We have a special guest: World Education Services

If you’re reading this, chances are you know exactly what it means to hold a university degree from Latin America. You remember the five years of study, the long nights, the semester fees that seemed to multiply each year. And when it’s finally time to migrate, we all ask ourselves the same question as we close the suitcase: Will this diploma even count for anything over there? I’ll be honest—part of the uncertainty comes from a lack of planning. Sometimes we just trust what others tell us: “You’ll never be able to work in your field again.” And we believe them.

The first time I heard about WES (World Education Services) was through a friend who mentioned it casually, like it was no big deal. But it was a big deal. Understanding what WES does was like cracking open a small window that led to a big door: a door of opportunity, a door of hope. It meant someone bigger than me was saying, “Wait—what you studied has value here too.”

And that matters – That moment when you realize you are not starting from scratch, but building on a foundation that does count—that’s powerful. That’s why I’m writing this blog. To talk about the doubts, the questions, and the process of getting your credentials recognized in the U.S. And guess what? I’m not doing it alone.

If WES were a person, I’d imagine them as a wise, generous mentor with a magic wand, pointing at your diploma and saying, “Yes, she studied. Yes, she deserves to use it here.”

When I started speaking with people at WES, I realized something: their platform is more human than you think. There are real people behind the plattform, working to make a very technical, sometimes frustrating process, feel smoother, more possible. They’ve even updated the system so you can store your credential evaluation and reuse it without starting over every time. That’s a game-changer, so we decided to be more real and human answering the frequent questions in the accreditation process directly with World Education Services.

Hi WES,

• Can I validate a two-year degree?
  
  Yes! WES evaluates diplomas and degrees, including high school (secondary school) certificates. You can use the WES Required Documents tool to preview what documents you will need for evaluation.
  
• What kind of translations are accepted?
  
  WES accepts translations from your academic institution, University Language Services, or any other certified translation service. All non-English-language documents must be translated and must provide precise, word-for-word English translations. We require translations in addition to original language degree certificates and transcripts.
  
• What happens if my university doesn’t have a translation department to send my transcripts — who is the best translator in that case?
  
  We recommend working with University Language Services or any other certified translation service. 
  
• Is it useful to have my diploma and transcripts with me? Can I upload them myself?
  Your official academic transcripts and documents must be sent directly to WES by the institution. They can submit documents through a pre-approved electronic channel or in a sealed envelope. However, you can upload degree certificates and translations directly through your WES account. Read more in this blog post. 
  
• When does the credential evaluation expire?
  
  WES credential evaluations do not expire! You can use your report throughout your entire education and career. WES makes it easy to order additional copies of your report as you undertake new opportunities and challenges. You can also easily upgrade your report if you want to ever add a new degree or academic credential
  
• Can I validate my degree if I don’t have legal status in the U.S.?
  
  Yes, you can begin your credential evaluation early in your planning and before you have obtained your visa. In fact, many people use their credential evaluation to support their immigration process. 
  
• How much does a credential evaluation cost?
  
  The final cost varies depending on the report and package type, the number of copies that you need, and the delivery method. Always refer to wes.org for current pricing information. And, remember–WES reports do not expire, so this is an investment in your future!
  
• After getting my degree evaluated by WES, can I start working right away?
  
  You can use your evaluation as soon as you receive it. You will also have access to an unofficial PDF copy of your report in your WES account. 
  
• How should I list my credential evaluation on my résumé?
  
  The education section of your résumé is an ideal spot to list your degree equivalency, translated grade point average, and other relevant information.
  
• How long does the evaluation process take?
  
  Your evaluation begins after WES receives and accepts all of your documents.
  
  After you submit your application, the next step is to send your documents to WES. Your institution needs to send us your official transcripts. The timing of this can vary depending on their response time and delivery method. Once all of your documents are received, we carefully review them for authenticity and completeness. Sometimes this step requires contacting you or your institution for additional information. After we have completed this authentication step, we begin your evaluation and produce your report. 
  You can visit this processing time page for more information about our process.
  
  
• How can I check if my university is accredited, and what happens if it’s not listed? Can I still get my degree evaluated?
  
  We recommend using our Required Document tool before beginning your application. You will be able to see whether your university is listed and available for degree evaluation.
  
  
• Can I validate a two-year technical degree from my home country?
  
  WES evaluates formal academic credentials from institutions it considers to be recognized in other countries. WES also reserves the right not to evaluate documents from certain institutions. Because WES only evaluates academic degrees, WES does not evaluate the United States Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) credential, short-term certificates, job training certificates, trade qualifications, career development programs, or other certificates of this nature, as they constitute occupational, rather than academic study.
  
  If you are unsure whether WES can evaluate your credentials, you may still apply for an evaluation. In many cases, if you apply with a credential or institution that WES does not evaluate, you will receive an error message when you input the program or school on your application.
  
  
• Does a psychology degree need to be evaluated, and would that allow me to start practicing in the U.S.?
  
  In short, yes, it is likely you will need to have your psychology degree evaluated if you plan to practice in the U.S. But, we highly recommend contacting the psychology board where you live or plan to relocate to. They will provide you with local regulatory requirements to become licensed to practice psychology in your location. 
  
  
• What level of English do I need to validate my degree?
  
  There are no English-language requirements for validating your degree or receiving a credential evaluation. However, if your documents are in a language other than English, you may be required to get them translated by a certified translation service. 
  
  
• Does the credential evaluation expire?
  
  WES credential evaluations do not expire! You can use your report throughout your entire education and career. WES makes it easy to order additional copies of your report as you undertake new opportunities and challenges. You can also easily upgrade your report to add a new degree or academic credential. 
  
  
• Can I complete the process on my own, or do I need to hire someone to help me?
  
  You can definitely complete the process on your own. The first step is to create a WES account and complete the application. After your application is submitted, you will need to take additional steps to facilitate the submission of your documents from your institution(s) to WES. If you have any questions about the application or about submitting documents, the WES customer support team is available to assist. They can be reached by phone or by logging in to your WES account. 
  
  Some people do hire counselors or agents to help them through the process. Should you take that approach, make sure to do plenty of research and ensure the agent is reputable and trustworthy.
  
  
• What’s the difference between homologation and credential evaluation?
  
  Great question! Both processes help recognize international degrees but serve different purposes. Homologation is a government process that declares your international degree equivalent to the local standard. This is often required if you are working in a regulated profession like medicine. 
  Credential evaluation is advisory in nature. Private agencies, such as WES, assess your academic records and issue an equivalency report. It’s most often used for job applications, immigration, or university admissions. However, some licensing boards and bodies will require a credential evaluation as part of their licensure process.
  
  
• Which WES plan should I choose?
  
  The right plan for you depends on your goals. If you already know who you are sending your report to, be sure to check with them to confirm if they have any requirements, such as report type or package. Otherwise, if you are receiving a credential evaluation early in your plans, we recommend letting your goals guide you. We wrote a blog post on this very topic to help you select the best plan for your purposes.
  
  
• Are WES evaluations accepted by the U.S. Army?
  
  Yes. The U.S. Military accepts credential evaluations from any current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). 
  
  
• How do I know which documents I need to submit for a WES credential evaluation?The best way to find out is by using WES’s very user-friendly tool to review the documents required to start the process. You’ll fill out a simple form, and based on your education and country of study, the system will tell you exactly which documents you need to submit. You can access the tool here:
• https://apps.wes.org/required-documentshttps://apps.wes.org/required-documents