International Education Evaluation

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Two Messages about the upcoming transition to International Education Evaluation:

Beginning Dec. 1, 2025 – No Cost Foreign Degree Evaluation

OCDEL and the Pennsylvania Key have developed an initiative to better support the Early Childhood Education workforce in Pennsylvania. Foreign Degree evaluations for individuals will be provided by the Educational Credential Evaluators at no cost. More information is available below.

Regarding Foreign Degree Evaluation (FDE) Reimbursement

If you are in the process of getting your international transcript or diplomas evaluated, you may still submit a voucher following the FDE Reimbursement process (pakeys.org/fde-process). This program will end on Dec. 31. 2025.

If you have not started the FDE process, begin the new process below!

About

Formally known as Foreign Degree Evaluation, the International Education Evaluation provides Pennsylvania’s Early Childhood Education Workforce with access to international transcript evaluation!

Our goal in this initiative is to reduce costs and barriers to our international career pathway applicants. In doing so, we have partnered with Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)® – a nonprofit organization boasting 45 years of experience in the field of transcript evaluation. As a NACES Charter Member, ECE was selected to partner with us to develop a simpler, more accessible evaluation experience for everyone.

Check out the resources below to learn about how you can have your international education documentation evaluated!

Evaluation Type

There are two options to select from when deciding how to have international documents evaluated.

General Report

Choose this option if you would like the following document types evaluated:

  • High School Diploma
  • GED or equivalent evaluated

This option will not evaluate any college coursework or provide an evaluation of transcripts.

Course By Course Report

Choose this if you would like the following document types evaluated:

  • College/University/Higher Education Transcripts
  • College/University/Higher Education Degrees

This option is recommended if you have completed any amount of college coursework and/or the requirements for higher education degrees. You do not need to submit secondary (high school) documents.

Evaluation – Easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. Choose Your Report Type

2. Review Documentation Requirements

3. Apply!

Step-by-Step

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Step 1: Confirm what type of report you need.

  • General (High School Report): Choose this option if you need a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent evaluated. This option will not evaluate any college coursework or provide an evaluation of transcripts.
  • Course by Course (College Coursework Report): Choose this option if you need college transcripts and degrees evaluated. This option is recommended if you have completed any amount of college coursework and/or the requirements for higher education degrees. You do not need to submit secondary (high school) documents if you choose this option.

Step 2: Review documentation requirements.

ECE’s documentation requirements vary by country. Please review the Documentation Requirements for your country of education and gather the appropriate documents. Instructions for sending the required documents will be provided during the application process.

Step 3: Apply!

In order to create an account with the Educational Credential Evaluators, you will need your registry ID number. When you’re ready to apply for an evaluation, Create an Account with the Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) and complete the online application. This webpage will launch on Dec. 1, 2025. Your report is valid for five years. You may return to your ECE account to order additional copies.

Guidance for Career Pathway Placement

To better support applicants with international education documents, the career pathway team will be uploading reports received from the Educational Credential Evaluators and placing these reports in your PD Registry on your behalf. What does this mean for you? 

  • If you have applied for the Career Pathway and received an incomplete email, please follow the steps above to apply for an evaluation through the Educational Credential Evaluators.  Once the completed evaluation is made available from the Educational Credential Evaluators to us, our team will upload your report to the PD Registry and resubmit your career pathway application for you. 
  • If you have applied for the Career Pathway, but have not yet received an incomplete email, please follow the steps above to apply for an evaluation through the Educational Credential Evaluators. Once the completed evaluation is made available from the Educational Credential Evaluators to us, our team will upload your evaluation report to the PD Registry on your behalf. Please note, you may receive an “incomplete” email during this process while we wait for your evaluated report. Once we receive your evaluation from the Educational Credential Evaluators, it will be uploaded to your PD Registry, and your career pathway application will be re-submitted for you. 
  • If you have not applied to the Career Pathway, we encourage you to begin your Career Pathway application; while we will be uploading your evaluated reports once received from the Educational Credential Evaluators, you can complete the application process and upload any other documentation you already have. A tipsheet to assist with applying for the Career Pathway is available at pakeys.org/apply-for-career-pathway.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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How long will evaluations through the Educational Credential Evaluators be free of cost?

Evaluations will be provided as funding is available through June 30, 2026; after which evaluations will be offered at a substantial discount.

What information is needed from me to apply for an evaluation?

Applicants seeking an evaluation will need to enter their first and last name, email address, and registry ID. We also encourage you to view the Document Requirements for the country in which your documents are from.

How long does an evaluation take?

The process can take 1-2 weeks once all required documents have been submitted to the Educational Credential Evaluators.

Can I be placed on the career pathway in the meantime while I'm awaiting my evaluation?

While individuals must first apply to the Career Pathway in order to receive a Registry ID, Career Pathway placement can only take place after evaluated documents have been reviewed by the Career Pathway Team.

My diploma/college transcripts are from Puerto Rico; do I still need an evaluation?

Evaluations are not required from individuals who have received their educational documentation from the United States (defined as any state in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands, or any territory or possession of the U.S.)

Should I request an evaluation even if I started but didn't complete college in another country?

We encourage applicants to submit all higher education transcripts for evaluation. If no college transcripts are provided, please submit a diploma or GED equivalent.

Where can I find my evaluation report?

Once completed, official evaluations are available through the Educational Credential Evaluators portal. The Career Pathway team will also upload the required documents into PD Registry on your behalf.

Can I order copies of my report and send to other institutions?

Yes! To request additional copies of your credential evaluation report, simply log in to your ECE® account to send electronic or physical copies of your report to other destinations.  Each copy is $20 (+shipping if mailed).

Contact

For questions regarding Career Pathway Placement, contact registry@pakeys.org.

For questions regarding evaluation, contact Educational Credential Evaluators® (ECE).

Reach out to the Customer Care Specialists at ECE.org Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Central Standard Time. During business hours you will have the option to chat or talk live. Outside of business hours the Contact Us button will allow you to leave a message.

No Cost Foreign Degree Evaluation Flyer

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