Getting Your Foreign Qualifications Recognized in the US and Canada

You earned your degree, passed your exams, and built a career in your home country. Then you moved to North America and discovered that none of it automatically transfers. Your degree needs to be “evaluated.” Your professional license doesn’t exist here. Employers glance at your resume, see an unfamiliar university name, and move on.

This is the reality for millions of immigrants in the US and Canada. According to a study by the Migration Policy Institute, roughly 2 million college-educated immigrants in the United States are unemployed or working in jobs that don’t require a degree. In Canada, Statistics Canada data shows that recent immigrants with foreign credentials earn significantly less than Canadian-born workers with comparable education levels, at least in their first years.

The credential evaluation process exists to bridge this gap. It translates your foreign qualifications into terms that North American employers, licensing bodies, and universities understand. Getting it right can be the difference between starting over at the bottom and continuing your career at the level you’ve earned.

How Credential Evaluation Works

Credential evaluation is the process of comparing your foreign educational qualifications to the standards of the country where you want to work or study. An evaluation produces a report that states the US or Canadian equivalent of your degree, the level of study, and sometimes a GPA conversion.

This isn’t an opinion. Evaluation agencies follow established frameworks and maintain databases of educational systems worldwide. They verify your documents directly with the issuing institution, check for accreditation, and apply consistent standards.

In the US, there’s no single government body that handles credential evaluations. Instead, the process is handled by independent evaluation services, many of which are members of NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) or AICE (Association of International Credential Evaluators).

In Canada, the process is more centralized for immigration purposes. Designated organizations handle Educational Credential Assessments (ECAs) required for Express Entry and other immigration programs.

Major Credential Evaluation Services

World Education Services (WES)

WES is the most widely recognized credential evaluation service in North America. It operates in both the US and Canada and is accepted by thousands of employers, universities and licensing bodies.

WES offers two main evaluation types:

Document-by-Document Evaluation: Lists each credential you’ve earned, along with the US or Canadian equivalent. This is the basic evaluation and is sufficient for most employment purposes.

Course-by-Course Evaluation: Goes deeper, listing every course you took, the credits earned and the equivalent grades. This is required for graduate school admissions, professional licensing in many fields and some government jobs.

The process works like this:

1. Create an account on the WES website (wes.org for the US, wes.org/ca for Canada)
2. Select your evaluation type and the country where you studied
3. WES provides specific instructions for how your institution should send your documents (transcripts, degree certificates, marksheets)
4. You send your documents according to those instructions. In many cases, documents must come directly from the institution or through a designated intermediary
5. WES verifies the documents and produces your evaluation report
6. You receive the report, normally within 7 business days after WES has all required documents

WES fees range from approximately $160 to $250 USD for US evaluations and $200 to $300 CAD for Canadian evaluations, depending on the evaluation type and delivery options.

Key consideration with WES: The biggest bottleneck is getting your institution to send documents in the format WES requires. In some countries, universities are slow to respond or unfamiliar with the WES process. Start this step early. It’s not uncommon for document procurement to take 4-8 weeks, especially from institutions in South Asia, Africa and some parts of Latin America.

For Canadian immigration specifically, WES provides an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), which is required for the Express Entry Federal Skilled Worker program. The ECA is valid for 5 years from the date of issue.

Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)

ECE is another major evaluation service, particularly strong in the US market. Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, ECE has been operating since 1980 and is a charter member of NACES.

ECE’s process is similar to WES but with some differences:

• ECE accepts documents sent by the applicant in sealed, stamped envelopes from the institution (not always requiring direct institution-to-ECE transmission)
• Processing times are similar (about 7-10 business days after receiving all documents)
• ECE is widely accepted by US universities and state licensing boards

ECE is often preferred by applicants whose institutions are more willing to provide sealed documents to the applicant than to send them directly to an evaluation agency.

Other Recognized Services

IQAS (International Qualifications Assessment Service): Operated by the Government of Alberta, IQAS is a designated organization for Canadian immigration ECAs. It’s a strong option if you’re planning to settle in Alberta or Western Canada.

ICAS (International Credential Assessment Service of Canada): Based in Ontario, ICAS is another designated ECA provider for Canadian immigration.

