Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a foreign credential evaluation?
A foreign credential evaluation is an assessment of a non-U.S. educational degree or diploma to determine its equivalency to U.S. educational standards. There are different types of evaluations, like a General evaluation or a Course-by-Course evaluation. An evaluation is not the same as a translation, although a translation may be needed in order to do your evaluation if your original documents were not issued in English.
Why do I need a foreign credential evaluation?
Foreign credential evaluations are often required by U.S. colleges and universities, employers, state boards, and immigration authorities to verify educational achievements and determine whether your education meets the institutions academic prerequisites.
Who accepts evaluations from Atlas Credential Evaluations?
Our evaluations are accepted by institutions across the United States, including higher education institutions, employers, state boards of education, and the U.S. military. Before you apply with us, we strongly advise you to check with any institution you plan on sending your evaluation to make sure they will accept an evaluation from Atlas Credential Evaluations.
How do I apply for an evaluation?
You can apply directly through our website by completing our online application and submitting the necessary documents.
What documents are required for an evaluation?
Typically, we require official academic transcripts, diplomas, and, if applicable, certified translations of non-English documents.
How do I send my documents to Atlas?
Secondary or High School Documents: If you are evaluating high school documents from another country, you must upload scans of your original high school diploma/degree certificate, final board-issued exam results, and/or transcripts. These all must be clear, color scans of original documents. If they were not originally issued in English, you will need to also provide certified, English translations. You can also have Atlas translate the documents for you for an additional $50 per page.
Post-Secondary or University Documents: If you are evaluating post-secondary (university) transcripts or diplomas, you need to upload scans of your personal copies of the original transcripts, marksheets, and/or diploma/degree certificates. Additionally, you must have your university’s student records office send us your official transcripts via mail or email. For verification purposes, your evaluation cannot be completed until we receive the official documents directly from your university records office. Official documents can be emailed to status@atlasevaluations.com or they can mailed to:
Atlas Credential Evaluations
25 Old Kings Highway North, suite 13
Darien, CT 06820
Can I submit digital copies of my documents?
Yes, you can submit digital copies of your documents. However, please note that if you are evaluating any post-secondary credentials, you will also have to have your non-U.S. university mail or email us your official documents.
How long does the evaluation process take?
Our standard processing time is 5 business days from the receipt of all required documents. We also offer a 2 business day expedited turnaround time. Business days do not include weekends nor U.S. holidays. The turnaround time is calculated only after we have received all payments and all required documentation.
What if my evaluation is incorrect?
If you notice a mistake in your evaluation, please email us immediately to have it corrected. Please also note that you may disagree with how your documents were evaluated or how your GPA or credits were calculated. Our evaluations are advisory in nature and based on our own proprietary interpretations of foreign educational systems. Every evaluation company has different policies and standards and many clients will obtain evaluations from a few different companies to ensure they get the best interpretation of their credentials.
Can I track the status of my evaluation?
Yes, you are welcome to inquire about your status at any time by emailing status@atlasevaluations.com
What types of evaluation reports do you offer?
We offer General evaluations (Document-by-Document) or Course-by-Course evaluations.
How do I know which evaluation type to choose?
Our team can guide you in selecting the right evaluation type based what you need the evaluation for: whether it’s for education, employment, or licensing. We also strongly recommend that you inquire about what type of evaluation is required from the institution to which you are applying.
Will my GPA be included in the evaluation?
GPA calculations are included in Course-by-Course evaluations but are not included with the General evaluation. If you need to show your GPA, you must purchase the Course-by-Course evaluation.
What are the fees for your evaluations?
Our fees vary depending on the type of evaluation and processing time selected. Visit our Pricing Page for detailed information.
How do I make a payment?
We accept all major credit cards or PayPal. Checks, cash, and wire transfers are not accepted.
What if my documents are not in English?
You will need to submit both the original language documents as well as certified English translations. If you do not have certified English translations, Atlas Credential Evaluations can also translate your documents for an additional $50 per page, regardless of the language.
Can I use my evaluation report more than once?
Yes, your evaluation report is valid for 5 years and can be used for multiple applications.
How do I contact Atlas Credential Evaluations if I have more questions?
You can contact us through our Contact Us page or call our support team for immediate assistance.
What if my documents are not originally in English?
If your original academic documents were not issued in English, you will need to provide certified, English translations of your diplomas, degree certificates, transcripts that you are evaluating. Translations cannot be done by a friend or a relative but must be performed by an impartial, professionally trained and certified translator. Atlas Credential Evaluations reserves the right to accept or reject any translations that you provide if we feel the translation is incorrect, incomplete, or not impartial. Translations must be literal, word-for-word translation.
Atlas also offers translation services to translate the documents needed to perform your evaluation. We charge a flat fee of $50 per page for all translations. It is up to our discretion to determine what constitutes a page of text but generally, we define a page of text as 250 words.