Document Report vs Course Report: Which Report Do You Need?

When a school, employer, immigration attorney, licensing board, or military office says you need a credential evaluation, making the choice between a Document Report and a Course Report can be confusing. The difference matters: one report gives a concise U.S. equivalency for your completed credential, while the other provides deeper analysis of grades, credits, and courses.

Generally, a Document Report is sufficient when the recipient only needs to know what your completed credential equates to in the United States. Meanwhile, a Course Report is typically the better choice when the recipient needs more details.

Need help choosing now? Compare IEE evaluation services or start your evaluation request in the MyIEE portal.

What is the difference?

A Document Report identifies a few key points: the institutions you attended, the credentials you earned, and the U.S. equivalency of each credential. It is usually concise, sometimes being only half a page. A Course Report includes that same information, but it then adds individual course titles, grade and credit conversion for each course, and GPA-related information.

What is a Document Report?

A Document Report is a credential evaluation that summarizes your educational experience and recommends a U.S. equivalency. It is designed to answer basic questions. What credential was conferred? What is the U.S. equivalency? Where was the education earned, and was the awarding institution accredited?

IEE’s Document Report is a practical option when the receiving organization wishes to understand what your completed credential represents without information it considers extraneous.

What are some instances where a Document Report is sufficient?

• When an employer needs an equivalency, likely to verify that your education meets their minimum standards before a job offer.
• When an immigration filing needs evidence of a completed credential and commensurate U.S. equivalency to support a visa application.
• When a military office requests a credential evaluation, likely to confirm that minimum educational standards are passed.
• When a school or program simply needs proof that a certain level of education has been completed.
• When you wish to have a credential evaluation at a more affordable cost.

A Document Report is the lower-cost option due to its briefer, narrower scope. IEE lists Document Report pricing at $95 for education, employment, immigration, and military purposes on its pricing page.

What is a Course Report?

A Course Report is a detailed transcript evaluation. It includes the same information found in a Document Report, but it goes further. After showing the credential information and equivalency, the Course Report lists the coursework taken (broken down often by year or semester), GPA calculation, a grading scale, individual U.S. grades per course and converted credits. IEE also offers a Divisional Course Report for recipients who wish to know what courses are lower or upper division.

What are examples of when a Course Report would be necessary?

• A U.S. college or university’s admissions office specifically requests a course-by-course evaluation to support an international student’s application.
• You want coursework presented and reviewed for potential transfer credit or exemptions in your future program. This would prevent you from having to retake introductory-level coursework.
• A graduate program needs to see that you’ve taken courses that match their prerequisite requirements.
• A professional licensing board needs subject, credit, or grade details to guarantee subject-matter expertise or competency.
• The recipient specifically says it needs a GPA, credits and/or grades.

IEE lists Course Report pricing at $195 for education, employment, immigration, and military categories, with a Divisional Course Report listed at $225 for education. Always check the receiving institution’s instructions before ordering, as some programs require a specific report type.

How to decide which report you need

The best report is the one required by the organization that will receive it. Before ordering, review the instructions from your school, employer, attorney, licensing board, or government office. If the instructions use phrases like “course-by-course,” “GPA calculation,” “credits,” “grades,” “transfer credit,” or “detailed transcript evaluation,” a Course Report is recommended. If the instructions only ask for degree equivalency, a Document Report may be enough.

1. Read the recipient’s requirement. Look for exact language, not just about about report type, but also agency type (such as a NACES member organization), delivery method, and timing.
2. Identify your purpose for credential evaluation. Reports for education usually need more details in the evaluation than reports for the purpose of employment or immigration.
3. Check whether GPA, credits, or grades are needed. If yes, choose a general Course Report or a specialized Course Report (like divisional or licensure report).
4. Confirm document requirements by country. You can reference IEE’s site for documentation required before submitting or arranging for documents to be sent from your institution.
5. Ask our 24/7 customer support if requirements are unclear. A quick question can prevent ordering the wrong report and delaying the pursuit of your goals.

Still unsure? Feel free to try IEE’s documentation requirements tool and contact support before you order. Confirming first can prevent delays, duplicate fees, and rejected reports.

Which report is best for international students?

International students applying to U.S. colleges and universities often need a Course Report. Admissions offices may wish to learn your grades, credits, and GPA in U.S. terms. This can assist them with selections, student placement, and granting of transfer credit or exemptions. Whether you are a soon-to-be graduate getting ready for graduate school, a transfer student, or an applicant with lots of prerequisite coursework under your plate, it is advised to pay close attention to your institution’s credential evaluation requirements.

For graduate school, a standard Course Report may be accepted in some cases, while a Divisional Course Report may be more useful in order to indicate which courses are at a higher level of scholarship. IEE’s site explains evaluation options for higher education and admissions, including evaluation product selection, country-specific information, document submission, and recipient requirements.

A Document Report may still be appropriate if the school only needs proof of degree completion or simply a U.S. equivalency. The deciding factor is often the recipient institution; IEE works closely with higher education partners across the United States to satisfy their credential evaluation needs, which may include issuing a specific type of report.

