A credential evaluation can slow down when one document or important piece of information is missing. This can be frustrating when you are trying to meet an admissions, employment, immigration, or licensure deadline.
The documents required for credential evaluation usually include academic transcripts or examination results, proof of graduation, certificates or diplomas, grading information, if not included on the transcript, and certified English translations when records are not issued in English. Exact requirements vary.
This guide gives you a practical way to prepare for this process. Start by reviewing our general and country-specific documentation requirements to confirm the documents needed for your credentials. Preparing for your foreign credential evaluation does not need to be stressful. Gathering the correct documents at the point of or before you complete the application helps the process move quickly and smoothly.
Record of study: academic transcript, grade report, marksheets, or examination results
Your record of study is often the simplest way to show your academic journey. These records must show every course you took, your grades, and the credits you earned. You must request these files from each school you attended. For certain countries, this may look more like examination results, or be referred to as marksheets.
Especially for course reports, when possible, your transcript should also include the official grading scale of your school. This helps the evaluations team accurately calculate a GPA, if ordered.
A complete record of study typically includes:
- Complete list of subjects or classes
- Number of credits or hours for each class
- Final grades or marks received
- Dates of enrollment or attendance
- Field of study
Proof of graduation: diplomas, degree certificates, etc.
If you have already completed your studies, we highly recommend that you submit your diploma or degree certificate. This document serves as official proof of degree completion. If you are still attending your program, you do not need to submit proof of graduation. In the case of incomplete or in progress study, a transcript or grade report is sufficient evidence.
Translations
If your documents are not in English, you should provide certified word-for-word English translations that are available. These translations must be exact copies of your original records. You cannot use uncertified or machine-generated translations. If your documents have not yet been translated, IEE offers a translation service that is built into our evaluation process.
Purpose of the credential evaluation
The reason you need an evaluation can also shape which credentials you must submit. A university application might require secondary and university credential review, for example, while employment or immigration applications may only require university-level study. It is important to check with your intended recipient before ordering your evaluation for this reason.
Which documents do different evaluation types need?
The documents required for credential evaluation depend on the report type you choose. Since every pathway has different goals, your academic records must match the needs of your recipient. Selecting the wrong evaluation type can delay your application, so you must know what each report requires before you apply. Check out our evaluation services page for more information on the features of each report option.
Each report type has unique requirements. While a Document Report only needs your final diploma for a completed program, Course Reports, and Document+GPA Reports require a full transcript of your academic history in addition to degree conferral information.
Professional licensing and nursing requirements
If you want to work in a regulated field, you may need specialized evaluation reports. These reports often demand more than just academic transcripts. Many professional licensing boards have distinct rules for what they must receive. You should always check with your board to see if they require specific program details or course descriptions.
State nursing boards require detailed checks of your nursing education and clinical hours. IEE offers specialized nursing reports for seventeen states to help you get your license. For more information, check out our nursing products page, and for those applying to a state nursing board in the United states, check out our nursing applicant handbook.
What if my institution cannot send records directly?
We always recommend submitting official records, an Official Evaluation, which is an evaluation based off of directly sent academic records. Some recipients require records to come from the issuing institution. We also offer a Provisional Evaluation, which is based on scans of official documents. Some recipients allow for this option. The right choice depends on where you studied, how your institution issues records, and the report type you or your recipient need.
To have official records sent from your institution, start by contacting your institution’s registrar, examination board, ministry, or records office listed on your academic documents. Ask whether they can send records electronically or by mail.
For scans-based evaluations, such as Provisional Evaluation and evaluation purposes such as immigration and military, ensure that all uploaded documents are clear scans of official or original documents.
How documentation review affects timing
Report completion timing is not only about how fast our evaluators work. It also depends on whether each file is complete, readable, translated when needed, and sufficient under the country guidelines. IEE offers a three-to-five day standard turnaround for many reports, but that clock does not start until all documents are received, reviewed, and accepted. Missing information and documents can create serious delays. A missing grading scale, an unclear degree title, a partial transcript, or a file that cuts off the institution signatures can all lead to follow-up requests from the IEE team.
Final pre-submit checklist before you order
Before you place an order, take a few minutes to compare your files against the exact documents required for credential evaluation. This final check helps prevent avoidable delays and gives IEE a cleaner file to review.
- Choose the right evaluation type. Review IEE’s evaluation service requirements before you order. A document report, course report, licensure report, and nursing report can serve different goals and require more or less documents.
- Check your country instructions. Check the documentation requirements tool and find the country or region where you studied.
- Ensure that all documents are present for each credential. For each credential, confirm whether you need a transcript, marksheet, diploma, degree certificate, examination record, grading scale, or other proof.
- Confirm delivery rules. Check whether records can be uploaded by you, sent by your school, mailed in a sealed envelope, or verified through another approved method.
- Submit or order translations. If your documents are not in English, confirm whether certified English translations are required. Keep the translation with the original-language record..
- Confirm recipient details. If a school, employer, licensing board, or immigration attorney needs the report, check the recipient name and delivery instructions before you submit.
Are you ready to request your official credential evaluation?
If you postpone gathering your academic records, you risk missing critical deadlines for university admission, licensing, or immigration applications. This simple delay can put your plans or international journey on hold. Knowing how to initiate document collection before completing your application can help you avoid stressful last-minute rushes.
Our support team is always here to help you navigate every step of the process. Do not let document collection challenges prevent you from reaching your goals.