The evaluation of foreign academic credentials (evaluation of foreign academic credentials) in California is a professional procedure for recognizing and comparing the level of education obtained outside the United States with the American educational system.

It is required for:

• enrollment in U.S. educational institutions
• being licensed or admitted to a profession (e.g., medical professionals, teachers, engineers)
• applying for immigration, visas or work permits
• employment, especially in public or large private companies

1. Consultation Assessment of the client’s goal (study, work, immigration) and selection of the right type of evaluation.
2. Collection and preparation of documents
   • Diploma, certificate, appendix with grades
   • Certified translations (if necessary)
   • Explanation of the evaluation system (if required)
3. Selecting an Accredited Evaluation Agency
   There is no single government agency in the United States that deals with evaluation. Services are provided by private agencies recognized by organizations such as:
   • NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services)
   • AICE (Association of International Credential Evaluators)

1. General Evaluation A general comparison of educational attainment (e.g., a Bachelor’s degree is equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree in the United States). Used for employment and immigration.
2. Course-by-Course Evaluation.
   Detailed breakdown of courses and grades with credits and GPA – required for admission to institutions.
3. Document-by-Document Evaluation.
   Analyze only diplomas without subject breakdown – suitable for employment.
4. Professional Work Experience Evaluation
   A combination of education and work experience (most often for visa purposes such as H-1B).

1. Standard procedure:
   7 to 20 working days
2. Rush Processing:
   24 hours to 5 days (additional charge)

The time may increase if validation or additional documents are needed.