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Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about the Application
Q: What kind of application do I need?
A: You will need the standard application form for any of the following: employment, teacher certification, professional licensing/certification, immigration, salary adjustment and education. A separate application form is required for physical therapy licensure, barbering and cosmetology licensure, nursing licensure, military enlistment, and cases for immigration and employment certification submitted by attorneys and employers. For more detailed information, please refer to the Services and Fees section. You may also download the application from our website.
Q: How can I get an application?
A: You can contact IERF by mail, phone, fax, or email to request an application. It will be mailed out the same day by first class mail. You may also request an application to be faxed or emailed to you. To download the application from the website, click here.
Q: My current name differs from the one on my educational records. Which name should I write on the application?
A: The application asks for your current name as well as the name on your educational records. Please provide us with both.
Q: Which report should I request?
A: A General Report is suggested for military enlistment, employment and immigration. A Detail Report is suggested for college and university admission and transfer credit. A Detail Report with course-level designations is suggested for junior/community colleges and professional licensing in fields such as accounting and teacher certification.
Please note that separate licensure reports are issued for physical therapy, nursing and barbering and cosmetology. There are separate application forms for licensure evaluations in these fields. For more information, please refer to the section on Services and Fees.
Q: What is Lower and Upper division?
A: Some institutions require course level designations (Lower and Upper Division) in the Detail Report. Such course level designations identify whether a subject is taught at a general and/or basic level or whether it is specialized and/or advanced. This service is $20.00 in addition to the Detail Report fee and is requested for junior/community colleges, teacher certification and boards of accountancy.
Q: What if I have questions on filling out the application?
A: Please be sure to read the entire application before filling it out. This website can also provide further information. For additional assistance, please contact our customer service representatives.
Q: Can I email or fax my completed application to IERF?
A: Unfortunately, your completed application needs to be mailed to our office, along with all your documents and fees.
Questions about the Fees
Q: What are the fees for your services?
A: Please refer to the section on Services and Fees.
Q: What does the report fee include?
A: The fee includes one applicant copy and one official agency copy, which is in a sealed envelope. Do not open the official copy. Both copies will be mailed to you unless you request that the official agency copy be mailed to a separate address.
Q: Are there additional fees for special mailing services?
A: Yes. Please refer to the section on Services and Fees.
Q: Is there a fee for each degree that is evaluated?
A: No. The fee applies to all academic records submitted with the original request for an evaluation.
Q: Is there a fee for a new evaluation?
A: Yes. Please refer to the section on Services and Fees.
Q: Does IERF accept credit cards or any other form of electronic payment?
A: Yes, IERF accepts credit card payments (Visa or MasterCard only). Please fill out the Credit Card Information form and submit it along with your completed Application form. If you have already submitted your completed Application form to IERF and did not include the credit card information, or if you wish to make an additional payment, please submit the Credit Card Information form to our Fees Department (you can also fax the form directly to 310.258.9449 or e-mail it to fees@ierf.org; be sure to include your file number as well, if applicable).
Q: Can I get a refund if I do not agree with the report or if I cancel the application?
A: Unfortunately, no refunds will be issued once an application has been submitted and we have begun processing your case.
Questions about IERF Services
Q: How can I find out more about your services?
A: Please click on the area of interest below:
Services and Fees
Research Grants
Training Workshops
Country Index
Articles
For additional information, please contact us.
Q: Does IERF offer academic counseling?
A: Unfortunately, we do not offer academic counseling.
Q: Can I talk to an IERF staff member in my native language?
A: Unfortunately, IERF services are conducted in English.
Q: Does IERF offer rush services?
A: Yes. Please refer to the section on Services and Fees.
Q: Does IERF evaluate work experience?
A: Yes, IERF provides Experiential Reports, based on combined academic and professional experience. According to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations, individuals may have a degree equivalency based on a combination of their academic achievement and their significant and broad professional experience, even if they did not complete their studies.
