WES Evaluation for Indian Students: A Complete Guide

If you are an Indian planning to study or work in the United States or Canada, you’ll need a credential evaluation report. WES validates your educational degrees, certificates, transcripts, or professional qualifications from other countries.

As the biggest credential evaluator in North America, handling over 100,000 cases annually and are recognized by over 2,500 educational, corporate, licensing, and governmental organizations. 

Even if you are uncertain where to pursue your goals in the United States or Canada, starting with a WES credential review is a crucial step in your educational or immigration journey.

Read this blog for a complete guide on WES Evaluation for Indian Students, covering the process of getting a credential evaluation for opportunities in the United States or Canada, the WES evaluation fee, how to get a WES reference number, its validity, and more.

What is WES Evaluation?

A WES credential evaluation compares your academic achievements to standards in the U.S. or Canada, aiding institutions like schools, employers, licensing boards, or immigration authorities in understanding your educational background.

A WES report:

• Determine and explain your qualifications.
• Verify the legitimacy of your credentials.
• Accompanied by a comparable grade point average (GPA)
• Assess the legitimacy of your records.

You can upgrade to an International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP) to send easily to universities and approved licensing bodies.

Additionally, you’ll receive a WES digital badge to showcase your verified credentials on social media platforms like LinkedIn.

WES offers three distinct services to assist individuals in the credential evaluation process:

1. Degree Equivalency: It is used to understand how their international university degrees compared to those in the US or Canada and aids in determining eligibility for higher education.
   
2. WES International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP): The service consolidates verified transcripts and evaluation reports into one package, securely stores them for academic or professional use, and sends them to universities as needed.
   
3. WES International Grade Point Average (IGPA) Calculator: It converts international grades from over 140 countries into the four-point GPA scale commonly used in the USA.

Types of WES Evaluation Reports

WES provides three different formats for its assessment reports, each tailored to a specific need:

• Course-by-course evaluation: The report includes a detailed description of your courses, grades, US GPA (grade point average), and educational certificates’ USA equivalents. It’s ideal for graduate institution applications, transfer requests, and licensing boards (except for CPA). 
• Document-By-Document Evaluation: The format provides the USA equivalent of your qualifications, ideal for USA immigration, first-year admissions, and job applications. 
• CPA Supplemental Report: If you want to work in accounting or business, this report assesses your business and accounting courses. It is for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) boards. 

Importance of WES Evaluation for Indian Students

One cannot emphasize how crucial the WES Evaluation is for Indian students. 

• Equivalency Assessment: A comparison of your Indian academic qualifications with those in the US or Canada’s educational systems is provided by the WES Evaluation. Acquiring it is necessary for job and university admittance.
• Acknowledgment on a professional level: To make sure your credentials satisfy the regional criteria, a lot of licensing authorities and businesses in North America demand WES Evaluation.
• Transparency: By giving your academic credentials more legitimacy and openness, WES Evaluation makes it simpler for employers and organizations to comprehend the degree of education you have acquired.
  Time and Cost Savings: Avoid unnecessary education repetition by having your credentials evaluated. It saves time and money by ensuring your qualifications are understood and accepted without extensive additional coursework.

Documents Required for WES Credit Evaluation

For Bachelor’s and master’s degree evaluation:

Bachelor’s Degree:

• Bachelor’s Degree Certificate (Final or Provisional)
• Statement of Marks (University Issued and Attested)

Master’s Degree:

• Master’s Degree Certificate (Final or Provisional)
• Statement of Marks (University Issued and Attested)

For PhD degree evaluation:

• Doctoral Degree Confirmation (Written statement from awarding institution confirming date of degree conferral and major)

Who Needs a WES Evaluation?

Indian students planning to study or work in the United States or Canada may need a WES evaluation for their foreign academic credentials. This evaluation is essential in several situations:

• Study Abroad: Many US and Canadian universities require a WES evaluation for Indian students’ educational qualifications.
• Immigration: WES evaluations are required for Indian immigrants moving to the US or Canada to demonstrate educational equivalence.
• Job Applications: WES evaluations help Indian students and professionals showcase their education to employers in the US or Canada.
• Professional Licenses: Certain professions in the USA or Canada may require WES evaluations for licensing purposes.
• Educational Institutions: WES evaluations are used by US and Canadian institutions to assess Indian students’ qualifications or foreign faculty credentials.

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How to Get the WES Reference Number?

To get the WES reference number:

Access the Form:

1. Log into your WES My Account after submitting your application.
2. Download the form from the “Required Documents” section to obtain your WES reference number.

For How to get the WES reference number, fill Out the Form:

1. Applicants fill out the top half of the form with personal details.
2. An official from the institution completes the lower half.
3. The form can be filled out online or offline and sent electronically or by mail, following the school’s preference.

Add The Applicant Details:

• Name, date of birth, email, institution, country of education, study dates, credential details, major, and student ID (if applicable).

Institution Details:

• Name, credential earned, date earned (if applicable), official’s name, title, email, and phone number.

Submission:

• Both applicant and official sign, date, and stamp the form before mailing it in a sealed envelope or sending it electronically to WES.

Also check how to maximize your chances of landing the perfect scholarship for MS in USA as an Indian student with our blog: “Best Scholarships for MS in USA For Indian Students“.

How to Send Your Documents?

Here are the ways to deliver your WES documents:

• Before sending documents, you must fill out an application and acquire a reference number. You must include this reference number on any documents you submit to WES. WES is not liable for papers that do not have a reference number. Documents with a reference number may take less time than expected.
•  WES does not require original documentation. WES will not return the documents you send and remove them at its discretion.
• Sending your academic documentation digitally can speed up the processing of your report. Know whether your institution is collaborating with WES digitally. 
• If you or your institution sends your papers via courier service, you must pay the delivery costs. 

