What is Educational Credential Evaluators/What is ECE?
Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) is a nonprofit organisation that specialises in evaluating foreign academic credentials to determine their equivalence in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1980 by James S. Frey and based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, ECE provides evaluation reports that help colleges, universities, employers, and licensing boards understand and recognise foreign academic qualifications.
As part of this process, ECE converts overseas grades into their U.S. equivalent, including calculating a Grade Point Average (GPA) on the standard 4.0 scale where appropriate. The final evaluation report explains how your qualifications compare with the U.S. education system, making it easier for institutions and employers to assess your academic background. This evaluation process is essential for individuals seeking admission to educational institutions, employment opportunities, or professional licensure in these two countries.
The ECE is a charter member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), which sets professional standards for credential evaluation services in the U.S.
In summary, Educational Credential Evaluators play a crucial role in facilitating the recognition of international educational credentials, therefore supporting individuals in their pursuit of education and employment opportunities in the United States and Canada.
What does an ECE evaluation report contain?
The exact contents of an ECE report vary depending on the type, but common elements may include:
Verification of your academic documents: ECE reviews the submitted transcripts, diplomas, and other educational records to verify their authenticity, where possible and determine whether they meet its evaluation standards.
U.S. degree equivalency: The report states the U.S. equivalent of your qualification. For example, it may determine that a foreign bachelor's degree is comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree.
Grade conversion: Reports that include a GPA convert your academic performance to the U.S. 4.0 grading scale, making it easier for universities, employers, and licensing boards to assess your results.
Course-by-course analysis: If you order a Course-by-Course Report, the evaluation lists each completed course, the corresponding U.S. semester credit hours, grades, and overall grade point average (GPA).
Institution and credential details: The report identifies the awarding institution, the credential earned, the dates of study (where applicable), and other information used to support the evaluation.
Which is better, WES or ECE?
When comparing World Education Services (WES) and Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), you should know that both organisations are reputable and serve similar functions in evaluating foreign educational credentials.
Feature | WES | ECE |
Primary focus | Credential evaluations for education, employment, professional licensing, and immigration in the U.S. and Canada. | Credential evaluations for education, employment, and professional licensing in the U.S. and Canada. Does not provide evaluations for immigration purposes. |
Recognition | Widely accepted by universities, employers, licensing boards, and immigration authorities. Some institutions specifically require WES evaluations. | Accepted by many universities, employers, and licensing boards. Acceptance varies by institution, so you should always confirm their requirements before ordering. |
Processing time | Typically within 7 business days after all required documents are received. | Typically within 5 business days after all required documents are received. |
Report types | Document-by-document and course-by-course evaluations. | Document-by-document, course-by-course, and additional specialised evaluation reports. |
Starting price | Approximately $160 for a document-by-document evaluation and $205 for a course-by-course evaluation. | Approximately $110 for a document-by-document evaluation and up to $199 for more detailed evaluation reports. |
Translation services | Does not provide translation services. Certified translations must be obtained separately. | Does not provide translation services. Accepts certified or recognised professional translations. |
Best for | Applicants whose university, employer, licensing board, or immigration programme specifically requires a WES evaluation. | Applicants whose institution accepts ECE reports and who need a recognised credential evaluation for education, employment, or professional licensing. |
Recognition and Acceptance:
WES: Widely recognised by many U.S. and Canadian institutions, employers, and immigration authorities. Some universities and licensing boards specifically require WES evaluations.
ECE: Also well-regarded and accepted by numerous institutions and employers, but it doesn't provide credential assessment for immigration purposes. Acceptance of an ECE evaluation can also vary by institution. It is essential to verify with the institution.
Processing Time:
Cost:
WES: Prices start at approximately $160 for a document-by-document evaluation and $205 for a course-by-course evaluation.
ECE: Prices start at approximately $110 for a document-by-document evaluation and range up to $199 for more detailed evaluation reports.
