No authority oversees these evaluations in the U.S. Any recognition of foreign degrees and qualifications is done at a state level. You must verify the steps and requirements needed with the corresponding states where you live or wish to practice.
Three instances require you to evaluate foreign degrees and qualifications: to study, work, or practice a licensed profession.
Also Read: Visa H-2B, a program for temporary jobs in the US
Validating Credits for Studying
To study in the U.S., you must deal directly with the institution you plan to enroll in. It is beneficial to speak with the admissions office ahead of time.
For example, if you are planning to have some credits evaluated to study at LaGuardia Community College or another undergrad college, they will take a look at your credits and transfer, at most, 30 credits for your degree. The number and circumstances can vary per institution.
For Masters and other programs, it is different and more complex. To enroll in an MS at Baruch College’s Zickling School of Business, for example, there are certain countries that the institution will be able to evaluate the qualifications for. However, for other countries, they require you to have an international credential evaluation from a NACES-approved Agency.
Here are some places for evaluations of foreign education.
Also read the NY Foreign Educational Evaluation Guide
**Before registering for evaluations, we recommend contacting the Office of Admissions. They will guide you through the best options available.
Also read: How to Start a Business if You Are an Undocumented Immigrant
Validating Foreign Degrees, Skills and Certifications for Work
Hiring U.S. entities will usually direct you to organizations that can and will evaluate your credentials. However, in cases where no service is recommended, you can choose an evaluation service yourself. The International Affairs Office of the U.S. recommends using one of the following services:
- The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) is an association of 19 credential evaluation services with admission standards and an enforced code of good practice.
- The Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE) is an association of 10 credential evaluation services with a board of advisors and an enforced code of ethics.
**Please note that all types of evaluations have fees. We recommend contacting the organizations for any questions before starting the service.
Also Read: ITIN Number: Another Way To Pay Taxes As An Immigrant
Validating a Foreign License for Professional Practice
To validate foreign professional licensure, you must meet the following requirements: education, written examination, and clinical examination. The validation process varies from state to state and by industry. It is recommended that you find the state’s regulator of the industry in which you want to practice. They will have specific protocols that will guide you on how you could validate your license to work in one of the states. Most of the time you will be required to do a residency for at least one year.
In New York, the agency that regulates most of the industries is the Office of the Professions. Here, you will find a list of industries that will take you to their respective pages.
**Because the license validation requirements vary by practice, we cannot list specific costs or standard steps.
