Facts and Fictions of TEC Credential Evaluations
October 24, 2024
Navigating the process of credential evaluation can be a complex journey, particularly for individuals hailing from diverse educational systems worldwide. At The Evaluation Company (TEC), we frequently encounter misconceptions surrounding critical terms like “evaluation” and “verification.” These misunderstandings can lead to confusion and potentially affect your academic and professional prospects. In this blog, we aim to clarify common queries and shed light on what’s fact and what’s fiction regarding TEC credential evaluations, helping you make informed decisions throughout this process.
Understanding Credential Evaluation
Credential evaluation is an essential process for individuals who seek to further their education or enhance their career opportunities in the United States. It provides an assessment of foreign academic credentials, translating them into the U.S. educational system. This evaluation allows universities, employers, and licensing boards to understand the equivalent value of your education and qualifications. However, the process involves several steps that can often be misunderstood.
Fact or Fiction: “Translation, verification, and evaluation are the same thing.”
Fiction.
One of the most widespread misconceptions is that translation, verification, and evaluation are interchangeable terms. In reality, these processes serve different and distinct purposes:
- Translation involves converting documents issued in a language other than English into English by a certified translator. We require certified translations from either a certified translator, our team, or another member of the American Translators Association to ensure the accuracy of the translation. This step is crucial, as it allows our team to proceed to the evaluation stage and complete the requested analysis accurately.
- Verification is the process of authenticating your academic documents to ensure they are genuine. This step is critical in combating fraud and confirming that the documents you’ve submitted match those provided directly by your foreign institution. Without proper verification, there’s no guarantee that the documents reflect your true academic achievements.
- Evaluation refers to the assessment of your academic credentials and equating them to the U.S. educational system. This step allows universities and employers in the U.S. to understand the equivalent value of your foreign education. For example, if you completed a bachelor’s degree in your home country, the evaluation will help determine how that degree aligns with U.S. degree standards.
While all three processes are critical, they serve distinct functions within the overall evaluation process.
Fact or Fiction: “TEC will retrieve my documents from my institution.”
Fiction.
It’s a common belief that TEC offers a document retrieval service; however, that’s not the case. TEC does not have the ability to go to your foreign institution and collect documents on your behalf. This misunderstanding can create additional stress for applicants who are unsure of how to gather their documents.
Instead, we provide a document verification service, which involves contacting foreign institutions to confirm the authenticity of the documents you’ve submitted. This collaboration ensures that your credentials are legitimate, all without requiring you to manage the process alone, alleviating some of the stress involved. If an applicant chose to arrange for verification themselves, we recommend that they proactively reach out to their institutions to request official transcripts, as this can expedite the verification process.
Fact or Fiction: “I only need to verify one credential.”
Fact (with exceptions).
For TEC’s educational evaluations, you are typically required to verify only the highest post-secondary credential you hold from each country. For example, if you have both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from India, we only need verification for the master’s degree. This approach simplifies the process for applicants, allowing you to focus on the most relevant qualifications.
However, if your degrees are from different countries—such as a bachelor’s from India and a master’s from England—both credentials will require verification. This is important because each country may have different educational standards and systems, making it essential for the evaluation process to have verified credentials from all relevant institutions.
In addition, secondary or high school credentials generally don’t need verification unless they originate from specific countries, such as Haiti, Nigeria, or Ghana. Understanding these nuances can help you prepare your documentation effectively.
Fact or Fiction: “Verification is necessary only if you suspect fraud.”
Fiction.
While one of the primary reasons for verification is to prevent fraudulent submissions, it is not the sole purpose. Verification plays an essential role in ensuring that all documents are accurate and credible, even in the absence of any suspicion of fraud.
Without this vital step, the integrity of the credential evaluation process could be compromised, potentially leading to significant issues with university admissions or job applications. Verification is a fundamental part of maintaining the quality and reliability of the evaluation process, protecting not just the institutions but also the applicants themselves. By ensuring that all submitted documents are authentic, TEC helps to uphold the standards of educational integrity across the board.
Fact or Fiction: “TEC can verify my credentials for me.”
Fact.
At TEC, we offer a Document Verification Service (DVS) for many clients. With TEC, you can rest assured that the authenticity of your credentials will be verified directly with your foreign institution, saving you both time and effort. This service comes with a fee that varies by country, but it ensures that your documents are authenticated by a trusted third party. This added layer of verification lends significant credibility to your evaluation, making it more likely to be accepted by universities and employers in the U.S.
Utilizing our DVS allows you to focus on other aspects of your application, while we handle the verification process efficiently. We understand that gathering documents and navigating institutional bureaucracy can be time-consuming, so our service aims to simplify that experience for you.
Fact or Fiction: “Once I pay for an evaluation, I don’t need to pay for verification.”
Fact (with exceptions).
As previously mentioned, evaluation and verification are distinct services, each with its own fee. Paying for an evaluation covers the process of converting your foreign academic credentials into their U.S. equivalents. However, for TEC’s educational analyses, verification of the highest post-secondary credential from each country is a requirement.
While you can arrange for verification yourself without incurring additional costs, if you prefer not to handle it on your own, we can provide you with our document verification service for an extra fee. This DVS fee covers the work involved in authenticating your documents. Since these are separate steps in the credentialing process, both are necessary for a complete and accurate evaluation. Understanding this distinction can help you budget appropriately and avoid unexpected costs.
Final Thoughts
The credential evaluation process can feel overwhelming, but understanding the distinction between translation, verification, and evaluation can significantly smooth the journey. At TEC, we are committed to helping you navigate this process with clarity and confidence, ensuring your academic achievements are recognized and respected within the U.S. educational system.
If you have more questions about the evaluation or verification process, feel free to reach out to us. We’re not just a service provider; we’re your partners in achieving your academic and professional goals. Let us help you unlock the doors to new opportunities in the United States!