Which report is best for employment, immigration, or military use?

A Document Report is often sufficient for the purpose of employment, immigration and military. Typically for these purposes, the recipient may only need to understand if your foreign credential is equivalent to a U.S. credential at a certain level. This is why Document Reports are common for job applications, immigration cases, and military recruits.

However, some situations may still require more detail, from a position in a company with strict subject-matter and education requirements, to an immigration attorney using a detailed credential evaluation as part of a strategy in a visa petition. In some cases, an agency or firm may request a Course Report or even an expert opinion letter. IEE provides separate information for employment credential evaluations and immigration credential evaluations to help applicants align evaluations with goals.

When in doubt, it is fine to share any instructions you may have received from your recipient or advisor with our support team before placing an order. Choosing the simplest report is only helpful if it’s acceptable to the recipient.

Which report is best for professional licensing?

Professional licensing requires extra care. Many boards need a detailed review of education, credits, courses, clinical experience, or subject areas. A basic Document Report may not provide enough information for a licensure board as it considers granting an applicant educated abroad a license; often, licensing boards will explicitly require Course Reports.

IEE’s evaluation chart includes licensure-focused options such as General Licensure Report, Teaching Licensure Report, Accounting Licensure Report, Nursing Education Report, and Board of Nursing Licensure Report. Nursing applicants should review IEE’s nursing evaluation information and the requirements for the specific state board. IEE is approved to provide nursing evaluations in several states, and requirements may vary by board.

If a licensing board names a specific report, it is recommended to honor this and order that exact report. If it only asks for a credential evaluation but also requests courses, hours, credits, or clinical experience, feel free to contact IEE support to find a report that best matches the board’s requirement.

Cost and turnaround comparison

Naturally, cost is an important factor, but it should not be the only factor. Ordering a lower-cost report can ultimately cost more in the long run. A recipient may reject your application on the basis of submitting the wrong type of credential evaluation. You may need to order a second report or revision, which will cost both money and time, and could make you miss your application deadline.

IEE’s site indicates a 3-day standard turnaround for many evaluation services, with rush options available for time-sensitive needs. For the most current pricing and options, review IEE’s flat-rate pricing page.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Ordering based only on price. A Document Report may cost less, but it may not satisfy a university admissions office, licensing board, or employer that needs specific information about coursework and grades.
• Ignoring the recipient’s exact wording. If the instructions say “course-by-course” or anything involving credits or grades, it is not suggested to order a basic Document Report.
• Assuming every school has the same requirement. One university may accept a Document Report while another requires a Course Report. Preferences and acceptability are left to the discretion of the receiving institution.
• Waiting until the deadline. Even with fast turnaround, you may need time to gather official documents, receive translations, or organize delivery. Credential evaluations can take time to complete, as they may require research, verification or more documents.
• Skipping country-specific requirements. Document rules can vary by country, institution, and credential type. Please read the requirements of the country you were educated in and check that the documents presented fulfill the requirements.

FAQ: Document Report vs Course Report

What is a Document Report?

A Document Report is a credential evaluation that summarizes academic credentials and recommends a U.S. equivalency. It includes the credential title, institution, dates of completion or conferral, accreditation status, and a U.S. equivalency for each credential.

What is a Course Report?

A Course Report is a detailed evaluation that includes the same information as a Document Report, plus information about coursework, including grades, credits, and a US-formatted GPA. It is commonly used for education and licensure purposes.

Do I need a Course Report for college admissions?

Many U.S. colleges and universities ask international applicants for a Course Report; this is actually designed to help, as it can lead to transfer credit, prerequisite exemption, or graduate admissions. Always follow the recipient institution’s instructions so that way they receive the right type of report.

Is a Document Report enough for immigration?

A Document Report is often enough for immigration when the main reason to receive a credential evaluation is to show a U.S. equivalency. Some cases may require additional details or even an expert opinion, so applicants should follow attorney or agency instructions.

How much does IEE charge for these reports?

IEE lists Document Reports at $95 for education, employment, immigration, and military purposes. Course Reports are $195 for those categories and Divisional Course Reports are $225 for education. Prices can change, so check the current pricing page before ordering, so you know what you’re paying.

How long does an IEE evaluation take?

IEE proudly presents a 3-day standard turnaround for many evaluation services and even offers rush options for time-sensitive applicants. The total timeline can also depend on whether your documents are complete and meet the required submission rules.

What if my school or employer does not say which report it wants?

Ask the recipient whether it needs simply a degree equivalency or details that come from coursework (like credits, grades and GPA). You can also contact IEE support for help in matching your requirements to the right report.

Final recommendation

Overall, if the recipient only needs proof of your completed credential and U.S. equivalency, a Document Report is usually enough to work with. If the recipient needs grades, credits or a GPA, choose a Course Report.

The safest path is to follow the receiving organization’s exact instructions, confirm country-specific document requirements, and ask IEE support for a consult before ordering.

Review IEE’s evaluation service chart or start your evaluation request today.