What Is the Best Credential Evaluation Report and Package for Me?

Everyone’s experience and goals are unique—so your credential evaluation report and package needs may look different from someone else’s. In this blog post, we discuss the different types of evaluations WES offers along with example scenarios, to help you choose the best options for meeting your goals.  

Report types and purposes

When you begin your WES application, one of the first questions you’ll be asked is its primary purpose—education, professional licensing, employment, immigration, or other. This helps us guide you to the most appropriate report type: Document-by-Document (DxD) or Course-by-Course (CxC) 

A DxD evaluation provides an overall analysis of the submitted credential. This report is suitable for first-year university admissions, employment, and immigration to the United States.

A CxC evaluation is more comprehensive. It includes the same overall analysis as a DxD report, with an additional list of all post-secondary coursework and conversions of the grades and credits—sometimes known as hours or units—into the U.S. or Canadian equivalency, and a calculated final GPA. This report is most often required for further education, professional licensing and certification, and certain types of employment.

Here is an example of when each report might be appropriate: 

• Sade has just completed secondary school in Nigeria and will soon be relocating to Canada with her family. She plans to apply to university and explore nursing as a career path. Since her highest earned credential is a Senior School Certificate (the equivalent of a secondary school diploma in Canada and high school diploma in the U.S.) and she has not completed advanced coursework, we would recommend a DxD report.
• Vikram, who recently earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture, has a long-held goal of leaving his home country of India and working for one of the top architecture firms in the U.S. His research confirmed that the companies he is interested in do not have specific credential evaluation requirements, but he believes a credential evaluation will enhance his résumé. While a DxD report would provide a degree equivalency, a CxC report could put Vikram at an advantage since it will further demonstrate his experience and skill set by listing his completed coursework and a calculated grade point average.
   

We always advise checking with the institution or organization that will receive your evaluation to confirm the type of report it requires. This is the best way for you to find out which report and package you need to order.
 

Package types and benefits

When ordering your report, you have the choice of two packages: Basic or International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP).

Basic Package: Includes your credential evaluation report, detailing equivalency and completed coursework for CxC reports, delivered to your selected recipient.

ICAP: Includes everything in the Basic Package, plus secure storage of your verified academic documents. WES also sends copies of these documents along with your report to your recipients. This is especially helpful since many institutions require verified transcripts in addition to the evaluation. ICAP saves you from requesting multiple sets of documents from your former schools. 

ICAP is especially valuable for applicants whose reports will go to multiple recipients or who plan to reuse their reports. You submit one set of documents and WES delivers them to all your recipients—both when we issue your report and when you request duplicates.  

However, the type of package you need might be different from someone else’s. Here are a couple of example scenarios to illustrate: 

• Adam, who is originally from France, has lived in Canada for many years. He works in digital marketing and was recently invited to interview for a role at an agency that specializes in entertainment—a dream job for Adam. To boost his chances of getting the role, Adam decided to order a CxC report to further highlight coursework that is relevant to the role. Since he knows the employer doesn’t require a credential evaluation or verified transcripts, and he has no immediate plans to use the report again, he feels comfortable choosing the basic package to support this specific opportunity.
• Racquel from Colombia is exploring U.S. master’s programs in economics. She isn’t sure which institutions she will apply to yet. However, through her research, she knows she will need a credential evaluation and copies of her verified transcripts. Since she has completed her bachelor’s degree, Racquel orders a CxC report and selects ICAP. That way, she does not need to worry about requesting her academic documents in the future, and she can reuse her verified documents for each program she decides to apply to.
   

If you order the basic package and change your mind later, you can always upgrade to ICAP in your WES account. If your evaluation is still in progress, you can upgrade to ICAP at a discounted rate.  

Final tips and considerations

As you prepare your application, keep in mind that WES credential evaluations have a lifetime value—your report can be reused as your academic or professional goals evolve. Choosing a comprehensive report from the start and including all academic credentials upfront can save time later. Still, be sure to check the requirements of the institution or organization you’re applying to.

Additionally, WES charges per application, not per credential. So, if you have more than one degree, listing them all up front can save you time and money in the future. Even if your intended recipient only needs your highest degree, they are unlikely to reject a report that includes more information.

For instance, graduate programs often require a bachelor’s degree for admission, even if you already hold a master’s degree. Similarly, your first degree might be the one that qualifies you for a professional license—such as in teaching or nursing.

Taking a thoughtful approach now can help you get the most out of your evaluation in the future. Explore our credential evaluation services and find the right report for you.