Medical Council of Canada (MCC): Handles credential verification for international medical graduates seeking to practice in Canada.

Foundation for International Services (FIS): A NACES member based in the US that handles evaluations for a range of countries.

When choosing an evaluation service, verify that it’s accepted by the specific employer, university, or licensing body you’re targeting. Not all evaluations are interchangeable. A WES evaluation may be required by one licensing board, while another board only accepts evaluations from ECE or a specific NACES member.

State and Provincial Licensing: Where It Gets Complicated

US Licensing Boards

In the US, professional licensing is handled at the state level, not the federal level. This means the requirements to practice as an engineer in California differ from the requirements in Texas. The requirements to practice nursing in New York differ from those in Florida.

This creates a patchwork system that international professionals need to research carefully. Here are the major regulated professions and how licensing usually works:

Engineering: Each state has a Board of Professional Engineers. To become a licensed Professional Engineer (PE), you typically need:

• An engineering degree evaluated as equivalent to a US ABET-accredited degree
• Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam
• Four years of progressive engineering experience under a licensed PE
• Passing the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam

Some states accept foreign engineering degrees evaluated by NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying). Others require evaluations from specific agencies. Check with your target state’s board before starting the process.

Medicine: International medical graduates (IMGs) must:

• Have their degree verified through ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates)
• Pass USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK and Step 2 CS (or its replacement, the Pathways program)
• Complete a US residency program (3-7 years depending on specialty)
• Pass USMLE Step 3
• Apply for state medical licensure

This is one of the longest and most expensive credential recognition processes. Many IMGs spend 2-5 years in the evaluation and residency matching process. The match rate for IMGs is lower than for US medical graduates, making it competitive.

Nursing: State Boards of Nursing evaluate foreign-educated nurses through agencies like CGFNS (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools). Requirements typically include:

• A credential evaluation showing equivalency to a US nursing education
• Passing the NCLEX-RN exam
• English language proficiency (if applicable)
• A VisaScreen certificate for visa-based immigration

Law: There’s no straightforward path for foreign lawyers in most US states. Only a handful of states (New York, California and a few others) allow foreign-educated lawyers to sit for the bar exam and they typically require an LLM (Master of Laws) from a US law school first.

Accounting: Foreign-trained accountants seeking CPA licensure must meet state-specific requirements for education credits (usually 150 semester hours), pass the Uniform CPA Exam and meet experience requirements. State boards evaluate foreign transcripts through approved evaluation services.

Teaching: Each state has its own teacher certification requirements. Foreign-trained teachers typically need their credentials evaluated, may need to complete additional coursework in US education systems and must pass state-required exams (like the Praxis series).

Canadian Provincial Licensing

Canada’s provincial licensing system is similar in structure to the US state system, but with some additional coordination mechanisms.

Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act: Ontario, British Columbia and several other provinces have enacted legislation requiring regulatory bodies to make their registration processes transparent and timely. This means licensing bodies must publish their requirements clearly, provide decisions within set timeframes and offer appeal mechanisms.

Engineering: Engineers Canada coordinates with provincial associations (PEO in Ontario, APEGA in Alberta, etc.). International engineering graduates typically need to have their degree assessed, pass technical exams in areas where their education differs from Canadian requirements and complete a supervised engineering experience period.

Medicine: International medical graduates apply through the Medical Council of Canada and must pass the MCCQE Part I and Part II exams, complete a residency through the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) and obtain provincial licensure.

Nursing: Provincial nursing regulatory bodies assess foreign credentials. The NNAS (National Nursing Assessment Service) provides a national-level advisory report that provincial regulators use as a starting point.

Trades: Red Seal certifications provide interprovincial recognition for skilled trades. If you pass the Red Seal exam in one province, your certification is recognized in all provinces and territories.

How to Present Foreign Degrees on Your Resume

Getting your credentials evaluated is only half the battle. You also need to present them effectively on your resume so employers understand your qualifications at a glance.

The Education Section

Do this: List your degree with the institution name, country and the evaluated equivalency.

Example: “Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India Evaluated as equivalent to a US Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science (WES, 2023)”

Don’t do this: List your degree without any context or equivalency information.

