IMPORTANT: if your highest degree is from a U.S. institution, a credential evaluation is
not required.
A
credential evaluation compares academic and professional degrees earned in one country to those earned in another country, such as U.S. colleges, universities, employers, licensing bodies, and government agencies use credential evaluations to assess foreign education as part of the admission or hiring process.
For immigration purposes, a credential evaluation is
required when your degree was earned from a college, university, or institution outside the U.S. The evaluation will be evidence that your degree is the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree or higher. At minimum, you must get an evaluation done for your highest degree that is related to the position offered to you, unless IFSS advises otherwise. You may choose to get all degrees evaluated, in anticipation of future personal immigration petitions or future employment/academic opportunities.
How do you get a credential evaluation?
It is your responsibility to obtain the credential evaluation,
not the University's. The
National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) can provide you with a list of accredited companies to get your degree(s) evaluated. You can also find other credential evaluation companies by searching "credential evaluation" online. USCIS does not provide a list of companies, so you can use whichever company you would like. By purchasing the credential evaluation yourself, you will own the report and can use that for future immigration cases not at the UW (for example, a personal permanent residency application) or employment opportunities outside the UW.
Which company do you choose?
IFSS cannot recommend one company over another. The list of companies below is in alphabetical order for convenience, but you do not have to use one of these companies. IFSS does, however, recommend looking at options. Some companies will accept copies, not originals, of degree certificates and can offer reports in as little as 3 days. Most companies offer quicker service for a higher cost.
What report do you choose?
Each company has different types of reports you can purchase. Most companies will indicate which reports are sufficient for immigration/USCIS purposes. If you are not sure, contact the company, not IFSS. The report should include details from the credential evaluation company about
how they determined the equivalency of the degree. Credential evaluations do not expire, and you can use them again!
What documentation do you need to provide?
Each company will have different requirements. Contact the company for more information or look on their website.
If you are a refugee, asylee, or other similarly displaced population, and you no longer have access to your educational records due to circumstances out of your control (war, natural disaster, etc.), please reach out to
IFSS. We may be able to connect you with certain companies that can still assist you.
Physicians ONLY
Foreign medical graduates who have ECFMG certification do not need an additional credential evaluation. Currently, ECFMG certification will meet this requirement until USCIS specifies otherwise. If you are a physician coming to the UW to perform research (not in a clinical patient care role), you must still obtain a credential evaluation as directed above.