What is WES credential evaluation?

WES credential evaluation is a third‑party educational credential evaluation service that assesses the equivalency of your completed education for study, immigration, or professional purposes—commonly used for the United States and Canada.

Is WES a government agency?

No. WES is not a government agency. It is an independent credential evaluation organization, but its reports are widely accepted by many schools, immigration programs, and employers depending on their requirements.

Who typically needs WES evaluation?

Applicants to U.S./Canadian schools (especially graduate programs), applicants for certain Canadian immigration streams, or people whose receiving institution specifically requests a WES report typically need WES evaluation.

How much does WES cost?

Fees vary by evaluation type, destination, delivery options, and add‑on services. Please refer to the WES website for the latest pricing.

WES Credential Evaluation Guide

Q: How long does WES take?

After WES receives all required documents, the evaluation stage often takes around 1–3 weeks, but total time can be longer due to document collection and school delivery timelines.

This guide is for applicants who plan to apply to study in the United States or Canada, immigrate, or register for a profession, and who need to understand WES (World Education Services) credential evaluation.

We will explain what WES is, who it applies to, how to choose an evaluation type, expected time and costs, and common misconceptions, to help you clarify your direction before you start the process.

What Is WES? Is WES an official organization?

WES (World Education Services) is a third-party credential evaluation organization that mainly provides equivalency evaluation services for international applicants.

Please note that WES is not a government agency, but its evaluation reports are accepted by a large number of U.S. and Canadian universities, immigration departments, and employers.

In general, the role of WES is to help the receiving party understand and verify your overseas academic background, and to issue an evaluation report using the way North American education systems present credentials.

Whether you must use WES, and the required report type, still depends on the official requirements of your target institution/organization.

Who usually needs a WES evaluation? In what situations might you not need it?

Situations where you are usually required or advised to provide a WES report

When applying to U.S. or Canadian universities (especially graduate programs), it is used to verify overseas academic credentials;
When applying for Canadian immigration programs (such as some Express Entry / provincial nominee programs), an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report is required;
When job applications or professional regulatory bodies require confirmation of overseas credential equivalency.

Common situations where you may not necessarily need WES

Your target institution/organization does not require any credential evaluation;
It clearly specifies using another evaluation agency (such as IQAS, CES, etc.);
Your credential is only used domestically and does not involve overseas equivalency evaluation.

It is recommended to confirm your target institution/organization’s requirements before placing an order. If you are not sure, you can first整理 the program requirements and the purpose of use, and then decide whether to proceed with WES evaluation.

Common WES evaluation types (how to choose more reliably)

Different purposes require different evaluation types. Common WES types include:

Course-by-Course Evaluation: Lists each course and credits in detail, mostly used for university applications.
Document-by-Document Evaluation: Provides only the overall credential equivalency, mostly used for immigration or employment.

Before making a formal selection, it is recommended to first check your target institution/organization’s requirements for the report type. If the other party does not specify, you can prioritize judging based on purpose (education / immigration / licensing).

Choosing the wrong type may lead to re-evaluation or additional documents, increasing both time and cost.

WES process overview (understand the application path)

Overall, WES evaluation usually includes the following stages:

Create a WES account and select the destination country (U.S./Canada);
Fill in personal information and educational history;
Prepare documents according to the system checklist;
Have official transcripts sent by the university/archives or other official channels;
After WES receives all documents, it conducts the evaluation and issues the report.

If you have already confirmed you need to apply and want to see specific steps and a document checklist, please refer to How to Apply for a WES Credential Evaluation.

How long does WES take? Time expectations and common causes of delay

After WES receives all documents that meet the requirements, the evaluation time is generally about 7–20 business days.

However, from preparation to final completion, the actual total time is usually affected by the following factors:

Long transcript sending cycle from the institution, or back-and-forth communication;
Inconsistent document information, requiring additional explanations or re-issuance;
Submitted documents do not meet the “official document” standard, resulting in return or re-sending.

It is recommended to plan ahead and reserve sufficient time, to avoid starting close to application deadlines.

How are WES fees structured? (overview)

WES fees vary depending on evaluation type, destination country, add-on services, and courier methods. Generally, they include:

Base evaluation fee;
Additional report fee (if you need to send to multiple schools);
International courier fees and possible overseas payment handling fees.

For specific fees, please refer to the real-time prices on the WES official website.

Common return reasons and misconceptions (avoid pitfalls in advance)

Common issues often occur in the “document authenticity and sending method” stage, for example:

Transcripts were not sent by an official institution such as the university/archives;
The envelope was not sealed or stamped properly, so it cannot be considered an official document;
Personal information does not match the certificate/transcript (name, date of birth, study period, etc.);
Translation format or key information is missing, requiring additional documents.

If you encounter statuses such as “On Hold / Need Additional Information” during the process, it is recommended to check the prompts in your WES account as soon as possible and submit the required materials, to avoid the overall timeline being extended.

WES vs IQAS vs CES: how to choose based on your purpose

In addition to WES, common credential evaluation organizations include IQAS and CES. Different organizations differ in scope, review focus, and use scenarios, and there is no single “best” choice.

It is recommended to prioritize whether your target institution/organization accepts it, and then decide based on processing time and document requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is WES evaluation?

WES evaluation usually refers to having WES evaluate your credentials and issue an evaluation report, which is used for study abroad, immigration, or professional purposes as an equivalency explanation.

2. Is WES an official organization?

WES is not a government agency. It is a third-party credential evaluation organization, but its reports are accepted by a large number of North American institutions.

3. Do I definitely need WES evaluation?

Not necessarily. Whether it is required depends on whether your target institution/organization requires credential evaluation and whether it specifies WES or another agency.

4. How long does WES evaluation take?

After WES receives all compliant documents, the evaluation is usually 7–20 business days, but the overall timeline is also affected by document preparation and institutional sending time.

5. Approximately how much does WES evaluation cost?

Fees vary depending on evaluation type, destination country, and add-on services. It is recommended to refer to WES real-time prices and reserve budget for courier and payment handling fees.

If you have already confirmed you need to apply and would like to further understand document preparation and mailing precautions, you may continue reading How to Apply for a WES Credential Evaluation; if you are still not sure whether you need WES, you are also welcome to organize your purpose and your target institution’s requirements and send them to us, and we will help you determine a more suitable evaluation path.