International Credential Evaluation Explained: WES, CGFNS, ECFMG & More (2026)

If you earned your professional degree outside the United States, you will almost certainly encounter the phrase “credential evaluation” early in your US licensing journey. It sounds bureaucratic — and in some ways it is — but the underlying purpose is straightforward: US licensing boards need to verify that your foreign education meets the equivalent standards of a US degree before they can grant you a license to practice. This guide explains what credential evaluation is, how it works, which agencies handle which professions, and what to expect in terms of time and cost.

What Is Credential Evaluation?

Credential evaluation is a formal review process in which an authorized third-party organization examines your foreign academic and professional credentials and issues a report comparing them to US standards. This report tells the licensing board — or employer, or graduate school — what the US equivalent of your degree is, whether your coursework meets required subject matter criteria, and whether your professional registration in your home country was in good standing.

There are two broad types of credential evaluation:

• General academic evaluation — determines the US equivalent of a degree (e.g., “equivalent to a US Bachelor of Science”). Used for employment, graduate school admissions, and general immigration purposes.
• Profession-specific evaluation — goes deeper, verifying that your coursework in a specific discipline (nursing, medicine, pharmacy, etc.) meets the content requirements for US licensure in that field. Required by most healthcare and licensed profession boards.

For professional licensing purposes, you almost always need a profession-specific evaluation, not just a general academic one. The agency required depends entirely on the profession and often on the specific state.

See the full credential evaluation guide for a comprehensive overview of the process.

Major Credential Evaluation Agencies

WES (World Education Services)

WES is one of the most recognized general academic credential evaluation organizations. It is widely used for employment, immigration, and graduate school purposes. However, WES is generally not sufficient for healthcare professional licensing — state boards typically require profession-specific evaluators. If you need a general evaluation for non-licensure purposes, WES is a widely accepted and reputable choice.

ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators)

ECE is another general academic evaluation organization, based in Milwaukee. Like WES, it is well regarded for academic and employment purposes but is not a substitute for profession-specific evaluations required by licensing boards.

CGFNS International (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools)

CGFNS is the primary credential evaluation body for internationally educated nurses. Most state boards of nursing require CGFNS’s Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) or recognize it as a preferred evaluator. CGFNS also issues the VisaScreen certificate, which is required for nurses and some other healthcare workers applying for certain work visas. See the international nurse guide for more detail on the nursing pathway.

ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates)

ECFMG handles credential evaluation and certification for international medical graduates (IMGs) — physicians educated outside the US and Canada. ECFMG certification is a prerequisite for entering accredited US residency programs and is required by virtually all state medical boards. It is not an optional add-on; it is a mandatory step in the IMG pathway. See the international physician guide for the full pathway.

FPGEC / NABP (Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Committee)

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) administers the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Committee (FPGEC) program for internationally educated pharmacists. The FPGEC certificate is required in most states before an international pharmacy graduate can sit for the NAPLEX.

Other Profession-Specific Evaluators

Many other professions have their own evaluation pathways:

• Physical therapy — FCCPT (Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy) is the most widely accepted evaluator for internationally educated PTs
• Occupational therapy — CGFNS and FCCPT both handle OT credentials for some states; requirements vary
• Dentistry — most state dental boards conduct their own evaluation or require specific transcripts; there is no single universal dental evaluator
• Social work and counseling — many state boards accept general academic evaluations (WES, ECE) combined with a transcript review; some have specific requirements
• Engineering — NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying) has processes for internationally educated engineers

Document Requirements: What You Will Need

While requirements vary by agency and profession, most credential evaluations require some combination of:

• Official transcripts sent directly from your educational institution to the evaluator (student copies are usually not accepted)
• Degree certificate or diploma — certified copy or notarized copy, depending on the agency
• Proof of professional licensure in your home country — license number, issue date, current standing
• Verification from your licensing authority — some agencies require the foreign licensing body to send verification directly rather than you submitting copies
• English translations of all documents not in English, performed by a certified translator
• Government-issued photo identification

Apostilles (a form of international document authentication) may be required for some documents depending on the evaluator and the country of origin. If your home country is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention, getting apostilled documents is usually straightforward but may take weeks.

Timeline: How Long Does Credential Evaluation Take?

Processing times vary considerably by agency, volume of applications, and the completeness of your submission. General ranges:

• WES / ECE general evaluations: 7–20 business days (standard); expedited options available for some services
• CGFNS CES for nurses: 3–6 months is a common experience, though official timelines vary
• ECFMG for physicians: several months; depends heavily on how quickly your medical school responds to verification requests
• FPGEC for pharmacists: several months, often 6+
• FCCPT for physical therapists: typically 60–90 days after all documents are received

The biggest variable is almost always how quickly your home institution and licensing authority respond to requests. Plan ahead — in many countries, administrative processes move slowly, and a 2-month document request can easily stretch to 4 or 6 months.

Cost Overview

Tips for a Smoother Process

1. Confirm the required evaluator before you pay. Call or email the state licensing board directly if you are unsure.
2. Request your transcripts early. Contact your institution as soon as you decide to pursue US licensure — don’t wait until you have submitted your application.
3. Keep copies of everything. You may need the same documents for multiple purposes (licensure, employment, visa).
4. Use certified translators. Machine translations or informal translations are almost universally rejected.
5. Track your application status actively. Follow up with both your home institution and the evaluation agency if you have not received an update within expected timelines.
6. Do not start your state board application before your evaluation is underway. Some boards will not process your application at all until the credential evaluation is complete.

Profession-Specific Guides

For guidance tailored to specific professions, see the international licensing guides on LicenseMap:

• International registered nurse pathway
• International physician (IMG) pathway
• All international licensing guides