Understanding WES Education Services: A Comprehensive Guide

For individuals seeking to leverage their international academic credentials in the United States and Canada, World Education Services (WES) offers credential evaluation services. With 50 years of experience, WES has established itself as a standard for international academic credential evaluation.

What is WES?

Founded in 1974 by Peace Corps volunteers, WES is a non-profit social enterprise that helps people learn, work, and thrive in new places. WES operates on a self-sustaining model, reinvesting commercial revenues into mission-driven programming, advocacy, research, and grantmaking. Their database contains information on academic certificates from over 200 countries, 45,000 foreign institutions, and 20,000 academic credentials.

Why Get a Credential Evaluation?

If you're considering relocating to the United States or Canada, a credential evaluation can be beneficial for academic or professional opportunities. A WES evaluation report describes each certificate, diploma, degree, or course you have earned and states its academic equivalency in the United States or Canada.

Types of WES Evaluation Reports

WES offers different types of evaluation reports to suit various needs:

Document-by-Document (DxD): This evaluation provides a general overview of your academic credentials and is suitable for education, employment, and licensing purposes.
Course-by-Course (CxC): This evaluation offers a more detailed analysis, including course-level equivalencies, semester credit, and grade equivalents. It is also suitable for education, employment, and licensing purposes.

When applying for a standard credential evaluation (DxD or CxC), you can choose between two package types:

Basic: This package includes the credential evaluation report.
International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP): ICAP includes the evaluation report, secure storage, and delivery of your verified transcripts to recipient institutions.

The WES Evaluation Process

Application Submission: Begin by completing the online application on the WES website.
Document Submission: Send the required documents to WES. The specific documents needed vary based on the country where you obtained your credentials. If your documents are not in English, you must submit precise word-for-word English translations along with your foreign-language documents. WES does not provide translation services.
Document Review: Once your documents arrive at WES, they are reviewed and scanned into the system. Case analysts ensure that all documents are complete and submitted as specified by WES.
Verification: WES may verify your documents with the institutions that issued them. If verification is required, your file will be placed on hold until WES receives a written response from the institution.
Evaluation: Evaluation specialists with country-specific knowledge assess your credentials and determine their U.S. or Canadian equivalents.
Quality Control: Specialists review the draft of your evaluation report and make any necessary changes.
Report Delivery: Once the evaluation is complete, you'll receive a physical copy for your personal records, and a PDF version will be accessible in your WES account.

Key Considerations

Cost: The cost of a WES credential evaluation varies based on the type of report, the number of copies ordered, and the delivery options chosen. WES charges per application rather than by individual credential.
Processing Time: The standard processing time for a credential evaluation is seven business days after receipt, review, and approval of all documents and payment in full.
Modifying Your Order: After you submit your application and payment, you can log in to your WES account and modify your order until you receive a notification that your report is complete.
Additional Copies: You can order additional physical copies of your evaluation report for a fee, with the option of requesting sealed envelopes.
Electronic Delivery: Some organizations have special delivery arrangements with WES. If electronic delivery is available, you’ll be notified along with the associated cost.