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When to Obtain Your Credential Evaluation?

The optimal time to have a credential review is as soon as possible, even before confirming plans to study or work in the United States or Canada.

This initial step helps you to save time, money, and effort by determining how your qualifications match the North American educational system.

WES takes seven business days to evaluate credentials, with specific evaluations for immigration to Canada reaching up to 30 business days.

Which Option Should You Select: WES ICAP or WES Basic?

WES evaluation offers two packages: WES ICAP and WES Basic. Here’s a comparison between WES ICAP and WES Basic:

Features	WES ICAP	WES Basic
Verified WES transcripts storage and sending	Yes	No
WES document accreditation	Yes	Yes
Lists of all completed post-secondary courses	Yes	Yes
U.S. semester credit and grade equivalent	Yes	Yes
U.S. grade point average (GPA)	Yes	Yes
Designation of course level (upper/lower)	Yes	No

What is the WES Credential Evaluation Process?

 Here are the steps simplified for the WES Credential Evaluation process:

Stage 1: Document Imaging

Upon receipt of your documents at WES, the documentation specialists meticulously examine each page and scan them into our system. In some circumstances, WES accepts electronic documents from your international institution. 

Once your files are within the system, your My Account timeline will display: processing a new package or document.

Stage 2: Document Review and Authentication

During this stage, the document examiners compare the scanned images with the physical documents received to ensure completeness and adherence to WES specifications. After review, they decide whether the documents meet our acceptance criteria.

At this point, your My Account timeline will show reviewing your documents.

Stage 3: Analysis and Equivalency Assessment

Next, the team of analysts, equipped with country-specific expertise, conducts a thorough document analysis and evaluation. They scrutinize the certified documents for accuracy and completeness.

If all required documents are received in the specified manner and deemed authentic and complete, the file proceeds to evaluation, with an estimated completion date issued.

Your My Account timeline will show: “reviewing your evaluation”

If documents require secondary verification, the team contacts the institution directly. 

If documentation is missing, evaluators will request the necessary documents. 

Files that require secondary verification or additional documentation are put on hold until all essential information is acquired. Before concluding, evaluators thoroughly review papers, do research, and confer with domain experts.

Stage 4: Evaluation Report Display

The final phase involves quality control, where specialists review the report draft, make any required adjustments, and proceed with printing or electronic delivery. 

After the evaluation, you will receive a confirmation when recipients receive your report electronically, which is instantaneous for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada and AccessWES members. However, keep in mind that institutional recipients may wait to review the reports upon receipt.

Moreover, the team will notify you once your report has been dispatched. Also, you can directly inquire with your institution to check if they have received and reviewed your report.

WES Evaluation Fees

The WES evaluation cost varies depending on the type of evaluation and delivery mode chosen. Here is the WES evaluation fee breakdown:

• Document-by-document WES evaluation fee basic evaluation for First-year admissions: $111
• Course-to-course WES basic evaluation for Transfer admissions or Graduate admission: $176

Here are the delivery options and associated WES evaluation costs:

• WES Canada fees Standard delivery: $12
• International courier services: $81
• 1-day shipping WES fees (U.S. only): $39
• 2-day shipping (U.S. only): $27
• 3-5 business day shipping (U.S. only): $17
• Sealed envelope WES fees: $7

For additional services, WES fees for Canada from India:

• Duplicate reports ordered at the time of application WES evaluation cost: $33
• Update a completed evaluation report WES fees for Canada from India: $87
• Upgrade to ICAP (permanent transcript storage): $87
• Duplicate reports ordered after a completed evaluation:
  • First report (WES Basic): $54
  • First report (WES ICAP): $33

Each additional report WES fees for Canada from India: $33

WES Evaluation Validity

The WES Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for Indian students is valid for five years from the date of issue. You can use this ECA to submit your Express Entry profile.

Your Express Entry profile remains valid for one year from the date you submit it to IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada). If you do not receive an ITA for permanent residence within one year and wish to continue with Express Entry, you have to create and submit a new profile.

How Can I Renew the ECA From WES? 

If your ECA has expired or is about to expire, obtaining an additional copy will prolong the report’s validity. Log in to My Account, then click Order duplicate IRCC from the dashboard. Ordering an additional copy of your ECA will extend its expiration date by five years.

Tips for WES Evaluation Success

Here are some tips to ensure your WES Evaluation journey is smooth and successful:

1. Submit Complete Documents: Ensure you submit all required documents in the correct format and language. Only complete or correct documents can ensure the evaluation process is completed on time.
2. Plan Ahead: Start the WES Evaluation process well in advance of your application deadlines or employment opportunities to allow sufficient time for evaluation and processing.
3. Choose the Right Evaluation Type: Select the evaluation type (course-by-course, document-by-document) based on your educational background and the requirements of the institutions or employers you are applying to.
4. Follow-up: Regularly check your WES account for updates on the status of your evaluation. Follow up with WES if there is any delay or issue with your application.
5. Use Official Channels: Communicate with WES and submit documents through official channels provided on their website for smooth processing and to avoid potential fraud or delays.

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Conclusion

When embarking on your journey to study in the US or Canada, ensuring the recognition of your international education is paramount.

Obtaining a WES evaluation equivalency report, such as a Course-by-Course evaluation, is key to breaking down barriers and unlocking academic and career advancement opportunities in your new country.

Don’t let doubts about the recognition of your qualifications hold you back; investing in an equivalency report guarantees a smooth transition and paves the way for exciting personal and professional growth in the US or Canada.

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Reference link: https://www.wes.org/advisor-blog/