A degree earned outside the United States does not always fit neatly into a U.S. job application. Hiring managers see a credential title or institution they cannot recognize at a glance, and may struggle to make a hiring decision. A foreign credential evaluation for employment can bridge that gap.
This guide explains why employers require these reports, which type of evaluation matches which situation, the documents an applicant needs to gather, and how the process works at a NACES-member service.
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What a Foreign Credential Evaluation Actually Is
A foreign credential evaluation is a report comparing the education earned in another country to the U.S. system based on research. An evaluator at a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) reviews a candidate’s relevant academic documents, confirms that the issuing institution is legitimate and recognized in its home country, and gives an opinion on what the credential is comparable to in the U.S. system. The report typically states the U.S. degree equivalent as well as pertinent program details: the field of study, the years of study, the program length and, when requested, a calculated grade point average on the U.S. standard 4.0 scale. The evaluator is an advisory, neutral opinion in this process.
When Employers Request a Credential Evaluation
U.S. employers do not ask every international candidate for an evaluation. The request usually appears in a few of the following situations.
- The job description requires a specific earned level or field of study. Postings that list “Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent”, for example, often need a written equivalency statement before the hiring manager can confirm that the candidate is qualified. Without it, the resume could sit in a queue.
- The role is in a regulated profession. Nursing, medicine, teaching, accounting, engineering, social work, and many vocational specialties are licensed at the state level. State boards almost always require a foreign credential evaluation as part of the licensure application, and employers verify the credential before scheduling exams or sponsoring training.
- The position requires visa sponsorship. H-1B, EB-2, EB-3, TN, and O-1 petitions need an equivalency statement to prove the candidate meets the educational threshold required. Many immigration attorneys ask the applicant to obtain the report before the petition is filed so the case is ready as soon as possible.
- The employer is a federal contractor or works in a government-regulated industry. Defense, finance, and healthcare contractors often have written hiring policies that require independent verification of foreign degrees, both for compliance and for security clearance purposes.
- The credential is unfamiliar to the employer. Hiring managers may struggle to assess degrees that do not exist neatly within the U.S. system. For example, three-year bachelor’s degrees, polytechnic diplomas, and joint degrees from international partnered universities. The evaluation removes the guesswork and helps qualified candidates secure job placement.
If a hiring manager has not explicitly asked for a report, an applicant can still volunteer one. A clear equivalency statement attached to a resume removes friction and signals that the candidate has done the homework before they have to. The level of education or field of study may even help a candidate stand out.
Which Type of Evaluation Matches the Job
The right report depends on the job and how much detail the employer needs. Most U.S. employment cases require one of the following three report types.
| Report Type | Best For | What It Includes | Standard Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Document Report | General employment, basic resume support, HR file | Institution check, dates of attendance, U.S. degree equivalent, field of study | 3 business days |
| Document + GPA Report | Roles with a minimum GPA requirement, government and corporate hires | Everything in the Document Report plus a calculated U.S. GPA on a 4.0 scale | 3 business days |
| Course Report | Licensure, visa petitions, jobs that require specific coursework | Everything above plus every course translated, credit converted, and listed with a U.S. grade and GPA. | 3 business days |
For most office, technology, and management roles, as well as immigration, the Document Report is sufficient. For licensed professions and any role where the recruiter wants to see specific coursework, we recommend the Course Report. When in doubt, ask the intended recipient of your evaluation what they need in writing before placing the order. Reissuing a different report later costs additional time that the applicant may not have.
Why the Evaluator Should Be NACES-Recognized
Because there is no centralized, government agency conducting these evaluations, U.S. employers, state boards, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services rely on a short list of recognized evaluation services. The most widely accepted list is the membership directory of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). NACES sets standards for evaluator training, source verification, and report consistency, and members are reviewed against those standards.
An evaluation from a non-recognized provider can be risky. The hiring manager may accept it, but the licensing board, the state agency, or the immigration attorney often will not. The applicant risks having to pay for a second report. Choosing a NACES member at the start can help to avoid that.
International Education Evaluations has been a NACES member since 2018; our standard turnaround is three-to-five business days, and rush options are available for offers with a tight start date or specific deadline. Read more about the company on the about us page.
What an Applicant Needs to Submit
Document requirements vary by country and level of education, but every employment evaluation starts with the same core packet. Gather these items before you create an account:
- A degree certificate, diploma, or evidence of program completion. This document helps the evaluator to establish whether the program was completed and informs the equivalency result.
- Transcripts or mark sheets for all courses or exams completed. Sealed transcripts can often be requested directly from the institution and shipped to the evaluations company. Incomplete or in progress programs can be evaluated when we receive this record of study.