Services Offered:
WES: Provides document-by-document and course-by-course evaluations. However, they do not offer translation services. For all your WES translations, you should get translations from a trusted translation company like Translayte, including any required degree translation.
ECE: Offers similar evaluation services and, like WES, does not provide translation services. They accept certified translations or regular translations from recognised agencies.
Document Requirements:
WES: Requires official documents sent directly from institutions. They have specific guidelines for translations and may request translated documents in certain cases, i.e., if your document is not in English.
ECE: Also requires official documents but has different submission protocols. ECE may request original documents for certain countries or educational systems. This means you might need to send your actual diploma or academic transcript, not just a copy. For example, if the documentation requirements for your country of study specify 'Original' or 'Official Document issued in a Sealed Envelope,' you must provide these to ECE.
User Experience:
What type of documents does the ECE evaluate?
Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) assess various educational documents from individuals who have completed studies outside the United States or Canada. The specific documents required depend on the country where the education was obtained and the level of education completed. Generally, ECE evaluates the following types of documents:
Diplomas and Certificates: High school diplomas or certificates indicating completion of secondary education, and diplomas or certificates from vocational schools, colleges, or universities.
Transcripts and Academic Records: Official transcripts or mark sheets listing courses taken and grades received during high school, and detailed academic records from colleges or universities, including course titles, grades, and credits or hours completed.
Professional Qualifications: Certificates or licenses from professional programs, such as nursing or engineering, that may include details of coursework and practical training.
Important Considerations:
Country-Specific Requirements: Documentation requirements vary by country. ECE provides specific guidelines based on each country's educational system. It's essential to review these requirements to ensure the correct documents are submitted.
Original Documents: For certain countries, ECE may require original documents or official documents issued in sealed envelopes. Applicants should consult ECE's country-specific documentation requirements to determine if originals are necessary.
Translations: If your documents are not in English, ECE requires translations. This is where requesting quality translations from Translayte comes in.
No work experience evaluation: Please note that ECE does not evaluate work experience; their focus is solely on educational credentials.
Electronic Documents: ECE only accepts electronic documents from verified sources. Applicants should check if their institution can send documents electronically through recognised services.
How to translate your document for ECE Evaluation
Applying for an ECE evaluation is straightforward, but you should prepare all required documents before starting your application.
Step 1: Create an ECE account
Visit the ECE website and create an account. Once logged in, select the type of evaluation report required by your university, employer, or licensing board.
Step 2: Check your document requirements
Review ECE's documentation requirements for the country where your qualification was issued. Depending on your country, you may need to submit original documents, official documents in a sealed envelope, or certified copies.
Step 3: Translate your documents (if required)
If your documents are not in English, you have two options:
Arrange your own certified translation: This provides you with a translated document that you can keep and reuse for various purposes, such as university admissions, visa applications, professional licensing, or employment.
Use ECE's translation waiver service: For $85, ECE will translate your documents internally to complete your credential evaluation. However, you will not receive a copy of the translation, and it cannot be used for other applications or shared with other institutions.
If you expect to use your translated documents more than once, you should obtain a certified translation from a provider before submitting documents on the ECE portal.
Step 4: Submit your documents to ECE
Upload your documents and any required translations through your ECE account, or follow the submission instructions provided for your country. ECE will begin processing your evaluation once all required documents have been received.
Step 5: Track your evaluation
Log in to your ECE account at any time to monitor the status of your evaluation and download your completed report when it becomes available.
How much does an ECE certification cost?
Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) offers several types of credential evaluation reports, each with its own pricing:
General Report: Provides the U.S. equivalent of each educational credential without evaluating individual courses or grades. Cost: $110.
General Report with GPA: Includes the U.S. equivalent of each credential and calculates a U.S. grade point average (GPA) for university-level qualifications. Cost: $135.
Course-by-Course Report: Evaluates each completed course, including U.S. credit and grade equivalents, and calculates a GPA. This is the report most commonly required for university admissions and professional licensing. Cost: $199.
