Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA)

Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA)

All secondary education and non-US accredited college studies completed outside of the US should be submitted for evaluation. This requirement applies to students seeking transfer credit (as well as undergraduate admission to some majors and graduate admissions). View this helpful instructional video.

Services and Fees

Report

A file number will be assigned and notification will be sent upon receipt of the application. Every effort will be made to mail the evaluation within 15 business days. Yet, if additional documentation and/or fees is/are required, the turnaround time will be effective from the date of receipt of all requested materials. Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) requires the Detail Report with Course Level Identification (see below).

Detail Report with Course Level Identification

(also known as course-by-course report with course level identification)
Description This report identifies the institution(s) attended, dates of attendance, credential(s) earned, and the United States educational equivalent. It also lists individual courses taken with semester units, individual grade equivalents and an overall grade point average (where applicable), and it identifies the level of the class (e.g., lower versus upper division, professional, vocational).
Suggested for Junior / Community College Transfer Credit Professional Licensing / Certification in certain fields (other than Barbering and Cosmetology, Massage Therapy, and Physical Therapy)
Fee $235
View Sample Report pdf-iconIERF evaluation reports are issued on special Script-Safe paper that cannot be altered.

Additional Services

Rush Services

If requesting a Rush service, please note that ALL fees must be paid by cashier's check, money order or credit card only. No personal checks will be accepted for rush applications.

Please also note that Rush applications received after 12:00pm PST/PDT will be considered to have been received the next business day. This also applies to payments, correspondence and documentation received after 12:00pm PST/PDT.

If additional documentation and/or fees are required, the turnaround time will be effective from the date of receipt of the application, required documents and fee.

IMPORTANT: Be advised that if you apply online, you will receive a file number. When sending your documents in, please write your file number on the outside of the envelope. This will notify us that your case is a rush service, so that we can give your application immediate attention. If you are arranging to have your school or translator send documents directly to our office, please also request that they reference your file number on the outside of the envelope. Unfortunately, if your package does not include your full IERF file number on the exterior, IERF cannot guarantee that your rush service will be correctly applied on the business day it is received.

 
24-Hour Rush (Next Business Day)
Fee $200 in addition to the report fee
Turnaround time 24 hours from the receipt of the application, required documents and fee.
5-Day Rush
Fee $85 in addition to the report fee
Turnaround time 5 business days from the receipt of the application, required documents and fee.
10-Day Rush
Fee $60 in addition to the report fee
Turnaround time 10 business days from the receipt of the application, required documents and fee.

Extra Copies

Copies Requested at the Time of the Application

One official copy is sent electronically to Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) and one applicant copy is included in the report fee. Additional official  copies requested at the time of application cost $30 per copy.

Copies Requested After an Evaluation Report Has Been Mailed

Once a report has been mailed, extra copies may be obtained using the Request Form for Duplicate Copies of an Evaluation. Separate fees apply.

Please note that applicant files and documents are only kept for 2 years. Returning applicants seeking additional reports after the 2-year period must submit a new application and new fees, along with their academic records.

Mailing Options

Reports are sent electronically to Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). The Official Report Delivery Fees are as follows:
  • Email for $10 per address
  • Regular Mail for $10 per address
  • Domestic Secure Mailing for $25 per physical address
  • Domestic Next Day Delivery for $40 per physical address
  • International Secure Mailing for $75 per physical addressIf submitting original documents, we recommend that you select either Secure Mailing or Domestic Next Day Delivery for return of your academic records, as these include a tracking number. Please note that the original documents that you submit will not be returned to you via regular mail unless you instruct us in writing to do so. IERF accepts no liability related to the loss or damage of documents during mailing.

Payments

Payment in the form of a check (unless requesting a RUSH service), cashier's check, money order or credit card must accompany all applications, and must be payable to IERF. Overseas payments must be in U.S. dollars and drawn on a United States bank. If payment is being made by a bank draft, an additional $15 processing fee is required.

Required Documentation

IERF General Document Requirements

Be certain that you have all the necessary documents before sending your application, as missing documents will delay the processing of your evaluation. Also, be sure to read the IERF Country-Specific Requirements section (below), as it provides a more detailed description of the required academic records by country of study. Please note that IERF requires official academic records. Unofficial student copies will not be accepted, even if they are issued by the school.

