An educational credential evaluation provides documentation of the United States equivalent of foreign educational programs, including secondary and tertiary programs, diplomas, certificates and transcripts. Credential evaluations are dependent on the translation for foreign documents, and professional judgments using reference materials, comprised of current research and information provided by international educational institutions as compared to U.S. institutions.
Credential evaluations are required for: Employment, Immigration, Military Enlistment, College Admission, and Licensing.
Credential evaluations should be provided by highly qualified professional evaluators who have extensive knowledge and experience in international and domestic educational systems. Private credential evaluation services are provided without government oversight and therefore do not have regulatory guidelines for the operation and provision of services. Educational institutions frequently rely on private agencies or retain their own expertise within the institution.
Many companies offer translation and credential evaluation services and in some instances, recommendations are made by professionals working in educational systems. Prior to requesting a credential evaluation, even when a company is recommended by the receiving organization, research the company’s reliability, refund policy and credentials. Research may reveal that individuals have filed complaints against credential evaluation providers, with the Better Business Bureau, ComplaintsBoard.com, Complaints.com, RipOffReport.com and local agencies. An internet search can quickly identify any complaints an educational evaluation provider has had against them. This will save a tremendous amount of wasted time and money in the end.
Don't Be Misled! Organizations sometimes mislead consumers by suggesting that they are their own accrediting body, governing agency, or that membership in an organization identifies them as a reputable provider. This is not always accurate. You can check if the members of the organization have outstanding complaints filed against them in which clients felt their issues were unsatisfactorily resolved. Don't be misled by the name of the organization if it sounds like a university or a government agency. It is most likely neither. Don't choose the service provider simply because it identifies itself as a nonprofit organization.
Protect yourself by researching the credential evaluation company, reading company reviews and examining their refund policy. A provider’s refund policy should be reasonable, allow for refunds or corrections when customers are genuinely dissatisfied, when evaluations are unacceptable by all organizational standards, and these requests should not result in additional fees being charged. Providers should also be willing to offer follow up services that stand behind their evaluation practices and represent your credential evaluation to receiving institutions.
Most importantly if a company states that refunds or corrections will not be provided under any circumstances, even when the error is the companies fault, it might be wise to look for a provider that is more confident in the services they provide and are willing to work for the clients best interest. Examining the providers refund policy can eliminate disagreements and define the expectation for the provision of services.
Credential evaluation requires service providers to maintain a high level of reliability, accuracy and validity.
A credential evaluation requires:
Determination of document authenticity
Discernment between recognized institutions and unrecognized and unapproved degree programs (Diploma mills) Translation of document for accuracy
Originality of Documentation- Altered or tampered with documents
Institutional Admission and Acceptance guidelines- Entrance Exams
Reference sources to support research and gather required information