General Report with Insignia: Includes the General Report plus an ECE Insignia digital badge, a shareable certificate, and discounted official report copies. Cost: $155.
General Report with GPA and Insignia: Includes the General Report with GPA, plus the Insignia digital badge, certificate, and discounted report copies. Cost: $180.
Course-by-Course Report with Insignia: Includes the Course-by-Course Report plus the Insignia digital badge, certificate, and discounted report copies. Cost: $244.
High School and University Level Course-by-Course Report: Evaluates both secondary school and university coursework. ECE does not publish a standard fee for this report. Cost: $235.
Subject Analysis Report: Provides a detailed analysis of course content for specific licensing or professional requirements. Applicants must first make arrangements with the requesting licensing board or institution before ordering this report. Cost:$275
Additional services
ECE also offers several optional services for an additional fee:
Translation Waiver: $85.
Rush Service: Guaranteed 5-business-day processing for an additional $90.
Official report copies: The first additional copy costs $45, and each extra copy ordered at the same time costs $30.
Official report copies with Insignia: $20 per copy.
Delivery options: Standard and expedited shipping services are available at an additional cost depending on the destination and delivery method.
If you expect to share your evaluation with multiple institutions or employers over time, choosing an Insignia report can provide better long-term value through its digital credentials and lower cost for additional report copies.
Report validity and delivery
ECE credential evaluation reports do not expire. However, universities, employers, and licensing boards may require a report that was issued within the last one to two years. Always check the requirements of the institution you are applying to, as their policies may differ.
If you need to send your evaluation to additional institutions after your report has been issued, you can order additional official copies for up to five years from the report's issue date.
If your academic history changes or you need your evaluation updated, ECE also offers report update services. Update fees typically range from $75 to $150, depending on the type of report and the changes required.
ECE delivers evaluation reports electronically where available, and physical delivery options can also be selected for an additional fee if required by the receiving institution.
How to apply for an ECE evaluation through GradCAS
If you are applying to a graduate programme that uses GradCAS or another Centralised Application Service (CAS), you should order your ECE evaluation through the application portal rather than directly through ECE. This ensures your evaluation is linked to your application and delivered to the correct institution.
Step 1: Confirm that your programme uses GradCAS
Check whether your university or graduate programme accepts applications through GradCAS or another Centralised Application Service. Your programme's application instructions will tell you if an ECE evaluation is required.
Step 2: Create your ECE account
Create an ECE account using the same email address you use for your GradCAS (or other CAS) application. Matching email addresses helps link your evaluation to your application more smoothly.
Step 3: Order your evaluation through GradCAS
Log in to your GradCAS account and navigate to the Academic History or Foreign Transcript Evaluation section. Select ECE as your credential evaluation provider and follow the prompts to order the required evaluation report.
Step 4: Submit your academic documents
Provide the required academic documents according to ECE's country-specific documentation requirements. If your documents are not in English, submit any required translations or choose ECE's Translation Waiver service if it meets your needs.
Step 5: Track your evaluation
Once ECE has received all required documents, you can monitor the status of your evaluation through your ECE account. When the evaluation is complete, ECE sends the report directly to GradCAS, where it becomes available as part of your application for participating programmes.
When do you need an ECE evaluation?
University admissions: Many undergraduate and graduate programmes require an ECE evaluation to determine the U.S. equivalency of your previous education. Some graduate programmes that use GradCAS or other Centralised Application Services also require applicants to submit an ECE evaluation as part of the admissions process.
Professional licensing: Licensing boards in fields such as engineering, healthcare, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, teaching, and other regulated professions may require an ECE evaluation to confirm that your academic qualifications meet U.S. standards before you can become licensed.
Employment verification: Some employers request an ECE evaluation when hiring candidates with international qualifications. The evaluation helps them understand the U.S. equivalent of your degree and verify that your educational background meets the requirements for the role.
