FAQs About Education Evaluation Services | Global Credential EvaluatorsGCE

General Questions

Who accepts evaluation reports from GCE, Inc?

Check with the admitting institution, employer or licensing board to determine if a GCE report is accepted.

What is a credential evaluation report?

A report evaluates international academic records by reviewing the records presented for evaluation and comparing them to the standard education provided in the U.S. at the same level. Evaluations are helpful for employers, colleges or universities, or licensure boards to understand your academic history.

Why do I need an evaluation report?

Evaluations are helpful for employers, colleges or universities, or licensure boards to understand your academic history.

How do you evaluate foreign educational documents?

GCE evaluates international academic records by reviewing the records presented for evaluation and comparing them to the standard education provided in the U.S. at the same level.

GCE has a large library and membership in professional organizations providing resource information used in determining grade and credit conversions.

What type of reports do you provide?

Refer to services for additional information.

What type of report do I need?

Contact the admitting institution or entity to determine the type of evaluation needed.

Refer to services for more information.

What is included on the report?

View our report examples.

How much does it cost?

Refer to services for additional information.

What is included in the fee?

Evaluation of ALL submitted foreign education documents
1 report sent via Parchment.com

Is the fee per document or for all documents?

The fee includes a report based on ALL educational documents submitted.

What is the processing time?

Regular Service 10-15 business days from the day all required documents are received; not guaranteed
RUSH Service: 3 or 5 business days guaranteed from day all required documents are received
Business days are Monday-Friday, excluding stated holidays
Does NOT include mailing time

What level of education do you evaluate?

GCE evaluates from upper secondary to post university-level education.

Do you evaluate all foreign educational documents?

Yes

Do you evaluate vocational schools?

Yes

Do you evaluate work experience?

No

Will you include my U.S. education on my report?

No, GCE evaluates only education completed outside the U.S.

Does the report expire?

Reports are valid 3 years from date on the report.

Do you evaluate Caribbean Medical School documents

We do. However, the Caribbean medical school must be recognized during the time of study in one or more of the following ways:

by one of the accrediting bodies approved by the NCFMEA (a branch of the U.S. Dept of Education)
by CAAM-HP (with full accreditation only) https://www.caam-hp.org/programs
as an approved medical school on the list of the Medical Board of California
as a “Substantially Equivalent” medical school on the list of the Texas Medical Board

If your medical institution is not recognized, a course-by-course evaluation will not be completed. A document-by-document evaluation will be completed, and a refund of the difference between the two evaluation types will be issued.

Do you accept training for Beauty School, Cosmetology, Barber, Aesthetician?

Yes

International Educational Documents

What documents do I need to submit?

Check with the admitting institution or entity to determine if the report is to completed using original documents or copies.
Submit all educational documents in both the native language and certified English translations.
Refer to the required documents.

What do you mean by "original document"?

Original academic documents are the documents given directly to the student by the institution, Original academic documents are printed on the institution’s letterhead, and have a fresh ink stamp, raised seal, and/or official signatures.

Do I have to submit original documents?

Check with the admitting institution or entity to determine if the report is to completed using original or copies.

Certain countries do require original documents sent via the issuing institution directly to GCE; refer to required documents.

The report will reflect originals or copy of educational documents.

Do you accept digital documents?

Yes, however specific countries do require original documents sent via the issuing institution directly to GCE; refer to required documents.

Do you accept documents emailed from the university?

Yes, however, specific countries do require original documents sent via the issuing institution directly to GCE; refer to required documents.

I don’t have a copy of my degree but do have a letter. Is this acceptable?

The letter or provisional certificate MUST be issued by the university and include the applicant’s name, program of study, title of degree and award date/graduation date.

I have university level documents; do I have to submit high school level documents too?

Yes, for a more comprehensive report.

Will you contact me for missing documents?

No, follow the required documents guidelines.

I want my educational documents on separate reports.

All information will be included in one report.

How do I submit additional documents to an open application?

Via email – send to documents@gceus.com

Postal Service

Send an email to gce@gcues.com indicating submitting additional documents.
Mail documents to GCE, Inc, 3515 B Longmire Drive, PMB 323, College Station, TX 77845

Can I get my original educational documents returned?

Yes, for an additional fee.

Exception: If the issuing institution indicates that documents cannot be released to the student, we cannot return them to you.

Do you always contact educational institutions in other countries to verify documents submitted for evaluation?

GCE reserves the right to verify any and/or all documents with the issuing institution.

If there is a fee, the client is responsible for payment.

The application will be held until a response from the issuing institution is received.

Have you received my documents (no application)?

You must submit an application prior to documents being received.

I don’t want submitted educational documents included on report, what do I do?

ALL educational documents submitted will be included on the report, no exceptions.

For further information: http://gceus.com/documents-required

I submitted the wrong educational documents, what do I do?

ALL educational documents submitted will be included on the report, no exceptions.

For further information: http://gceus.com/documents-required

Do you evaluate high school coursework?

yes, ONLY courses and grades will be listed (NO credit hours)

Translations

Do you provide translations?