- An official translation if the documents are not in English. The translation must be word-for-word, not a summary. Many evaluation services, including IEE, offer translation as an add-on if you do not currently possess one.
- An identification document. A passport biographical page is the most common form. The name on the ID should match the name on the academic record. If it does not, we recommend sending proof of the name change (marriage certificate, government order).
Country-specific requirements are listed in our documentation requirements tool. It is important to review these items to ensure a faster turnaround time.
How the Process Works at IEE
The application has five steps, and most candidates finish step one through three in under thirty minutes.
- Choose the evaluation type. Select Document, Document + GPA, or Course Report based on the job or licensing requirement.
- Fill out the application. Provide your personal details, the country of study, and the institutions you attended.
- Upload your documents. Translations can be uploaded or ordered through the same checkout. For scans-based evaluations, scan or photograph each diploma and transcript and attach them in the portal at this time.
- Wait for your evaluation to be completed. Standard turnaround is three-to-five business days from the moment all required documents are accepted. Missing documents will cause a delay in this timeline, as a documentation team member will reach out for missing items. Reports are delivered electronically and can be sent directly to a named recipient such as an employer, attorney, or licensing board.
A Quick Checklist for Employers
If you are an HR partner reviewing an international resume for the first time, use this short checklist before extending an offer.
- Confirm the job description’s degree requirement is written in U.S. terms (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate). Vague phrasing creates ambiguity that hurts both sides.
- Ask the candidate for a foreign credential evaluation, not just a translated transcript. A translation does not establish equivalency and can cause further confusion. This language can help you find internationally educated, qualified candidates
- Tell the candidate which report type you need. If the role is federally regulated, ask for Course Report. Otherwise, a Document Report is usually sufficient.
- Allow at least one business week from the time the candidate has submitted all documents. We cannot begin to process an evaluation until all documents have been reviewed and accepted.
- If you sponsor visas, share the evaluation with your immigration counsel as soon as it is ready. The same report can often be reused for the petition.
A Quick Checklist for Applicants
If you are an applicant gathering documents for the first time, review this list before you start the application.
- Read the job posting thoroughly. Does the employer specify a U.S. degree, a GPA, or a particular field of study? That can determine the report type.
- Use the documentation requirements tool for your country of study and ensure that all documents are present.
- Plan for translation. If your transcripts are not in English, order the translation at the same time you order the evaluation so the file is complete.
- Order rush only if you need it. Standard three-to-five day turnaround is fast enough for most offers.
- Keep the digital copy. Save the report in your job-search folder so you can attach it to future applications without ordering a new one. Extra copies can also be ordered.
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Cost and Timing at a Glance
Pricing for employment evaluations at IEE starts at $95 for a Document Report, $130 for a Document + GPA Report, and $195 for a Course Report. Translation is priced separately. Full pricing, including expedite options, is published on the pricing page, so applicants know the total cost before they create an account.
Standard timing is three-to-five business days from the moment all documents are present and accepted. Some applications miss that window because of missing documents. The fastest way to a three-day turnaround is a clean packet on day one. For more tips, read our Guide to Credential Evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a credential evaluation for every U.S. job?
No. You only need an evaluation when an employer asks for one, when the role is in a regulated profession, or when the position requires visa sponsorship. For unregulated office jobs that do not specify a U.S. degree, a translated resume may be enough.
How long is a credential evaluation valid?
The evaluation itself does not expire because your degree does not change. Some employers and licensing boards prefer a recent report (issued within the last one to five years), so check the requirements where you are applying before reusing an older copy. Extra copies can be ordered for up to one year from report completion.
Can my employer order the evaluation for me?
Usually the applicant orders the report, because it is based on personal academic records. An employer can pay for it and IEE can deliver the final report directly to the employer, but the candidate still has to arrange for the documents to be sent.
What if my school no longer exists or my documents were lost?
This happens, especially with older degrees or schools that closed, or after political changes. Look into government archival agencies, or any official government body or institution that can reissue your documents.
Will the evaluation guarantee I get the job or the license?
No. The evaluation is independent, neutral in tone, and does not advocate for you. It states what your credential equals in the U.S. system. The hiring decision still belongs to the employer, and the licensing decision still belongs to the board. An evaluation removes a barrier; it does not replace the rest of the application.
Next Steps
If you are an applicant, gather your documents, choose the report that matches the job, and start the application. If you are a hiring manager, ask your candidate for a NACES-member evaluation and share the role’s degree requirement in writing so the report comes back the way you need it. In both cases, the work pays off when the offer letter goes out and there is no last-minute scramble over an unfamiliar diploma.
Get started with IEE → Reports begin at $95 with a 3 business day turnaround and 24/7 customer support.