NOTE: THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND USNEI DO NOT EVALUATE FOREIGN DEGREES OR QUALIFICATIONS. PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT REQUESTS FOR SUCH EVALUATIONS TO US OR SUBMIT DIPLOMAS OR OTHER RECORDS FOR REVIEW. REFER TO THE LINKS BELOW.
There is no single authority in the United States for the recognition of foreign degrees and other qualifications. International agreements and the practice in the U.S. education system and labor market recognize the existence of three competent authorities for recognition matters:
The admitting school or higher education institution, for students who seek to study in the United States and who are presenting credits or qualifications earned abroad;
The hiring employer, for individuals seeking work and who are presenting degrees or other qualifications earned abroad; and
State or territorial licensing boards, for individuals seeking to practice regulated professions in a jurisdiction of the United States and who are presenting degrees or other qualifications earned abroad.
Many, if not most, of these competent authorities in turn depend on expert comparability recommendations prepared by credential evaluation services. Credential evaluation services are independent organizations that perform analyses of non-U.S. qualifications and issue recommendations as to how a particular qualification compares to a similar qualification or set of qualifications in the U.S. education system, labor market or the professions. Credential evaluations vary in cost depending on the complexity of the analysis and the amount of documentation available, and are generally paid for either by the individual or occasionally by an employer.
Information for Persons Seeking to Study in the United States [MS Word, 79K] provides information and resources for persons educated abroad who seek to enroll in a study program in the United States.
Information for Persons Seeking to Work in the United States [MS Word, 85K] provides information and resources for persons educated abroad who seek to work in the United States.
Professional Recognition [MS Word, 135K] provides information and resources concerning the recognition on non-U.S. qualifications in the regulated professions, either in order to practice the profession in the United States or to enter advanced professional studies.
Information for U.S. Educators and Human Resources Professionals provides information about U.S. recognition of foreign educational institutions and links to regional and national sources of information on accredited institutions in other countries.