Many of you may have read the article title without any working knowledge of what credential evaluation actually is. So let’s start by attempting to provide some kind of definition of credential evaluation which will also, hopefully, set a context for the remainder of the article.
Credential evaluation is the process of comparing qualifications earned or awarded in one country with those earned in another country. At the most basic level, credential evaluation seeks to assign a “value” to qualifications in a country other than the country in which they were earned or awarded. Let’s take a more practical explanation just to make sure there is a clear understanding. Say I hold a Master’s degree which was awarded by the University of Cambridge (UK) but I want to work for an American-based employer. What is the value of my (UK) Master’s degree in America? I would use a credential evaluation professional to provide an opinion and a report.
From the explanation above, you may have already figured out the “rub”. Credential evaluation is an art, not a science. The output is based on a professional opinion and whilst there are unlikely to be huge variations in the professional opinion of different evaluators, such differences can occur. There is also the issue of the “worth” or “value” of qualifications across different countries. In the case of more developed educational economies, it is generally easier to offer an opinion on comparability. The existence of national education frameworks can also help in this respect.
This is just one part of credential evaluation work. It is essentially a two-part process. Firstly, the credential evaluator must verify the authenticity of the credential(s) to be evaluated. This process involves checking that the credential is genuine and may include having to contact the issuing authority to provide verification. In some instances, digital verification exists and may even provided by the client. The second part of the process involves assessing comparability and producing a report with a recommendation for the client. This report can then be shared with an educational institution, employer or any other interested party. However, it is always worth remembering that reports are usually time limited in terms of the validity of the evaluation provided.
If that’s the general approach and process, what is the importance attached to it as a service? Credential evaluation is generally sought by people who are looking to access education or employment in a different country. As such, it is a tool for social and economic mobility and helps to support the globalization of education and qualifications. This does not, however, mean that an evaluation always results in a positive outcome or result. Credential evaluators are a very professional and dedicated group of people but they face a multitude of barriers when attempting to evaluate different qualifications due to the huge variations in the educational systems across the different countries of the world. Sometimes, direct comparability is just not possible.
Credential evaluation also supports immigration which is a crucial area for many people in the modern world. There are also some regulated areas of employment (e.g. healthcare and accountancy) where it is essential to have a credential evaluation report if you aim to be globally mobile.
For more information about credential evaluation and other connections:
- Visit our partners at Academic Credential Evaluation Institute, Inc – acei-global.org
- Visit the global membership organization for professional credential evaluators, The Association of International Credential Evaluation Professionals (TAICEP) – taicep.org
Author bio – Alistair Bell Wylie is the founder and Managing Director of Bell-Wylie Consulting (www.bellwylie.com), a multi-disciplinary international education consulting and credential evaluation business. During a 30-year career in education, he has also worked as a teacher, lecturer, author, entrepreneur and internationally with a focus on the Middle East. He is also an active non-executive director holding positions on several boards in Scotland.
