When applying for an academic credential evaluation, it’s essential to submit official academic transcripts for each level of post-secondary education you’ve completed. This requirement isn’t just procedural, it’s fundamental to ensuring a thorough, accurate, and credible assessment of your educational achievements.
At ACEI, we often receive applications from individuals who hold multiple degrees—a Bachelor’s, a Master’s, and perhaps a Doctorate—but wish to have only their highest credential evaluated. While it may seem more convenient to submit just one, doing so creates an incomplete picture of your academic history. Evaluating credentials out of context, meaning skipping one or more degrees, does not provide the comprehensive overview necessary for determining U.S. educational equivalence.
Our policy is clear:
If you are requesting evaluation of a postgraduate, Master’s, or Doctoral degree, you must also submit official academic documents for your undergraduate (first degree) studies. Each credential requires payment of the evaluation fee. ACEI evaluates all post-secondary studies in the chronological order they were completed; we do not evaluate credentials in isolation.
For doctoral (Ph.D.) evaluations, applicants must include:
- The title and abstract (summary) of their dissertation or thesis.
- Official academic documents (transcripts and degrees) for all prior post-secondary education (e.g., Bachelor’s and Master’s).
You can review the full policy on our website: ACEI Required Documents.
Why does this matter? Because each level of education builds upon the previous one. Your undergraduate coursework lays the foundation for your graduate and doctoral studies. Without seeing that foundation, evaluators cannot accurately assess progression, consistency, or alignment with recognized academic standards. Evaluations that skip earlier degrees risk misrepresenting your educational background and may not be accepted by universities, licensing boards, or employers.
At ACEI, we take pride in producing evaluations that fully represent your academic accomplishments. Submitting official transcripts for each level of university education completed ensures that your report reflects the complete academic journey you’ve undertaken, honoring both your achievements and the standards of integrity we uphold.
By ACEI Client Services Team
The Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, Inc. (ACEI), was founded in 1994 and is based in Los Angeles, CA, USA. ACEI is a full-service company providing complete and integrated services in the areas of international education research, credential evaluation, training and consultancy. https://acei-global.org/