Please note that IERF provides an assessment of these experiences for immigration and employment certification only. Applications must be submitted through either an attorney or employer on behalf of the applicant. This type of evaluation cannot be used for educational or licensure purposes.
Q: Will IERF let me know my U.S. equivalence over the phone?
A: Unfortunately, we do not give out equivalencies over the phone in order to protect our applicants' confidentiality and to ensure accuracy of all information provided.
Q: Can I visit your office to discuss my particular circumstances?
A: Unfortunately, IERF services are conducted solely by mail.
Questions about the Evaluation Reports
Q: What is an evaluation report?
A: An evaluation report is a description of an individual's international education and a recommendation for its U.S. equivalence.
Q: Is my school recognized by the Ministry of Education?
A: There is no U.S. governmental agency that recognizes foreign schools. However, if the school is recognized by the Ministry of Education in your country, then it may be considered equivalent to an accredited school in the United States.
Q: How does IERF determine its equivalency?
A: IERF's equivalency policy is determined by examining world educational systems, including the U.S., and how a program best fits into the U.S. system.
The salient criteria are:
Each evaluation report represents the considered judgment of at least two qualified credentials evaluators certifying to the validity of the opinion expressed, in accordance with guidelines established by the National Council for the Evaluation of Foreign Educational Credentials and a comprehensive analysis based on principles of applied comparative education.
Q: How does IERF report credit for completed coursework in a Detail Report?
A: IERF reports post-secondary academic coursework in terms of semester units, which is the most commonly used credit system in the United States.
Q: How quickly can I expect to receive my evaluation report?
A: Please refer to the section on Services and Fees.
Q: Can IERF send my evaluation directly to the institution for which it is intended?
A: Yes. Please be sure to complete the mailing instructions section on the application form.
Q: What if I disagree with the outcome of my evaluation?
A: You have 90 days from the date of issue of the evaluation report within which to raise any questions concerning its content (thereafter, the file will be closed). If you would like to have your file submitted to the Review Committee, please put your request in writing. Your request may be sent by regular mail, email (review@ierf.org) or fax (310.342.7086). Please be sure to include your name and file number on all correspondence. Allow a minimum of 10 business days for your case to be reviewed. You will receive a reply in writing thereafter. Please understand there is no guarantee that the Review Committee will determine that any changes should be made to the existing evaluation report.
Q: Can I get duplicate copies of my evaluation report?
A: Yes. For standard reports, duplicates (requested once a report has already been mailed) are $45 for the first copy and $15 for each additional copy requested at the same time. For 3-day rush service, add $50 (fee payable by money order, cashier's check or credit card).
Duplicate copies of nursing evaluations are $50 for the first state and $35 for each additional state. For physical therapy evaluations, requirements vary by state board. For this reason, duplicate copies of physical therapy evaluations for the same state only are $100. Duplicate copies of physical therapy evaluations for states different from the recipients in the initial application are $250, plus $100 for each additional state. There are currently no rush services for duplications of nursing and physical therapy evaluations.
There is a two-year limit on requests for copies of any evaluation. After two years, a new report and new application fees are required. To download the application from the website, click here.
Please note that IERF reserves the right to deny a request for a duplicate copy on the basis of
changes that may have taken place in: 1) the educational system of the country of study,
2) IERF policy or 3) the requirements of the institution/licensing board/agency to which the
report is to be sent, since the time the initial report was issued.
In such a case, a new report and new application fees are required.
Q: Does IERF base new evaluations on previous ones or am I required to send my documents again?
A: We base our evaluations on the documents on file with our organization. IERF keeps records on file for two years. Therefore, if the previous evaluation was issued more than two years from the date of the initial application, you will be asked to resubmit all your educational records.
Q: How long would my evaluation report be valid?
A: Please contact the individual institutions for which the report is intended, as they may have different requirements regarding the date of issue of an evaluation report.