We do not provide translations.

Translations must be issued by the university or performed by the Ministry of Education or an ATA certified translator. Please visit the link below to find an ATA certified translator:
https://www.atanet.org/onlinedirectories/search_translator.php
Preferred translator: gce.cc.credentialconnection.com

Can I translate the documents?

No, translations must be issued by one of the following:

Translations must be issued by the university or performed by the Ministry of Education or an ATA certified translator. Please visit the link below to find an ATA certified translator:
https://www.atanet.org/onlinedirectories/search_translator.php
Preferred translator: gce.cc.credentialconnection.com

Equivalency

Can someone review my documents before I submit my order and payment?

No, we do not review educational credential documents without receiving an application, fee and documents.

How do you determine equivalency?

Many factors are considered to determine U.S. equivalency:

Institutional and/or programmatic recognition/accreditation
Purpose of the program of study (further education, vocational/professional training, etc.)
Educational requirements for entry to the program of study
Educational level of the program of study (secondary, postsecondary, graduate)
What the credential gives access to in the home country (further education or employment)
Length of program

What grading scale do you use?

GCE has a set standard for grading scales which is dependent upon the country, institution, listed grade scale, etc.

GCE does not provide the information without a submitted application and documents.

How many credits will I receive?

Typically, one year of international study is equal to one year of study in the U.S.

One U.S. year of undergraduate course work consists of 30-36 credit hours.

GCE uses a program that calculates credits automatically.

Do you evaluate all university level as equivalent to a degree?

No, GCE compares the submitted educational documents to the standard of education at the same level in the U.S.

Application

What do I need to apply?

Learn more on our Get Started page.

How do I apply?

Online

What payments do you accept?

Visa, MasterCard, American Express
Debit card
Money order or cashier check: mailed applications ONLY

Can I email my application?

No, for security reasons, we cannot accept emailed applications.

Can I fax my application and documents?

No

Have you received my application?

Online: log in to account
Postal service – send email to gce@gceus.com with full name and tracking information

I need to cancel my application and get a refund.

Request must be sent to gce@gceus.com

Open application:
• Within 5 business days – refund of 50% of the total fee

• After 6 business days – no refund

Completed report – no refunds

You will be required to agree to our refund policy via our Terms of Service, which is located on our application form

I ordered the wrong report. How do I change it?

Email gce@gceus.com indicating need to change type of report.
Log in to account and submit a new application for the correct type.
The previous application will be canceled and refunded once the new application is received.

How do I submit my educational documents?

Online: Complete application first

Copies
- MUST be in PDF format
- Include front and back of ALL documents
- Upload with application or email to documents@gceus.com
Originals
- Mail to GCE, Inc, 3515 B Longmire Drive, PMB 323, College Station, TX 77845

Postal Service

Include with application
Mail to GCE, Inc, 3515 B Longmire Drive, PMB 323, College Station, TX 77845

How do I upgrade to Rush Service?

Online application

Login to account
Under “Action” on the far right click “Add Expedite Fee”

Mailed Application

Send email to gce@gceus.com indicating desire to upgrade
Submit application with fee for rush service via FAX 979-690-8434

How long will you hold an incomplete application?

3 months, after which the application will be cancelled and no refunds issued.

Prior to submitting an application, you will be required to agree to our refund policy via our Terms of Service, which is located on our application form

Completed Reports

What is the tracking number?

U.S. address check for an email from noreply@shippingeasy.com or trackingupdates@fedex.com
International address: Check for e-mail from Parchment.com

I have not received my mailed report.

Delivery time is beyond the control of GCE, Inc.
U.S. address: check tracking
If states delivered: must go online to file a missing mail claim (https://www.usps.com/help/missing-mail.htm).  Forward the claim to us and we will resend the report
If states issue: send email to gce@gceus.com with full name and tracking information.

I have not received my emailed report.

Processing time for orders of a report via Parchment is 3 business days.
Please contact the recipient of the report for updates.

I have questions about my report.

Requests for review must be submitted via email to gce@gceus.com or letter within 45 days of date on the report.

Review after 45 days:

Login to account
Under “Action” on the far right click “Review After 45 Days”

Can I get a refund if I do not agree with the report

No, once a report is completed there are no refunds

Prior to submitting an application, you will be required to agree to our refund policy via our Terms of Service, which is located on our application form

What if I attended an unrecognized institution?

If it is determined the credential is issued by an institution without diploma or degree granting authority, ONLY a document-by-document report will be issued which does not list course work, credit nor grades. The difference in fee, if paid, will be issued.

I need to add documents to my completed report.

Login to account
Click “New Application” at the top and follow the steps

I need to have information removed from my report.

Information will NOT be deleted from a completed report.

I need the educational documents on separate reports.

All documents will be included on one report.

Do you ship internationally?

GCE no longer sends, by postal mail, evaluation reports to non-U.S. addresses, unless you order and pay for the international express fee. If you do not pay for international express service, we will automatically issue your evaluation report through the secure digital service, Parchment.com.

How can we help?