A WES evaluation is your passport to education and employment. Whether you’re continuing your education, seeking professional licensing, or applying for employment in the United States, the WES evaluation ensures that your international academic credentials are recognized.
The WES evaluation converts educational credentials from any country in the world into their U.S. equivalents. It details each certificate, diploma, or degree you’ve earned and states its academic equivalency in the United States.
WES evaluations are widely accepted and often specifically requested by academic institutions, licensing boards, employers, and government agencies throughout the U.S.
These are the key aspects of the WES evaluation and its impact on your application:
Role of WES Evaluation:
- Credential Assessment: WES evaluates your academic credentials to determine their equivalence in the U.S. education system. This is crucial because U.S. universities need to understand the context of your academic background.
- Translation of Grades: WES converts your grades into the U.S. GPA system, typically on a 4.0 scale. This helps universities assess your academic performance in a format they are familiar with.
- Standardization: WES evaluations help standardize international credentials, making it easier for admissions committees to compare your qualifications with those of other applicants.
- Verification: WES also verifies the authenticity of your academic documents, which can enhance your credibility as an applicant.
Impact on Acceptance and Scholarships
- Improved Acceptance Chances: While a WES evaluation itself does not guarantee better acceptance, a clear and favourable evaluation can enhance your application. It allows admissions committees to accurately assess your academic qualifications, which is especially beneficial if your grading system differs significantly from the U.S. system.
- Scholarship Consideration: Some universities may consider your academic performance, as reflected in your WES evaluation when awarding scholarships. A strong GPA, converted from a 10-point scale, can make you a more competitive candidate for merit-based scholarships.
- Program Requirements: Some programs may specifically require a WES evaluation as part of their application process. Meeting these requirements is essential for your application to be considered.
Types of WES evaluation
- Document-by-Document: This evaluation provides a summary of your academic background, including your name, your university’s name, the year you received your degree, and your major field of study. It also provides the U.S. and Canadian equivalents for each of your credentials. This evaluation is sufficient for employment or immigration purposes.
- Course-by-Course: In addition to the details in the Document-by-Document evaluation, this evaluation includes a list of all post-secondary courses you’ve taken and their equivalent grades in the U.S. and Canada. Universities, colleges, and professional licensing boards require the Course-by-Course evaluation because it contains the detailed information necessary for academic and professional assessments.
- CPA Evaluation: This evaluation is designed for candidates taking the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examinations and is particularly helpful in determining the U.S. equivalency of their academic credentials.
Procedure for WES Evaluation:
- Online Application:
The application procedure is simple to follow. A candidate must visit the official WES website and select “Evaluations for USA.”
There are two evaluation types: WES ICAP and WES Basic. However, for long-term advantage, repetitive usage, and document storage at WES, it is strongly advisable to choose WES ICAP.
This option offers the following advantages:- Storage of verified transcripts and documents
- Electronic delivery of evaluations to universities
- A list of all courses completed at the post-secondary level
- S. semester credit and grade equivalents for each course
- S. grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale
- Designates the level (upper or lower) of each undergraduate courseAfter selecting the evaluation service, the candidate is required to provide basic identity information (as per their passport) along with education credential details.Candidates should submit details of their highest completed education credential (e.g., Master of Commerce, Master of Science, or Master of Engineering).
- Payment of Assessment Fees:
Once the application is filled out, the candidate must pay USD 225 for the WES ICAP evaluation. In addition, delivery charges for the official report copy apply, ranging from USD 90 to 100, and are charged together with the assessment fees.Therefore, the total assessment charges come to approximately USD 315.
- Sending of Official Educational Documents:
After submitting the application and payment, the candidate will receive a unique WES reference number. This reference number must be provided to the last attended university or institution, where the candidate completed their most recent education. The institution will then send the verified official documents (including the official transcript, certified copies of grade cards, and the degree certificate) either electronically or by physically sealing them in an envelope for manual submission to WES USA. WES does not accept documents submitted by students, agents, or any third parties. Only the educational institution can submit the documents directly to WES. - Verification of Official Educational Documents:
Once WES receives the official documents—either by email from the university or via a sealed envelope from the courier—the assessment process begins. The university may be contacted to verify the student’s grades and confirm the authenticity of the documents. - Evaluation Report Generation:
Upon completion of document verification and grade assessment (in equivalence to the U.S. or Canadian grading system), the evaluation report is generated. This report will indicate the equivalent GPA, credential level, and how the documents were received from the attended educational institution.The report is sent to the recipients you’ve listed (such as any universities). Additionally, one hard copy of the report will be sent to your registered address.
- Online Application:
The completed assessment is securely stored by WES and remains valid for five years from the date of issuance. It can be accessed and used an unlimited number of times for sending copies directly to universities, employers, or organizations seeking validation of your education.
Therefore, in your journey of pursuing studies in the USA or Canada, we at Focus Education are eager and happy to provide comprehensive assistance with the associated documentation.