Questions about my Documents
Q: Do you offer a "pre-screening" service on foreign credentials?
A: Unfortunately, we do not offer this service for individuals.
Q: Will you be able to evaluate studies which were completed many years ago?
A: Yes. For required documentation, please click here.
Q: Can my studies be evaluated if I did not complete the program?
A: Yes. For required documentation, please click here.
Q: What documents do I need to send with my application?
A: Please refer to the section on Required Documentation (including Country-Specific Requirements).
Q: Do I need to send academic records for my secondary-level studies?
A: No. However, this information can often be helpful when completing an evaluation report.
Q: Do I need to send you original documents?
A: Please refer to the sections on Required Documentation (including Country-Specific Requirements).
Q: How do I send IERF my original documents?
A: You can send your documents by regular mail. However, we recommend that you send them by certified mail, registered mail or overnight courier, so that they can be tracked.
Q: Will my original documents be safe at IERF?
A: Yes. IERF appreciates that these documents are very valuable and often irreplaceable. Therefore, we make every effort to ensure that your original documents are handled with extreme care.
Q: Will my documents be returned to me?
A: Yes. Your original documents will be returned to you, unless IERF finds that they are not authentic. Photocopies become the property of IERF.
Q: If I am having my school directly send you my documents, will I be notified once you receive them?
A: Unfortunately, we do not immediately notify our applicants in every instance. However, you can access your application status online.
Q: Do I need to send in translations?
A: Yes. For records not issued in English, translations must be issued in the same format as the original documents, line-by-line, word-for-word. For more information, please refer to the section on Required Documentation (including Country-Specific Requirements).
Q: Where can I obtain English translations of my documents?
A: You may consult the website of the American Translators Association for a directory of professional translation services.
Q: Will you need to contact my school? What if the school never responds?
A: IERF reserves the right to contact educational and governmental institutions when additional information is necessary to complete the evaluation. Depending on the information needed, if a school fails to respond after three attempts, an evaluation may not be possible.
Q: Can I get a refund if I cannot provide you with all the documents you are requesting?
A: Unfortunately, no refund is issued once an application has been received and we have begun processing your case. Before submitting an application, please be sure to read the entire application and refer to the section on Required Documentation (including Country-Specific Requirements).
Questions about Schools, Licensing Boards and Professional Organizations
Q: Does IERF have a list of all the schools, colleges and universities that accept its evaluations?
A: Unfortunately, we do not have a comprehensive list, as the information can frequently change. For this reason, we suggest that you contact the institution directly to obtain this information.
Q: Does IERF have a list of all the state boards that accept its evaluations?
A: Unfortunately, we do not have a comprehensive list, as the information can frequently change. For this reason, we suggest that you contact the state board directly to obtain this information.
Q: Do you know the requirements of colleges, universities, licensing boards and professional organizations (e.g., boards of accountancy, the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, etc.)?
A: Unfortunately, even though we are aware of many of their requirements, we encourage you to contact the individual institution directly to obtain this information, as it frequently changes.
Q: How do I find out if I have been approved by the board to which I have applied?
A: Please contact the board directly to follow up on your application, as IERF does not have this information.
Questions about the Status of my Application
Q: How will I know if I sent in all the necessary documentation and fees?
A: An acknowledgement card/e-mail will be sent to you with your file number and the date your application was received. If further information is required, we will contact you by regular mail, phone or email.
Q: Can I speak to the evaluator at any time during the processing of my application?
A: Yes. You can speak to an evaluator while your application is in progress. However, the evaluator's assistant will initially assist you with any questions or concerns. In the event that the assistant is unable to answer your query, it will be forwarded to the evaluator.
Q: Can I check the status of my application online?
A: If you have provided an e-mail address on the application form, we will e-mail you with updates on the status of your evaluation. If you did not provide an e-mail address on the application form, you can check the status of your application by clicking here.
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