Academic Evaluation – Foreign Credential Evaluation is an important PROCESS for anyone that has completed their education from outside the USA and is interested in pursuing higher education, employment, or immigration to the USA.
If you are seeking ADMISSION to a higher educational institution, employment, professional licensure in the USA, or immigration to the USA (USCIS), an academic evaluation is an important factor for the American institution to assess the worth of your foreign educational credential!!
What Is Academic Evaluation?
An Academic Evaluation is a formal review of an international education background in order to assess equivalency in the United States.
It compares your foreign degree, diploma, or course work with the education system in the United States.
This assessment responds to such questions as:
- What is your degree comparable to in America, a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or doctorate?
- What number of United States semester credits does your coursework represent?
- Does your institution have recognition or accreditation?
- Do your educational standards qualify under US educational or immigration requirements?
Why Is Academic Evaluation Important?
Academic assessment is necessary because educational institutions differ from country to country. US universities, businesses, and government institutions cannot easily evaluate foreign degrees without the help of experts.
Main reasons why academic evaluation is required include that candidates undergo –
- In order to avoid potential misconceptions of foreign education
- In order to convert these credentials into US equivalents
- In order to satisfy official requirements for universities, employers, & USCIS
- To improve visa and immigration applications
Who Needs an Academic Evaluation?
You may need an academic evaluation if you are:
1.International Students
- Application to US colleges or universities
- Seeking undergraduate, graduate or doctoral admission
- Transfer credits from foreign institution
2. Applicants for Immigration
- Filing of H-1B, EB-2, EB-3, EB-1, O-1, L-1 petitions
- Using education to meet eligibility requirements of visa
- Combining Education and Experience for USCIS Equivalency
3. Working Professionals
- Applying for US jobs requiring a degree
- Prove educational equivalency to employers
- Seeking professional growth or promotions
4. Licensing & Certification Applicants
- Physicians, nurses, engineers, teachers, accountants
- Application to US Licensure Boards or other Professional Organizations
Types of Academic Evaluation Reports!
Different situations require different types of evaluations. Choosing the correct one is essential.
Document-by-Document Evaluation
Basic evaluation that covers the following:
1) Degree equivalency (i.e Bachelor’s = US Bachelor’s)
2) Recognition as a legal institution and date of award.
This evaluation is perfect for Immigration petitions, Employment verification, & Proof of Basic Education.
Course-by-Course Evaluation
Detailed evaluation covering:
1) Each Subject
2) Number of credits
3) Grade conversion
4) GPA.
This evaluation is suitable to speed up the process of receiving acceptance into a University, Transfer credits or applying for a professional exam.
Work Experience Evaluation
Provided in cases where the applicant’s POST-Secondary Education does not meet the US requirements or when combining Work Experience Evaluation with Post-Secondary Education. 3 years of professional experience equals 1 year of College Education, which is the basis for this evaluation.
Specialty Occupation Evaluation
Evaluates whether the Education of the applicant matches the occupation they are applying to, and whether or not the Degree is relevant to the Position offered.
Academic Evaluation for USCIS (Immigration Purposes)!
The USCIS has strict requirements when evaluating academic records for the purposes of immigration.
USCIS Requires:
- An Assessment prepared by An Expert
- A Methodology That is Clear
- A Professional Opinion Supported by Evidence
- A Clear Explanation of the Equivalency
Some Common Uses of USCIS Evaluations Include:
- Determining the Equivalency of a Degree Towards Visa Eligibility
- Verifying that a Certain Educational Requirement Has Been Met
- Providing Responses to a RFE (Request for Evidence)
- Strengthening a Petition
Academic Evaluation for H-1B Visa!
For H-1B:
- You must have the equivalent of at least a US bachelor’s degree.
- The educational credential must relate to or be considered appropriate for the position being requested.
- If you do not have a completed degree, then your work experience will be used in conjunction with the evaluation.
The evaluation will significantly affect your chances of being approved.
Academic Evaluation for EB-2 and EB-3 Green Cards!
For the EB-2 category – The qualified candidate must possess either an equivalent US Master’s degree or a Bachelor’s degree plus five years of progressive work experience.
For the EB-3 category – Candidates must have either a Bachelor’s degree or a qualified worker’s training program. The Academic Evaluation will determine if the foreign education is equivalent to these minimum requirements.
To learn about EB-2 NIW eligibility, education requirements, processing timeline, and USCIS criteria, explore our detailed EB-2 NIW visa guide.
Academic Evaluation for O-1 Visa!
For an O-1 visa, academic evaluation will:
- Support your education
- Add credibility to expert opinion letters
- Improve the overall quality of your petition.
For a full breakdown of O-1 visa qualifications, eligibility criteria, application process, and costs, check out our comprehensive O-1 visa guide.
