About World Education Services (WES)About World Education Services (WES)

• Non-profit organization (NGO) since 1974. Has served 750,000 individuals, about 50,000 each year, from all countries

• WES Mission: To foster the integration of individuals educated outside the U.S. into academic and professional settings

• Primary Service: Providing evaluation reports so that legitimate academic credentials earned abroad are understood and fully recognized

• Immigrant Resources: Providing clear advice and offering links to the best online resources and community programs - www.wes.org/info

• Community Engagement: Providing training and resources to community organizations, developing partnerships, publishing a monthly newsletter highlighting community initiatives.

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Foreign Credential Recognition in the U.S. Foreign Credential Recognition in the U.S.

First of all….

Foreign education does have value in the U.S.!

• Each institution/agency/employer sets its own rules regarding recognition and acceptance

No government agency or single standard

Some institutions do their own evaluations, but most designate external evaluation services

• Private evaluation services (like WES)

Operate independently

Charge fees – $75-125 (General) $150-350 (Detailed)2

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Document-by-Document Report $100

• Identifies and describes each diploma or certificate

• Indicates periods of education, • Provides an equivalency for each document.

This is the report that clients should generally order for:

Employment (when Licensing or Certification is not required)

Immigration

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Comprehensive Course-by-Course Report

$160

Document-by-Document report, PLUS :

• Lists all subjects completed at the post-secondary level

• Provides a U.S. semester credit and grade equivalent for each course

• Provides a U.S. grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale

This is the report that clients should order for:

EducationProfessional licensing Professional certification

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WES Authenticates All DocumentsWES Authenticates All Documents

Authentication Statement on WES report

• Adds credibility and gives confidence to recipient

• Addresses concerns about fraud and diploma mills

• Difficult for employers to verify foreign degrees on their own

To ensure that evaluations are based on documents that are accurate and valid, WES has strict document requirements

Required DocumentsRequired Documents

• Official documents must be sent directly to WES from the institution or ministry in your client’s country.

• Specific instructions for each country, and a “transcript request” form are provided at www.wes.org/required/index

• Getting official documents will be the largest barrier that your clients face, but often times it easier than expected

• Translations: Clients must submit precise word-for-word English translations of all foreign language documents. Translations can be based on unofficial student copies.

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Required Documents – Brazil ExampleRequired Documents – Brazil Example

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WES Evaluation ProcessWES Evaluation Process

• Online Application, online status, email updates

• 7 business days - once all documents are received

• Option to have WES-verified copies of official transcripts delivered to institutions (WES-ICAP)

• Clients can order additional reports when needed

Online Evaluation ToolsOnline Evaluation Tools

• Explains how degrees are viewed in the U.S.

• For unofficial purposes and guidance only

• International Degree Preview- $30 ($20 credit applied to an evaluation) www.wes.org/evaluations/preliminary.asp

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Choosing a ServiceChoosing a Service

• Advise clients to always check with the institution or agency:

What type of report do they require

Which evaluation service(s) do they accept or recommend

• Advise clients to choose a service wisely

Recognition – Are reports widely accepted?

Fees – check the total cost, watch for hidden fees

Be careful of “sponsored links” found through web searches

Not all credential evaluation services are valid, so please confirm that your client is using a trusted service by checking with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) www.naces.org

Using Evaluations in the Job Search Using Evaluations in the Job Search

• Employer Familiarity / Recognition

• Most government agencies - Federal and State – and large companies accept WES evaluations including the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) and the NYS Dept. of Civil Service

Smaller businesses may not be familiar with evaluations

• Marketing WES evaluation for Employment

Clients should include their WES equivalency, GPA, etc. in resume & cover letter

“U.S. Equivalency Provided by World Education Services (WES)”

Clients should bring copies to interviews; offer to have official report sent directly

Companies can easily and quickly verify U.S. degrees, but foreign degrees not easily checked by non-experts – so mentioning that WES verified all transcripts gives employers confidence

WES Employment ResourcesWES Employment Resources

• Job Search

• Career Planning

• Professional Licensing

• Gaining U.S. Experience

• Local Programs and Services

• Seminars and Information Sessions

www.wes.org/info

Using Credential Evaluation For Professional Licensing or Certification Using Credential Evaluation For Professional Licensing or Certification

• Each board decides whether and how to recognize foreign credentials

Some boards don’t recognize foreign education at all

Some professions have centralized evaluation services

• Credential evaluation usually accepted from outside evaluation services like WES

Most boards have a list of acceptable services

NY State – Evaluations done by NYS Education Department, Office of the Professions - www.op.nysed.gov/prof

• Course-by- course reports usually required

• Learn more at www.wes.org/info

About Professional LicensingAbout Professional Licensing

• Licensing is state regulated

• Within each state, separate boards for each profession

• Licensing process is usually complicated, time-consuming, expensive

• Requirements can include

Credential Evaluation

Examinations

Work experience/internship

Supplemental courses, English language requirements

Certification from professional association

Fingerprints, fees, citizenship, etc

• License is required for some professions and for some professional activities

(e.g. Health-related, Teaching, Accounting, Engineering)

• Some kinds of work in a “licensed occupation” may not require licensing

Non-licensed professionals can work in fields like accounting, engineering but there are certain restrictions

Teaching in private schools does not require license

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About Professional LicensingAbout Professional Licensing

About Professional CertificationAbout Professional Certification

• Voluntary credentialing process

• Granted by a non-governmental, private professional associations

• Find professional associations at www.noca.org/Generalinformation/MemberOrganizations

• In some states, a prerequisite for licensing

• In some cases, employers require certification before hiring

• Undergraduate Admission / Transfer Credit

Helps college staff determine eligibility

Determine advanced standing/transfer credit

Not all universities accept WES evaluations

CUNY Undergraduate (CUNY’s UAPC does evaluations)

• Graduate and Professional Degrees

• Course-by-Course Evaluations w-GPA - if college credits are involved

More information - www.wes.org/students 17

Using Your Evaluation For Education Using Your Evaluation For Education

Local Institutions that Accept WES ReportsPartial List – Always check with the Institution

Local Institutions that Accept WES ReportsPartial List – Always check with the Institution

Berkeley CollegeHelene Fuld College of Nursing

New York College of Health Professions

St. John's University - School of Law

CUNY Baruch College - Zicklin School of Business

Hofstra University - School of Law

New York Law School St. Joseph's College

CUNY Brooklyn College Juilliard SchoolNew York Medical College

St. Thomas Aquinas College

CUNY College of Staten Island (Transfer Students)

Laboratory Institute of Merchandising

New York University - Steinhardt School of Education

SUNY Empire State College

CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Long Island College

New York University - School of Continuing and Professional Studies

SUNY Old Westbury

Dowling College Manhattan CollegePace University – Graduate School of Business

The New School

Excelsior CollegeMarymount Manhattan College

Pratt Institute

Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)

Mercy CollegeSt. John's University - College of Pharmacy

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Credit TransferCredit Transfer

• Each institution decides whether to recognize non-U.S. academic work

• Most will recognize a limited amount of credit toward a degree at their institution

• Issues that institutions consider in awarding credit

Is the university or college recognized by the ministry of education in the home country?

How applicable are the courses toward the degree being pursued?

What is the maximum number of credits that the school allows for transfer?

In sciences, technology credits may have to be recently earned19

Thank you!

For more information and resources, www.wes.org/info

Please feel free to contact WES partners@wes.org (212) 701-8149

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