Foreign Credential Evaluation in the US: WES, ECE and NACES
A practical guide to choosing the right report and evaluator, and getting your Arab university documents sent correctly the first time.
In short: No single U.S. government office "recognizes" an Arab university degree. The school, employer, state licensing board or immigration authority you are applying to decides, and most of them ask for a report from a private evaluation company. The most widely accepted companies belong to NACES, such as WES and ECE. A document-by-document report is usually enough for a job; admissions and licensing boards often want course-by-course. Ask the receiving institution which report and which company it accepts before you pay anything.
Who actually recognizes a foreign degree in the US?
The U.S. Department of Education is clear that it does not evaluate foreign degrees. Recognition sits with whoever receives your credentials: the college if you want to study, the employer if you want a job, the state licensing board if you want to practice a regulated profession, and federal immigration authorities if the degree supports a visa or status petition.
Credential evaluation companies are private, charge a fee, and are not federally regulated. The Department does not endorse any company or any association of companies. So the rule is simple: find out what the receiving institution accepts first, then order the report.
The most common and expensive mistake we see among new arrivals is ordering an evaluation "just in case," then learning that their state board only accepts a different evaluator. You pay twice and wait twice.
What is NACES, and why does everyone ask for it?
NACES, the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, is a private association whose members follow shared membership standards. Many universities, employers and boards write "evaluation from a NACES member" into their requirements. Membership is not government approval, but in practice it is the most widely accepted standard.
We checked the association's member list in September 2026. It lists 18 members, including:
- World Education Services (WES)
- Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
- Josef Silny & Associates
- International Education Research Foundation (IERF)
- The Evaluation Company (formerly SpanTran)
- Educational Perspectives, Foundation for International Services (FIS) and others
Membership changes, so confirm on the official NACES member page before ordering, and be wary of any site that claims membership but isn't listed.
Document-by-document or course-by-course?
A document-by-document (sometimes called "general") report describes each credential and states its U.S. equivalent, for example a four-year U.S. bachelor's degree. A course-by-course report goes further: it lists every course with U.S. semester credits and grade equivalents and calculates a GPA on a 4.0 scale.
| Purpose | Report usually needed | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Job applications | Document-by-document | Some employers name a specific evaluator |
| Graduate school admission | Often course-by-course | Many schools evaluate in-house or name the company |
| Transferring credits toward a US degree | Course-by-course | The school needs credits and grades |
| Professional licensing | Set by the board | Some professions require one specific evaluator |
| Immigration or work-visa filing | Whatever the attorney or employer specifies | Typically shows the US degree equivalent |
What does it cost and how long does it take?
These base prices were taken directly from each company's fee page in September 2026. They exclude delivery and extra copies and can change at any time.
| Company | Report | Base price |
|---|---|---|
| WES (employment page) | Document-by-document, Basic | $118 |
| WES | Course-by-course, Basic | $186 |
| ECE (US institutions page) | General | $110 |
| ECE | Course by Course | $199 |
| ECE | Rush service (5 business days) | +$90 |
On timing, ECE says its goal is about 5 business days once your file is complete, with possible delays during busy periods. WES says processing length varies and starts only after documents are received, verified and accepted. In practice, the longest wait is usually your home university, not the evaluator.
Check current prices on the WES fees page and the ECE fees page before you pay.
Getting documents from Egyptian, Jordanian and Iraqi universities
Most evaluators will not accept copies you send yourself, even notarized ones. Transcripts normally have to come straight from the university, either through an approved electronic channel or in a sealed envelope stamped or signed across the flap. Both WES and ECE state this on their sites.
- Start with the graduates' affairs office. Ask your faculty or the student/graduate affairs office for a detailed transcript covering every year, plus a copy of the degree certificate, and tell them it goes to a US evaluator in a sealed envelope.
- Bring the evaluator's form. WES, for example, has an academic records request form for the university. Your reference number goes on the front of the envelope only.
- Translate. Arabic documents need complete, word-for-word English translations. ECE accepts your own translation if it is literal and in the same format, or waives translations for an $85 fee. WES lets you upload translations and degree certificates through your account.
- If you cannot reach your university. WES points to its Gateway Program for people who cannot obtain their documents; Iraq and Syria are among the countries it names. Check eligibility on its site.
- Track it. Have a relative back home send the envelope by courier and keep the tracking number.
When WES or ECE is the wrong choice
Some professions accept only one route, and this is where rushing costs money:
- Pharmacists: NABP states that ECE is the only organization that can evaluate credentials on its behalf for FPGEC Certification.
- Engineers: many engineering boards refer applicants to NCEES Credentials Evaluations; the initial evaluation is $400 as of September 2026.
- Nurses: many boards of nursing use TruMerit (formerly CGFNS), but requirements differ by state.
- Physicians: they don't use general evaluators at all; ECFMG verifies the medical diploma directly with the school.
Our guide to professional licensing in the US walks through each path.
Does an evaluation make your degree "officially equivalent"?
No. An evaluation is a professional opinion from a private company, and two companies can reach different conclusions about the same degree. The receiving institution decides whether to accept it. Most evaluators have an appeal process, and the federal government plays no role in those appeals.
That's why we can't promise a particular outcome for your degree. It depends on program length, the type of institution, admission requirements and graduation year. Complete, clear documents give you the most accurate result.
Common mistakes
- Paying before asking which evaluator the school, employer or board accepts.
- Mailing copies yourself when the evaluator requires documents from the university.
- Opening the sealed envelope. If the university hands it to you, never open it.
- Loose translations that summarize or rename courses.
- Leaving out credentials: send every post-secondary credential, each institution in its own envelope.
- Paying "equivalency offices" a commission to fill out an online form you can complete yourself.
What next?
Keep digital and paper copies of your report, and order extra copies from the evaluator when needed (ECE, for example, offers copies for up to 5 years from issue). If you plan to study, read our F-1 student visa guide. If you just arrived, our first 90 days checklist puts this in order alongside getting your Social Security number, which most employers will ask for.
Frequently asked questions
Does the US Department of Education recognize foreign degrees?
No. The Department does not evaluate foreign degrees. Recognition is decided by the school, employer, licensing board or immigration authority you apply to, and most of them ask for a report from a private evaluator.
What's the difference between WES and ECE?
Both are NACES members offering document-by-document and course-by-course reports. What matters most is which one your receiving institution accepts; for example, NABP requires ECE for pharmacists.
Can I mail my own transcripts to the evaluator?
Usually not. Most evaluators require transcripts sent directly by the university in a sealed envelope or through an approved electronic channel. Some items, like translations and degree certificates, can be uploaded to your account.
Do my Arabic documents need a certified translation?
You need a complete, word-for-word English translation. ECE accepts your own translation if it is literal and in the same format, or waives translations for an $85 fee as of September 2026.
How long does a credential evaluation take?
ECE says its goal is about 5 business days once your file is complete; WES says timing varies by file. The longest wait is usually your home university sending the documents.
What if I can't get documents from my university in Iraq or Syria?
WES points to its Gateway Program for people who can't obtain their documents, and Iraq and Syria are among the countries it names. Check eligibility on its site and confirm the receiving institution accepts it.
Official sources we reviewed
- U.S. Department of Education — Recognition of Foreign Qualifications ↗
- NACES — Current Members ↗
- WES — U.S. Employment Applications: Evaluations and Fees ↗
- WES — How to Send Your Documents in a Sealed Envelope ↗
- ECE — Services and Fees for U.S. Institutions ↗
- ECE — Credential Evaluation FAQs ↗
- NABP — Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Certification ↗
- NCEES — Credentials Evaluations ↗