Recognition vs. evaluation
“Recognition” means a country or institution formally accepts a foreign qualification; “evaluation” means a professional service compares it to the local system. Which you need depends on your purpose — admission to a university, a professional license, a job, or immigration — and on the country.
Getting a foreign degree recognized in the U.S.
The U.S. has no central authority that recognizes foreign degrees. Instead, credential-evaluation services compare your qualification to U.S. equivalents, and universities, employers, licensing boards, and immigration authorities rely on those evaluations.
- NACESThe National Association of Credential Evaluation Services — the main membership body of U.S. evaluation services; its members’ reports are widely accepted.
- WES & ECEWorld Education Services and Educational Credential Evaluators — two of the largest NACES-member evaluators.
- AACRAO IESThe AACRAO International Education Services, another respected evaluator.
- Match the purposeUniversities, state licensing boards, and USCIS may each specify which evaluators or report types they accept — confirm before you pay.
Getting a U.S. degree recognized abroad
To use a U.S. degree in another country, you generally go through that country’s recognition centre — in Europe, the ENIC-NARIC network; elsewhere, the national ministry or an equivalent body. A degree from a U.S. institutionally accredited college (see the higher-ed tier) is generally recognized; an unaccredited U.S. “degree” usually is not.
How to do it right
- 1 · Define the purposeStudy, work, licensure, or immigration — each may require a different kind of recognition or report.
- 2 · Confirm the accepted routeAsk the receiving university, board, or authority which evaluator or recognition process they accept.
- 3 · Verify the source institutionConfirm the awarding school is real via WHED or its national authority before spending on evaluation.
- 4 · Watch for diploma millsEvaluations cannot legitimize a fake degree; a mill credential remains worthless.
How to verify
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
- How is a foreign degree recognized in the U.S.? Through credential evaluation by a service such as a NACES member (WES, ECE) or AACRAO, since the U.S. has no central recognition authority. Universities, employers, boards, and immigration rely on those evaluations.
- What is NACES? The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services — the main U.S. membership body of credential-evaluation services, whose members' reports are widely accepted.
- What is the difference between recognition and evaluation? Recognition is a country or institution formally accepting a foreign qualification; evaluation is a professional service comparing it to the local system.
- How do I get a U.S. degree recognized abroad? Through the destination country's recognition centre — ENIC-NARIC in Europe, or the national ministry elsewhere. A U.S. institutionally accredited degree is generally recognized.
- Which evaluator should I use? The one your receiving university, licensing board, or immigration authority accepts — requirements vary, so confirm before paying. WES and ECE are widely accepted NACES members.
- Can evaluation legitimize an unaccredited degree? No. Evaluation compares a qualification to local equivalents; it cannot turn a diploma-mill credential into a real one.
- What is ENIC-NARIC? The European network of national information centres for the recognition and comparison of international qualifications.
- How do I confirm the awarding school is real first? Check the WHED database or the school's national authority before paying for an evaluation.