If you’re planning on studying abroad, you will likely need a credential evaluation.
Universities – especially in Canada and in the United States – request this because they need a formal institution to assess your previous education and turn it into terms they can understand.
One of the most prominent bodies offering credential evaluations is World Education Services (WES).
In this article, you will learn that:
- A credential evaluation translates your academic records into a format universities abroad can easily understand.
- Current immigration regulations make accurate, verified evaluations more important than ever.
- Services like WES standardise grades, credits, and degrees for use in U.S. and Canadian applications.
- Knowing when you need an evaluation and planning for its cost and processing time helps prevent delays and strengthens your application.
What is a credential evaluation?
Because different countries have distinct academic standards and grading systems, degrees earned in one region may need to undergo specialised assessment before they can be accepted as valid in another country.
A credential evaluation is the process by which an international degree is assessed and validated as a legitimate degree in another country.
For example, if you earned your Bachelor’s degree in China and you want to apply for a graduate program in the United States, you will need to hire a credential evaluation service to compare your degree to an American one and attest to its validity.
Once your foreign degree has been validated, it can be accepted by university admissions, employers, and immigration officers.
Note that depending on the purpose of your application, you may need to hire different types of credential evaluation, such as a detailed course-by-course comparison or a document-by-document analysis.
When in doubt, contact your university of choice to confirm the necessary type of evaluation.
Why is credentials evaluation necessary?
The current political issues and immigration regulations have destabilised the international education landscape. Now, students planning to study abroad face tighter visa policies, increased security checks, and rapidly changing regulations that may create obstacles to fulfilling a dream.
In this context, having your credentials professionally validated is a fundamental safeguard.
A reliable evaluation ensures that your academic history is translated fairly, consistently, and in a format that universities and government agencies immediately recognise.
This reduces the risk of misunderstandings, delays, or doubts about the legitimacy of your education – issues that can negatively affect admissions decisions, scholarship eligibility, or even visa processing.
If your previous degree has unique grading scales or you studied an accelerated programme, or if you come from a region where degree fraud is more frequent, an expert evaluation service will protect you from being unjustly flagged or disadvantaged simply because your educational system looks unfamiliar to an admissions or immigration officer.
What is the WES evaluation?
World Education Services is a non-profit organisation that provides credential evaluation services for international students who want to study in Canada, the U.S. or New Zealand.
WES offers two main types of credential assessment for international students:
Document-by-document evaluation
This form of review is best suited for job applications, immigration, and university admissions that don’t require transferred credits. It will identify the destination country’s equivalent of your degree without analysing each course in detail.
- Fees starting at $115 USD | $130 CAD
- Processing time of up to six weeks from application
- Provides a basic summary of your academic background
Couse-by-course evaluation
This type of evaluation is best suited for university admissions with transferred credits. It provides a detailed summary and education equivalents of each course registered on your transcripts.
- Fees starting at $182 USD | $237 CAD
- Processing time of up to six weeks from application
- Converts your grades to a GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Lists all courses completed at the post-secondary level
- Provides semester credits and grade equivalents for each course
When do you need a WES evaluation?
For the United States
Not all U.S. universities require WES, but many ask for course-by-course evaluations. You are likely to need an evaluation if:
- The university explicitly lists WES among its approved services.
- You are applying for a Master’s, MBA, Law, Public Health, Education, or professional programmes.
- You studied in a system with a very different grading scale.
- The program receives a high volume of international applicants and wants standardised comparisons.
For Canada
In Canada, WES evaluations are extremely common, primarily because:
- Many universities (like UBC, Toronto, and McGill) recommend or require it.
- WES is the official evaluation partner for Express Entry immigration (ECA reports).
- Canadian institutions value course breakdowns when calculating GPA cutoffs.
If you’re not sure whether you will need a credential assessment, contact your university of choice.
Note that an evaluation made for U.S. applications is not valid for Canadian applications and vice versa. Every assessment is only accepted in its selected country.
How a WES evaluation works
Once you have decided which type of assessment is best suited for you, you will need to:
- Create an account on the WES website. You will choose your destination country, your evaluation type, and the institutions where WES should send the final report.
- Provide your academic information. You will enter details of your latest accreditation (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Diploma, etc.), specifying the institution’s name, degree type, and year of completion.
- Receive your WES registration number. After providing your information and paying the necessary fees, you will receive a unique application number that must be included in your official transcripts before they can be sent to WES.
- Submit your documents. WES has strict submission rules. Your transcripts may need to be sent directly by your previous institution or via authorised digital platforms. You may check if your case allows documents to be sent via sealed envelopes or e-transcripts.
- Wait for the review process. Wait for the processing time as WES matches your documents against its credential database.
- Receive your WES evaluation report. You and your selected universities receive an official evaluation that translates your academic history into local terms.
Alternatives to WES
Although widely regarded, WES isn’t the only option for students seeking educational assessment.
The best alternatives to a WES credential evaluation are:
Service | Best For | Fees | Processing Time | Notes |
WES | US and Canada | Starting at $130 CAD | Up to 6 weeks | Widely accepted; digital delivery options; detailed GPA conversions |
ECE | US | Starting at $110 USD | 5 business days | Strong reputation; often used in Midwest institutions |
IQAS | Canada | Starting at $260 CAD | 25 business days | Government-backed; slower processing times |
ICES | Canada | Starting at $128 CAD | 4 to 7 weeks | Used mainly in Western Canada |
Plan for a successful application
Getting your credentials evaluated can feel like an extra hurdle for international students. In reality, it is an essential step that ensures your achievements are understood and recognised globally.
Understanding the WES evaluation process, costs, required documents, and potential alternatives is vital for planning more effectively and avoiding last-minute stress.
With good preparation and the right credential evaluation in hand, you’ll be one step closer to beginning your academic journey abroad.
