Frequently Asked Questions
The evaluation process is complex and detailed. We want all of our clients to be well informed of our policies, fees, requirements, and timelines prior to submitting an application for services, as there are no refunds. Please review our frequently asked questions below to ensure you are well equipped to make the best decision for your unique case.
- What is the process for requesting an evaluation?
- How do I know if my target institution or employer will accept your evaluation?
- What type of evaluation do I need?
- What documents are required for evaluation?
- Can you evaluate documents from my country?
- What if my documents are not in English?
- How do I submit my documents to AES?
- How will I know if you have received my documents?
- Will you return my original documents to me?
- How long does it take for the evaluation to be completed?
- What if I need the evaluation sooner?
- What forms of payment are accepted?
- Can I have additional copies of my evaluation?
- What if I have new documents to be added to an evaluation previously done?
- How long do you keep my records on file?
- What if I have questions regarding the outcome of the evaluation?
- What if I find a mistake on the evaluation I receive?
- What are your Terms of Service?
- What is the process for requesting an evaluation?
1 - Check with the institution(s) (colleges, universities, licensing boards, employers, etc.) to which you will be submitting your evaluation to ensure AES is on their list of accepted evaluators. Note: Academic Evaluation Services has been a NACES member since 2008.
2 - Ask the institution specifically what type of evaluation they require. Ensure you are requesting the type that meets their requirements. Review our Evaluation Services.
3 - Confirm your institution's deadline. The standard time (non-peak season) for completion of services is approximately 2 to 3 weeks once all documents have been received and all fees have been paid. During the peak season of May to August processing may take up to 4 weeks. Evaluation times are even longer if verification services are required. RUSH services are completed in 3 to 5 business days.
4 - Gather or request your academic documents in accordance with our AES Document Requirements Guide.
5 - Carefully review our website and frequently asked questions to understand all fees that may apply to you.
6 - Carefully complete the AES application along with pre-payment of all service fees. Refer to Payment Options for more information.
7 - Submit the following to our office: 1) the academic documents gathered in Step #4 - Official transcripts mailed or emailed directly to AES from the institution(s) that you attended. While official documents are preferred, original documents are accepted as well in many cases.
If our AES Document Requirements Guide specifically states "Official transcripts" are required for your country of study, then please submit official transcripts.
In some cases, color scans made from the original documents are also acceptable however, not all institutions will accept evaluations completed from scans. Please check your specific institution's requirement before submitting scans. If the evaluation is not accepted due to scans used and you later wish to submit original or official documents, a new evaluation fee will be required and the timeline will start again. It is more economical and efficient to submit official documents when in doubt.
- Original diplomas or certificates, if study program completed; color scans made from the original documents are accepted in some cases.
- A certified English translation for each academic document in original or official form or in color scan made from original. Refer to Translation Services for more information.
- How do I know if my target institution or employer will accept your evaluation?
We can't emphasize enough the importance of checking with your intended institution or employer if they will accept AES evaluations as well as the type of evaluation required. As a reminder, AES is a NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluations Services) member company.
There are thousands of institutions of higher education, employers, and other users of foreign credential evaluations the US. Each institution has their own requirements which may change from time to time. It is not possible for AES to maintain an accurate list of institutions that accept our evaluations. Therefore, it’s imperative that each client check with their requesting institution. - What type of evaluation do I need?
Check with the institution, prospective employer, immigration attorney or licensing board to understand the specific requirements before sending documents for evaluation. Refer to the descriptions on our Services page as some general guidelines that could be helpful.
- What documents are required for evaluation?
Check specific requirements for your country of study on our AES Document Requirements Guide. If your country is not listed, please email us for specific guidance.
In general terms, a General Evaluation requires the diploma or certificate to confirm completion of a program. For all other evaluation types, the transcripts/grade sheets/mark sheets are required in addition to the diploma or certificate. Some institutions may request a transcript to be included even for General Evaluations. Therefore, it’s important to confirm with your institution exactly which documents they wish to be included in the evaluation.
In addition to your academic documents, a copy of your driver's license or passport is required to verify identity. If the name on your school documents differs from that on your identification, proof of legal name change is required.
- Can you evaluate documents from my country?
YES! Our evaluators can evaluate academic documents from any country and any time period. Work experience, training, non-academic, and U.S. documents will not be taken into consideration.
- What if my documents are not in English?
We require the original language version of all documents submitted for evaluation as well as a certified English translation if the document is not issued in English. Please refer to Translation Services for our translation requirements.
- How do I submit my documents to AES?
You are responsible for obtaining and submitting your own documents; AES cannot request documents on your behalf. The most used method to submit documents is via post or courier. Many institutions now can submit documents to us electronically as well. If you do not have original documents, contact the issuing institution to have official records sent to AES. Please include a copy of your application or your client ID number with any documents mailed to our office.
Refer to the Contact Us page for our mailing address.
- How will I know if you have received my documents?
When mailing original documents, we strongly recommend using a service that provides tracking and requires signature. Please ensure you submit your application for evaluation services before submitting any documents to our office. Without an application we have no method to identify to whom the received documents belong, and we will not know which services are requested.
Once documents are received, we will update your account status within 2 business days; this update will generate an email notification to the email address on file. It is important to use the email address you check most frequently on the application to ensure you will receive all status update emails; add info@aes-edu.org on your safe sender list as well.
