What is WES? A Simplified Guide to Certification and Application Process | UP-STUDY Educational Center

The United States and Canada have always been one of the top destinations for students from our country. When visiting a school’s official website to apply for admission, you may find that, in addition to submitting your academic transcript, you are also required to provide a "WES". What is this WES certification? Why do schools ask for it? Where can I prepare a WES? Below, we will start by introducing WES and guide you through the smooth application process for WES credential evaluation.

What is WES Credential Evaluation?

WES stands for World Education Services, a third-party document evaluation organization established for over fifty years, which helps international students and immigrants who studied outside of North America to convert their diplomas, transcripts, and other documents into credentials that are applicable in the United States and Canada, making it easier for North American schools to evaluate applicants’ academic backgrounds.

For international students, WES provides two types of services: Document-by-Document evaluation and Course-by-Course evaluation. Document-by-Document evaluation converts original credentials into equivalent U.S. or Canadian credentials, suitable for those applying to universities. Course-by-Course evaluation not only converts the educational credentials but also converts the grades of each course into a format applicable in North America, which is useful for graduate school applications or transfer requests.

Why Do I Need WES Certification?

Different universities around the world use various grading systems. For example, in Taiwan, the GPA can be on a scale of 4.0 or 4.3. Therefore, when North American schools receive transcripts from applicants from other countries, they often lack a standardized system for evaluating the grades due to different grading formats. In such cases, some schools will require applicants from outside North America to provide third-party document evaluation to convert their transcripts into a format familiar to North American schools, making it easier to assess the applicant's academic background.

Not every North American school requires applicants to provide WES certification. It is advisable to check the school’s official website before applying to confirm whether the school requires only the transcript or also WES certification, or if it allows you to choose between the two.

A small reminder: WES is not the only third-party document evaluation organization in North America. There are also others like ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators). Before applying, make sure to check which type of certification the school requires to avoid spending a lot of time and money only to find out that the school does not accept it.

How to Apply for WES

WES applications need to be made through their official website. After applicants fill out the online form, they need to send their school transcripts to the WES office. Make sure to prepare both funds and time in advance.

WES Certification Fees

WES offers two plans: Basic and the upgraded version (ICAP) for an additional $45. The basic plan only provides document certification, while the upgraded version provides access to certified documents for future requests. The fee details below are based on the upgraded version.

Document-by-Document certification application fee: 145 USD, approximatelyTWD four thousand

Course-by-Course certification application fee: 205 USD, approximately TWD five thousand seven

Additionally, WES offers various add-on services, such as:

50. Mailing: 10 USD. Although this is an add-on service, it is actually an essential item, as the purpose of applying for WES is to provide the certification to North American schools
50. International courier: 75 USD
50. Sealed documents: 5 USD
50. Application progress tracking: 30 USD
50. Add certification items (degree, courses, upgrade academic certification to course-by-course): 80 USD
50. Reissue certification (initial application with basic plan): 50 USD
50. Reissue certification (initial application with upgraded plan): 30 USD

Other costs include the fees for applying for transcripts and diplomas from your school, which are set by each school. Typically, you need to request "sealed" documents to be mailed to WES. There are also the postage costs for sending documents to WES. For postal services, mailing from Taiwan to the United States usually costs around TWD 500 to 600.

For converting application for course-by-course certification, the upgraded plan application fee, mailing to North American schools, and mailing transcripts to WES, you will need to prepare at least TWD six thousand to seven thousand.

WES Application Time

According to WES's official website, after receiving the documents and fees, the entire certification process takes seven business days. However, mail may be delayed unexpectedly, and WES's processing efficiency may vary depending on peak and off-peak seasons. It is strongly recommended to allow at least a month for the application process, and start as soon as you decide to apply for WES.