Academic Evaluation for US Universities!
For a US university, academic evaluation will:
- Assess whether you are eligible to be admitted to the university
- Determine how much academic credit can be transferred
- Verify your overall academic record (GPA).
- Universities also need to verify that the institution is authorized.
There may be diverse requirements from university to university for:
- Type of evaluation needed
- List of approved evaluation agencies
- The manner in which to submit the evaluation (i.e, sealed or electronic).
How Academic Evaluation Is Done? (Stepwise Process)
1. Gather Documents
- Degree Certificates
- Transcripts/Mark Sheets
- Provisional Certificates
- Work Experience Letters (if applicable)
2. Verification of Institution
The evaluator will verify the following:
- Certification status of the institution
- Recognition status with educational authorities.
- Mode of Study- Full Time, Distance or Online
3. Analysis of Curriculum
The evaluator will look at the following:
- Duration of the Courses
- Type of Credits Used
- Relevance of Subjects to the Degree
- Academic Rigour
4. Determine Equivalency to the US Degree
The evaluator will compare the level of the degree awarded & convert credits to reflect an even exchange and to determine any additional experience that may be used as a substitute.
5. Prepare Report
The written evaluation report will be submitted as a formal evaluation, it will have the evaluator’s signature & will be ready for submission.
What Documents are Required for Academic Evaluation!
Requirements for Academic Evaluations may differ, however, the majority of Evaluations will require:
- Degree Certificates
- Transcripts
- Passport (some situations)
- Resume for Evaluating Experience
- Employment Letters if Applicable
How Long Does Academic Evaluation Take?
Typical Time Frames for Academic Evaluations are:
- Normal Processing Time: 5 – 7 business days
- Standard Service Time: 3 – 4 business days
- Same-Day Service Time will be limited to specific cases.
How Much Does Academic Evaluation Cost?
Your Academic evaluation depends on the package you selected!
| Services | Economy | Standard | Express |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days | 5 to 7 Days | 3 to 4 Days | 1 to 3 Days |
| Academic Equivalency Evaluation | $119 | $179 | $229 |
| Academic and Experience based equivalency evaluation | $449 | $499 | $549 |
Mistakes to Avoid in Academic Evaluations!
- Selecting the inappropriately used evaluation type
- Lack of supporting documentation
- Non-compliance (not fulfilling) with the USCIS standard for evaluating your degree.
- Degrees do not match job functions.
- Ignoring Equivalency of Your Experience.
Academic Evaluation vs Credential Evaluation
| Academic Evaluation | Credential Evaluation |
|---|---|
| Focuses on determining US education equivalency of foreign degrees | May also include licensing or employment-related evaluation |
| Commonly used for USCIS and university purposes | Often used for employment or professional licensing |
| In practise, both are treated as the same service | In practice, both are treated as the same service |
How to Choose the Right Academic Evaluation Service?
Look for:
- A process that meets USCIS regulations
- Academic evaluators with experience
- Detailed, comprehensive written evaluations
- Evaluation results done quickly
Clients requiring / requesting assistance have adequate client support
Advantages of an Accurate Academic Evaluation!
- Increased Chances of Visa Approval
- Decreased Risk of RFEs and Delays
- Stronger Applications and Petitions
- Greater Understanding for Decision-makers
- Saves Time and Money
In Conclusion, the Importance of Academic Evaluation!
An academic evaluation is more than a bureaucratic requirement, it is the first step toward obtaining US university education, employment opportunities, or potential immigration success.
An excellent academic evaluation can create opportunities, a bad academic evaluation will put two more barriers between the applicant and a future in the United States.
Ready to get your academic evaluation done the right way? Contact us at Document Evaluation today for fast, exact, & USCIS-flexible academic evaluation services you can trust.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, academic evaluation and credential evaluation are often used mutually. In that case, academic evaluation essentially relates to education equivalency. Credential evaluation may fall into education or it may relate to employment or licensing. In reality, most companies consider both to be identical.
International students, foreign professionals on work-visa petitions, Green Card applicants, applicants for US universities, or professional licensing all benefit from academic evaluation.
When it comes to immigration, a document by document assessment or work experience assessment may be necessary, depending on the visa type & educational requirements.
A document-by-document analysis is used to compare the foreign credential to the equivalent US credential & verifies the educational level, status of the institution, & date of completion. It is commonly used for cases involving USCIS and employment.
A course by course evaluation report is a comprehensive detailing process based on subject, credit, grades, and GPA requirement equivalencies. The document is normally needed in the context of university enrollment in the USA.
Yes, in most cases before USCIS, relevant experience can be substituted for education. Generally, for each three years of experience as a professional, experience can be substituted for one year of college-level education in the United States.