If you have confirmed that your package has been delivered and it has been more than 2 business days since the delivery occurred first, please check your junk mail folder for notification from us. If the notification is not there, please contact our office at info@aes-edu.org.
It is possible that we have not been able to match your documents based on a different name used in your application. In order to avoid delays please include a copy of your application or your client ID number with all mail correspondence.
- Will you return my original documents to me?
Yes, all original documents are returned to you with your completed evaluation, unless the documents are determined to be tampered with, fraudulent, or inauthentic.
Official documents, those that were submitted directly to AES by the issuing institution and/or in a officially sealed or stamped envelope, will not be returned as these documents become property of AES once opened by us.
- How long does it take for the evaluation to be completed?
As our volume fluctuates and each case is different, no guarantees can be given for an exact date of completion for regular files. However, the standard time (non-peak season) for completion of services is approximately 2 to 3 weeks once all documents have been received and all fees have been paid. During the peak season of May to August processing may take up to 4 weeks.
If your file requires verification the time frame is dependent on the response time of the verifying institution and no time frame can be given.
The following steps will help to ensure timely processing:
- Check that your institution accepts AES evaluations.
- Verify the type of evaluation your institution requires.
- Avoid peak times. Within 3 weeks of application deadlines is when most clients apply for evaluation.
- Review our website completely to ensure you understand all policies, fees, requirements, and timelines.
- Request official documents to be sent directly to AES or obtain your original documents, including certified translations.
- Carefully complete your application requesting services. Incorrect information entered in this stage can cause unnecessary delays.
- Submit the required payment, academic documents and a copy of your photo ID, all with your client ID number.
- Respond promptly to all email and phone requests for additional documents and/or payment.
- Check that your institution accepts AES evaluations.
- What if I need the evaluation sooner than the standard time frame?
RUSH services are available. Refer to Rush Services. - What forms of payment are accepted?
Please review our Payment Options.
- How long do you keep my records on file?
Physical records are purged as soon as the evaluation is completed however, we maintain records in electronic form indefinitely. Therefore, you may request an additional copy or update your evaluation at any time. In rare situations we may no longer have records on files greater than 10 years old. We will inform you if this is the case when we receive a request. We reserve the right to adjust our records retention policies in the future.
- Can I have additional copies of my evaluation?
Yes. Please refer to Additional Official Copies for the related fees.
- What if I have new documents to be added to an evaluation previously done?
Any client may submit new documents to be added to an evaluation previously completed. New charges will apply. Refer to Updated Evaluation for additional information.
- What if I have questions regarding the outcome of the evaluation?
Academic Evaluation Services, Inc. has an open-door policy regarding the review of the work completed. We guarantee the professionalism and integrity of our procedure, which is to give each document an honest and diligent evaluation. However, it will occur that the outcome of an evaluation does not necessarily meet the expectations of the client. Also, we would like to emphasize that our evaluation process will in no way be tailored to meet client expectations, it will be 100% based on our professional process.
As stated in our literature, due to the differences between U.S. and foreign education systems, the evaluations do not necessarily equal the same number of credits, years of study, grades and degrees/titles granted in the original country.
You are welcome to bring to our attention in writing (send email to info@aes-edu.org) any concerns you have regarding the outcome of your evaluation, and we will review your file. However, please remember that we conduct a professional evaluation process that is not determined in any way by the expectations of the client. We encourage you to thoroughly read through our website and our application to ensure you agree with the terms stated prior to submitting your request for services.
- What if I find a mistake on the evaluation/translation I receive?
If you believe there is a mistake on your evaluation/translation, you are welcome to bring the issue to our attention in writing within 30 days by sending an email to info@aes-edu.org with your client ID, full name, date of evaluation, and detailed explanation of the suspected mistake. If your concerns have merit, a revised evaluation/translation will be issued at no additional cost to you. - What are your Terms of Service?
When you begin an application with AES, you must review and accept our Terms of Service. We ask that if you do not agree with any of these terms, please do not apply for services. The terms are as follows:
General
- It is the obligation of the client to confirm with the receiving institution or organization that they accept our evaluations as well as the type of evaluation required.
- It is the obligation of the client to thoroughly read all information at www.aes-edu.org to understand the evaluation process and requirements before submitting an application.
- All fees paid are non-refundable except in case of overpayment.
- An application fee of $50 is non-refundable in case AES declines to provide services to the client. This does not apply if the client requests to cancel or refuses to submit required documentation.
- No services will be provided until all required documents have been received and all required fees have been paid.
- The standard time (non-peak season) for completion of services is approximately 2 to 3 weeks once all documents have been received and all fees have been paid. During the peak season of May to August processing may take up to 4 weeks.
- RUSH services are completed between three to five business days once all documents have been received and all fees have been paid.
- If your file requires verification services, the time frame is dependent on the response time of the verifying institution and no time frame can be estimated by AES. This applies to standard and rush timeframe files.
- Any missing documents must be submitted within a four-week period; this office must be notified if additional time is needed. After three months of no reply, your evaluation may be cancelled.
- This office reserves the right to investigate and verify any document under suspicion of fraud, alteration or inaccuracies.
- Any documents questioned by this office regarding its authenticity will not be returned to the client under any circumstances.
- This office has the professional obligation to notify NACES members and take legal action in the case of suspected/confirmed/fraudulent/altered/inaccurate documents submitted.
2) certified translations, if applicable
3) copy of passport or driver's license
4) proof of name change, if applicable
Documents accepted are summarized below.