RFE related to qualifications.
Let’s Break Down the Final Message!!
Work experience evaluations are a valuable resource for experienced individuals who do not have formal academic credentials yet have broad industry knowledge & experience.
When conducted correctly by individuals with appropriate qualifications & documented with sufficient supporting documents, it has the potential to provide a bridge between experience & academic equivalency.
It is extremely important that assessment is done “strategically” & “professionally,” especially in terms of US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) immigration applications.
When you are considering using work experience in an immigration or employment context, having appropriate documentation & guidance from experts is IMPORTANT.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
USCIS will review your individual case & will independently review it therefore, an evaluation is just an additional piece of evidence along with your USCIS application but it is no guarantee that it will be approved.
Yes, work experience evaluations will apply to applicants who do not have a US bachelor’s degree provided they can show they have equivalent specialized experience for their education level.
The ability to combine foreign education with work experience for degree equivalency requirement exists especially where you can submit a combination of incomplete education & work experience to meet degree equivalency requirement for immigration petition.
Without a doubt! The work experience must directly relate to the Specialty Occupation that is listed in the petition.
Usually, unpaid internships do not count as experience. However, if you have had a paid internship that was professional level & shown you had specialized skills, then this could be considered as work experience.
