Everything you need to know to validate your degree in the USA
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Do you want to have your degree recognized in the USA?
Validating your professional training in the United States is a fundamental step if you want to continue your studies, apply to academic programs, or improve your job opportunities. Obtaining an accredited degree allows you to demonstrate that your academic preparation meets U.S. standards.
Having your degree recognized in the USA not only validates your academic efforts, it also better positions you for educational institutions and employers. This degree validation process in the USA will help you validate your professional qualifications to access new opportunities in the country.
What is a homologated title?
A degree recognized in the United States is one that has been evaluated by a specialized agency that verifies its equivalence with a local academic degree. This procedure, known as degree recognition in the United States, is used to determine the U.S. educational level for your foreign degree.
The result of this evaluation is a certificate of approval, which you can present to universities, employers, or professional licensing agencies, depending on your goals.
Documents needed to validate a degree in the USA
To begin the academic evaluation process, you must submit a series of documents. For example, in the case of WES, you must submit the following:
- Academic record listing the subjects taken and the grades obtained in each year of study.
- Academic transcription, that is, translation of academic documents.
- Degree Certificate. Clear and legible copies of the degree certificate/diploma.
- Accurate translations of degree certificates.
This documentation is key to obtaining a recognized degree and must be complete, properly scanned, and translated. Only then will you be able to advance toward the recognition of your university degree and achieve effective validation.
It's important to ensure each file is in the correct format and quality, as any omission can delay the process. If your goal is to validate your degree for university admission or job applications in the United States, every detail counts.
Where and how to have your degree recognized?
In the United States, evaluations of foreign degrees are conducted by private agencies, not the federal government. However, these institutions are authorized and recognized by numerous universities and employers.
If you are in Florida, and particularly in Miami, you can choose agencies such as:
- WES (World Education Services)
- ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators)
- Miami-based Josef Silny & Associates
These entities are accredited by NACES ( National Association of Credential Evaluation Services ), which guarantees quality standards.
The process generally includes:
- Create an online account.
- Select the type of evaluation.
- Send the requested documents.
- Make the corresponding payment fees.
- Wait for the official evaluation report.
This report will allow you to validate your degree in Florida or any other state in the country.
Translation of university degree
Translating your university degree into English is an essential step to validate your studies in the United States. This process must be carried out by a certified translator, as academic evaluation agencies require official, legally certified translations.
One of the most recommended options in Florida is Josef Silny & Associates, located in Miami, which offers both translation and evaluation of international academic documents. Their experience facilitates the process of professional degree validation, especially if you're applying to institutions such as WES, ECE, or local universities.
If you're looking for a specialized option, you can opt for a university degree translation service in Miami, where they ensure compliance with all formal requirements.
Recommendations:
- Choose a certified translator, preferably one endorsed by the American Translators Association (ATA).
- Translates both the diploma and the complete academic record.
- Always request a signed certificate, with the date, name, and details of the professional who performed the translation.
A good translation ensures that your documentation is valid from the first attempt.
Approximate times and costs in the process
The time it takes to validate a degree varies by agency and can range from a few weeks to several months, depending on factors such as the documentation submitted, the country of origin of the degree, and the urgency of the service.
Regarding costs, the following are estimated:
- General evaluation: between $100 and $200 USD.
- Detailed evaluation by subject: from $180 to $250 USD.
- Certified translations: from $30 USD per page.
These costs may be incurred in addition to additional fees for postal delivery, express service, or authentication.
Tips to avoid common mistakes and speed up your process
- Check with your university to see what type of assessment you need.
- Check if they accept translations from a specific agency.
- Avoid delays by submitting complete documents from the start.
- Scan your certificates in good quality and PDF format.
- Choose NACES-accredited testing agencies.
Planning the process in advance and following the instructions carefully will make your professional qualification validation easier and faster.