Please submit the following:

ORIGINAL Transcripts / Mark Sheets / Examination Certificates / Academic Records indicating courses/subjects, hours of study/units/credits, and grades/marks/examination results, issued in the original language. These must be issued on institutional letterhead and include official signatures and seals. If the hours/units/credits are not included on the academic records, please submit program descriptions/syllabi issued by the institution, where applicable.

ORIGINAL Diplomas / Graduation Certificates / Degree Certificates issued in the original language (indicating that a degree/qualification has been earned or that a program of study has been completed). If the degree was not earned, please indicate so in writing.

Copy of the title page, abstract, table of contents, and first ten pages of the dissertation for the evaluation of doctoral studies

Please note that if you have postsecondary studies, you are not required to submit academic records for secondary studies. Also, if you have completed graduate studies, the undergraduate academic records are still required.

If you have completed studies in the United States, please submit a copy of the transcript and/or diploma as supporting documentation. Please note, however, that your US studies will not be included in the evaluation, as colleges, universities, and licensing agencies evaluate credentials from the United States according to their individual policies.

IERF Country-Specific Requirements

Be certain that you have all the necessary documents before sending your application, as missing documents will delay the processing of your evaluation. This section provides a detailed description of the required academic records by country of study. It is recommended that you first read the IERF General Document Requirements section (above). Please click here to view any specific document requirements for your country(ies) of study.

EXCEPTIONS: International Curricula and Transnational Programs of Study

Secondary-Level Studies You may have completed a program at an international high school in a curriculum that is different from the national model of the country in which you physically studied. Examples include IGCSEs, International A-Levels, and the International Baccalaureate. In such instances, the language of issue should correspond to the curriculum that was studied rather than that of the physical host country. Original, official academic records should also be submitted. Postsecondary-Level Studies You may have completed a transnational program of study. Examples include joint degree programs, taught by universities located in two different countries, or studying at the international branch campus of a university physically located in a different country. In such instances, the records should be issued by the degree-awarding institution, in the official language of that institution and curriculum. Original, official academic records should also be submitted.

Translations

Translations must be submitted for all records not officially issued in English. These must be in the same format as the original-language documents, line-by-line, word-for-word, and must be typed. IERF reserves the right to request translations prepared by professional translation services. In some instances, professional translations are required. Please be sure to check IERF’s Country-Specific Requirements (see section above) for more information. IERF has negotiated a special discount with University Language Services for our applicants who use their translation services. You can contact them directly through their website to learn more about the discount.

Proof of Name

If your name has changed, please submit proof of name change (e.g. copy of a marriage certificate or other legal document, etc.).

Request for Additional Information

Be certain that you have all the necessary documents before sending your application, as missing documents will delay the processing of your evaluation. Please note that at any time during the evaluation process, IERF reserves the right to request additional documents or that documents be sent directly to IERF by the issuing institution(s). All records received from the institution(s) of study will become the property of IERF and will not be returned to the applicant. Please submit the requested documentation and/or fees within 4 months. Otherwise, your case will be closed and an $80 fee will be required to re-open your case.

How to Apply

Before you submit your application, please be sure to read our full Terms & Conditions. We recommend that you have all the necessary documents (as outlined in the Required Documentation section above) before sending your application, as missing documents will delay the processing of your evaluation. The "How to Apply" infographic below is a handy resource for getting started. pdf-iconHow to Apply When you are ready to apply, please take advantage of our interactive and user-friendly online application. This facility will guide you step-by-step through the process as well as provide various payment options. NOTE: Be sure to select Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) as the recipient of your report.  This will ensure that your report reaches your school. THE COMPLETED REPORT WILL BE SENT ELECTRONICALLY TO NORTHERN VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (NOVA). A SECURE MAILING FEE IS NOT NEEDED FOR THE OFFICIAL REPORT FOR NORTHERN VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (NOVA).

Contact IERF

For questions, please contact us at info@ierf.org or 310.258.9451. Note that all applicants will receive automatic email notifications whenever there is a change in the status of the application.