Example: “B.Tech, IIT Delhi”

The first version tells an American or Canadian hiring manager exactly what they need to know. The second version leaves them guessing, and when hiring managers guess, they usually guess conservatively.

Professional Licenses and Certifications

If you hold a professional license in your home country and are in the process of obtaining your North American license, say so explicitly:

“Licensed Professional Engineer (PE), State of California - In Progress Chartered Engineer, Institution of Engineers (India) - Active”

This shows employers that you understand the licensing process and are actively working toward local credentials. It also signals that you have the foundational knowledge, even if the local paperwork isn’t complete yet.

Handling the “Overqualified” Problem

Some internationally educated professionals face a paradox: their credentials are too advanced for entry-level positions but not locally recognized for senior positions. If you have a master’s degree from abroad and are applying for mid-level roles, frame your education as an asset without making it the centerpiece of your resume.

Lead with your skills and experience sections. Put education lower on the page. Emphasize what you can do, not just what you studied. Employers care more about whether you can perform the job than about the prestige of your university.

Bridging Programs and Gap-Filling Options

If your credential evaluation reveals gaps between your education and North American requirements, you have several options:

Bridging Programs: Many universities and colleges offer programs designed specifically for internationally trained professionals. These programs fill in the gaps in your education without requiring you to start a new degree. Toronto Metropolitan University, George Brown College and many other Canadian institutions run bridging programs for engineers, accountants, teachers and healthcare professionals.

In the US, similar programs exist at community colleges and some universities, though they’re less formalized than in Canada.

Additional Coursework: For licensing purposes, you may need specific courses that weren’t part of your foreign program. Many of these can be completed online or at local colleges. Your licensing board can provide a list of exactly which courses you need.

Professional Development and Certifications: Industry certifications from organizations like PMI (PMP), CompTIA, AWS, Google and Microsoft are recognized globally and can supplement your foreign credentials. A WES evaluation showing a bachelor’s equivalent plus an AWS Solutions Architect certification, for example, speaks clearly to US tech employers.

Mentorship Programs: Both the US and Canada have mentorship programs for internationally trained professionals. In Canada, programs like the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) Mentoring Partnership match immigrants with established professionals in their field. These connections often lead directly to job opportunities.

Timeline Planning

The credential recognition process is not fast. Here’s a realistic timeline for planning purposes:

Months 1-2: Research your specific requirements. Identify the evaluation service, licensing board and any exams you need.

Months 2-4: Request documents from your home institution. This is the step most likely to cause delays.

Months 4-5: Submit your evaluation application and wait for processing.

Months 5-8: Receive your evaluation, identify any gaps and begin bridging coursework or exam preparation if needed.

Months 8-18: Complete any required exams or supervised practice periods (timeline varies dramatically by profession).

Start this process before you move to North America if possible. The months you spend waiting for documents and evaluations can be completed while you’re still in your home country, giving you a head start when you arrive.

Cost Breakdown

Total costs for credential recognition range from a few hundred dollars for simple evaluations to several thousand dollars for regulated professions that require exams and supervised practice.

Mistakes That Delay the Process

Starting too late. The most common mistake. Every month you wait before starting is a month added to your timeline. Begin researching requirements the moment you decide to move to North America.

Using the wrong evaluation service. Not all evaluation services are accepted everywhere. Verify acceptance before you pay.

Sending incomplete documents. Missing a single transcript or providing an uncertified copy can set you back weeks. Follow the document checklist exactly.

Ignoring English language requirements. Even if your degree was taught in English, some licensing bodies require formal English proficiency scores. Check this requirement early.

Not researching state or provincial differences. A credential pathway that works in Ontario won’t necessarily work in British Columbia. A license valid in New York doesn’t automatically work in New Jersey.

Moving Forward

Getting your foreign qualifications recognized in North America takes time, money and patience. But the payoff is significant. Workers with recognized credentials earn substantially more than those without and they’re far more likely to work in their trained profession.

For a broader look at the North American job market, see our guide on entering the North American job market.

1Template helps you build a resume that properly frames your evaluated credentials for North American employers, so your qualifications get the recognition they deserve from the first glance.

Don’t let your hard-earned credentials get lost in translation. Start the evaluation process now, and build your North American career on the foundation you’ve already laid.