Our Evaluation Process

At Arizona International Credential Evaluators, we take our job of verifying the authenticity of an individual’s educational documents very seriously. We use a multi-step process to ensure that each document is thoroughly checked for accuracy and authenticity. Once the application, documentation, and fees are provided, Arizona International Credential Evaluators will perform a thorough and detailed evaluation of an individual’s educational documents from any non-U.S. institution and compare them to the U.S. educational system. We assess the educational documents, determine the U.S. equivalency, and provide a comprehensive report on the evaluation.

We’d like to take a moment to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the various benefits of obtaining a foreign credential evaluation from Arizona International Credential Evaluators.

What's a Foreign Credential Evaluation Used For?

1. Education Equivalency:
If you're looking to continue your education in the United States (US), a foreign credential evaluation will help you understand how your previous academic achievements align with the educational standards in the US. This evaluation can assist you in gaining admission to schools, colleges, universities, or professional training programs that require a specific level of education for enrollment.

2. Professional Licensing and Certification:
The requirements for obtaining professional licensing and certification for professions such as teaching, nursing, engineering, medicine, law, etc. varies by state. A foreign credential evaluation will provide an assessment of your qualifications, making it easier for you to apply for and attain the necessary licenses and certifications to practice your chosen profession in the US.

3. Employment Opportunities:
When seeking employment in the United State (US), employers may not be familiar with the institutions or grading systems of your home country. A credential evaluation will convert your educational achievements into terms that are easily understood by potential employers, showcasing your qualifications and enhancing your chances of securing a job that matches your skills and expertise.

4. Immigration and Visa Applications:
The United States (US) requires individuals to provide proof of their education when applying for immigration or work visas. A foreign credential evaluation serves as official documentation of your educational background, aiding the immigration process and demonstrating your eligibility to enter the country for work or study purposes.

5. Academic Credit Transfer:
If you're looking to transfer credits earned from a foreign institution to a US institution, a credential evaluation will determine how your coursework aligns with the curriculum of your target institution. This can potentially save you time and money by ensuring that you don't have to retake courses you've already completed.

6. Professional Advancement:
If you're already working in the United States (US) but wish to advance your career, a foreign credential evaluation can help you gain recognition for your international education. This recognition could lead to promotions, salary increases, and more substantial career opportunities.

7. Personal Fulfillment:
Lastly, obtaining a foreign credential evaluation can provide you with a sense of personal accomplishment and validation. It acknowledges the hard work and dedication you've put into your education, offering reassurance that your qualifications hold value even in a different cultural and educational context.

Overview of Our Application Process

The application process is simple and direct.

1. Choose the type of evaluation you require. Check with the employer, agency, or institution requiring the evaluation to ensure it meets your needs.
2. Complete the application form and obtain all required documentation including original or official diplomas, transcripts, degrees, and certificates. These documents must be provided in the original language and in English.
3. Determine if you require rush services.
4. Identify the agency or employer to whom the evaluation should be provided upon completion and provide their contact information (email, name, address, etc.).
5. Pay for the evaluation.
6. Once submitted, the evaluation team will review the documentation and contact you to advise of the documentation required.
7. Once the application is complete, the evaluator finalizes the evaluation and emails the evaluation report to you and those you have designated to receive it.
8. If you have ordered any physical copies of the evaluation and paid the related fees, the copies are mailed to the address provided on the application.
9. The evaluation is valid for 5 years following its completion.

Choosing the Type of Evaluation to Meet Your Needs

Regardless of the reason you are requesting a foreign credential evaluation, it is important to ensure that the evaluation will meet your needs. Employers, universities, and licensing agencies may have specific requirements related to which credential evaluation agencies can provide the foreign credential evaluation. We encourage you to check with the agency, institution, or employer to whom you intend to provide the evaluation in order to make sure the evaluation meets their needs. Use our prescreening tool to help identify the right application for you.
The Types of Credential Evaluations

1. Document by Document
A document-by-document evaluation assesses your diploma(s)/degree certificate(s) to determine the US equivalency. While you are required to provide your transcripts for this evaluation, individual courses or course grades are not included in the final evaluation report. This is frequently the type of evaluation required by employers and immigration attorneys.

2. Course By Course
A course-by-course evaluation assesses your diploma(s) and your transcript(s)/ marksheet(s) to determine the US equivalency. The final evaluation will list individual courses, credits, grades, and a GPA. This evaluation is usually required by high schools, the NCAA, colleges, universities, teacher certification, nursing licensure, and some other licensed professions.

3. Barbering and Cosmetology Evaluation
This evaluation reviews your certificates or diplomas, and your transcripts to determine if the education is equivalent to that required in the state of Arizona. The final evaluation includes information about the vocational education completed, ability to practice in the home country, and course clock hours, when possible.

A foreign credential evaluation is a crucial step for individuals aiming to navigate education, professional, and immigration processes in a new country.

Documentation and Translation Requirements

Submitting Required Documentation

Following submission of the application, individuals are contacted to inform them of the required documentation needed. To ensure a quick and efficient evaluation process, we encourage our customers to request official documentation immediately after receiving the list of documents required. You will need to provide supporting documents including:

  1. Official, original, or attested copies of all educational documents issued by a foreign educational institution, including diplomas, transcripts or mark sheets, and degree certificates.
  2. All documents must be provided in the original language and accompanied by English translations.

Regardless of which evaluation you choose, you will need to request that the schools, colleges, or universities you attended provide original or official documents directly to us. In most cases, the institution can send them via email to [email protected]. Some institutions may prefer to use a reputable electronic document service such as Electronic Transcript Exchange (ETX), Digitary, TrueCopy, etc. We can also accept documents through these types of services. We cannot conduct an evaluation with unofficial documentation.

We strongly encourage you to reach out to your institution immediately after you submit your foreign credential evaluation to us. Ask your institutions to send official copies of your transcripts, mark sheets, diplomas, and certificates directly to us at the email address above. Ask them to include your name and Arizona International Credential Evaluators application number in the email. Please note, they have to send them directly to us themselves. Please do not forward them to us yourself. They must come from the official source.

More information about documentation requirements can be found on the Document Requirements page.

In instances where original or official documents cannot be provided, a provisional evaluation may be provided based on the documents provided by the applicant. However, the evaluation cannot be considered official until official or original document requirements are met. Please note that many organizations requiring foreign credential evaluations will not recognize a provisional evaluation.

Submitting Translations

If the official documents are in English, no translation is needed. If the official documents are not in English, then we will require a word-for-word, line-by-line translation of all documents provided for evaluation. Your institution may be able to provide a certified, translated copy. If not, we will require translations from a reputable translator (ex., a professor at your school, an ATA-accredited translator, etc.), or you may request that we complete the translation for you for an additional fee of $100.

Note: There are some languages we do not translate. Please contact us at [email protected] if you have questions about translations.

Verifying Authenticity

We take our job of verifying the authenticity of an individual’s educational documents very seriously. We use a multi-step process to ensure that each document is thoroughly checked for accuracy and authenticity.

First, we review the documents to verify that the individual is who they claim to be. We use a variety of methods to verify the identity of the individual, including cross-checking against databases of known frauds and other verification processes.
Next, we verify the authenticity of the documents. We do this by obtaining original copies of the documents from the issuing institution and comparing them to the documents provided by the individual. We may also contact the issuing institution to confirm the accuracy of the documents.

Finally, we review the documents for any discrepancies. This includes checking for any errors in the transcripts, such as incorrect grades or courses taken, as well as any discrepancies between the documents and the individual’s claims. If there are any discrepancies, we will contact the individual and the issuing institution to resolve them.

By utilizing our multi-step process, we can ensure that the documents provided by the individual are accurate and authentic. We are committed to providing the highest quality of service and will do our best to ensure that your documents are verified and any discrepancies are addressed.

Timelines

Services and Fees

Currently, we have a 3-week turnaround time from the date we receive all required information, including official or original copies of your academic record. Rush services are available upon request for an additional fee. The processing time can vary and does not include delivery time, weekends, or holidays.

Once the evaluation is completed, you will automatically receive the completed evaluation report via email. You can print as many copies as you wish. If you desire a physical, hard copy of the report, we can send that to you in the United States via Priority or Overnight mail. Mailing options and related fees are selected within the application.

Evaluation Services 

Document Evaluation - $95

Course-by-Course Evaluation - $150

Barbering and Cosmetology Evaluation - $195

 

Mail Services* 

Priority Mail (within the US) - $35

Overnight Express (within the US) - $50

*Note: All applicants receive the final copy of the evaluation via email.

Translation Services* 

Translation Services (when available) - $100

*Note: Translations are used internally to complete the evaluation. No translation document is provided externally.

 

Rush Services*

1 Business Day Rush - $195

3 Day Business Rush - $100

*Note: Rush services are subject to availability. 

Providing a Thorough Evaluation

Our team of experts is dedicated to providing the highest level of accuracy and quality when it comes to evaluating foreign credentials. Our evaluators use a combination of factors to determine the equivalency of the foreign degree or diploma including: 

  1. Verification of credentials: We will verify the authenticity of your educational documents and check for any discrepancies.
  2. Accreditation: We evaluate the accreditation of the foreign institution, ensuring that it is recognized and accepted as equivalent to accredited institutions in the United States. 
  3. Course Content & Quality: We analyze the course content and quality of the foreign institution, examining the level of difficulty of the courses, the number of credits required to complete the program, and the academic rigor of the program. 
  4. Grading System: We assess the grading system used by the foreign institution, ensuring that it is comparable to the system used in the United States. 
  5. Degree Level: We evaluate the degree level to ensure that it is equivalent to a US degree. 
  6. Professional Licensure: We assess whether the foreign degree is accepted for professional licensure in the United States.