Frequently Asked Questions


General Questions

Are FCSA evaluations recognized?

FCSA performs thousands of evaluations every year for people from all over the world. FCSA evaluations are accepted by INS, the Texas State Board of Education, Motorola, Dell, colleges and universities throughout the country, immigration attorneys, and the Texas State Board of Professional Engineering, among others. (See more about our clients.) FCSA's director, Dr. William Paver, has extensive professional experience in the field of credentials evaluation. A leader in international admissions, Dr. Paver was responsible for developing the international admissions office at the University of Texas at Austin into one of the preeminent offices of its kind in the country. (See more about Dr. Paver.)

It must be emphasized, however, that no Academic Credential Evaluation, no matter its source, will be universally acknowledged. Educational institutions, licensing boards, government agencies, private corporations, etc., are fully entitled to establish their own respective policies in this regard, and many will select a handful of agencies whose reports they will readily accept. FCSA always recommends that clients double-check with the receiving institution in advance to ensure our evaluations will be accepted.

What are the application procedures?

Clients may download an application form from our website, or we will be happy to send a copy by e-mail, fax, or regular mail. While some users may have software that will permit them to enter information directly into the electronic document, we recommend that the form be printed and filled in manually, as we do require a customer signature. The completed application, along with the academic documents you want to have evaluated and the required fees should be submitted to FCSA. If any part of this process is not completed we cannot start your evaluation.

What if I'm not sure what type of report to request?

It is always best to check with the university, licensing board, or employer using the evaluation. You may also contact FCSA and we will help you determine what type of report you need. A General Statement of Equivalency is typically used for immigration or for employment (in fields other than teaching). For teacher certification, university admission, or state board licensure (Professional Engineering, Accounting, etc.) a Detailed Evaluation of Coursework is usually required.

How long does the evaluation take?

An evaluation is normally ready to be mailed approximately two to three weeks (10-15 working days) after the date when all necessary documents have been received. While FCSA takes great pride in the rapidity of our service, please note that this timeframe is not guaranteed and is subject to vary depending on our case load.

Do you have a faster service?

FCSA offers the following timeframe options:
Standard (Approximately 10-15 working days) No additional fee
Rush Service (3 working days) Base fee + $75 (US)

Next Day Service (General Evaluation)
Base fee + $175 (US)

Next Day Service (Detailed and/or ABET Evaluation)
Base fee + $210 (US)

The standard timeframe of two to three weeks is an estimate and may vary depending on the number of cases in progress at any given time. Expedited requests, on the other hand, are guaranteed to be completed and ready for mailing/pickup within the designated timeframe.

What should I do if I need a foreign evaluation for my teacher certification license application?

FCSA has been approved to provide foreign evaluations for a number of state boards for teacher certification. Click here to get detailed instructions on how to submit an FCSA application that will meet board requirements.

What should I do if I need a foreign evaluation for my engineering license application?

FCSA has been approved to provide foreign evaluations for state boards of engineering in Texas, Georgia, and North Dakota (NOTE: this list is subject to change from time to time). Click here to get detailed instructions on how to submit an FCSA application that will meet board requirements.

Can I drop in at the FCSA offices?

You may visit our offices at 1910 Justin Lane in Austin, Texas any time during our working hours, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. No appointment is necessary. Our customer service staff will be happy to assist you with the application process or to answer general questions.

Click here for a map.

Do you evaluate work experience?

At this time, FCSA evaluates academic credentials only.

Will FCSA confirm receipt of my evaluation request?

If your application arrives in our offices with all necessary documents, you will not receive confirmation. If, after examining your application, we find that there are missing documents, we will send you a postcard or email listing any missing documentation that we may need to complete your evaluation.


Costs

Do I need to pre-pay?

Payment must be included with the application and documents. An evaluation will not be started until our office receives the appropriate fees. Payment can be made by personal check, money order, cashiers check, or credit card. We accept MasterCard, VISA, and American Express.

What does an evaluation cost?

A General Statement of Equivalency costs $75. This statement will list the US equivalents of your diplomas and degrees. A Detailed Evaluation of your coursework for purposes of assessing transfer credit costs $110. (The Detailed Evaluation includes the General Statement.)

What if I decide to cancel the evaluation?

If you contact us in writing (by mail, fax, or email) before the evaluation has been started, you can be refunded all but a $25 handling fee.


Documentation

Do I need to send original documents?

In most cases, FCSA accepts photocopies, faxes, or scanned versions of your original documents. Copies submitted must be clearly legible, showing the entirety of each page (including the reverse side if not blank). At the end of the FCSA application, you will be asked to read and sign a statement verifying that the documents you have submitted are true copies of the originals.

*Exception: If you are applying for board licensure, you may need to submit original documents in a sealed envelope from your institution. Click here for a listing of application requirements for boards that accept FCSA evaluations. Click here to print out a form to send to your institutions requesting original/attested documents.

Will FCSA return my documentation?

If requested, FCSA will return all original or certified documents after the evaluation is completed. We do not return photocopies or documents notarized in the US.

Do you need all my school records (from elementary to university)?

Generally, we need your records beginning from your secondary or upper secondary studies, particularly when applying as an undergraduate to a US institution. When seeking licensure, graduate admissions, or H-1 status, post secondary records are sufficient.

Should I include my diploma with my records?

Yes. If you have completed a course of study, please include a photocopy (both sides) of the diploma or degree.

Do I need to send a syllabus of my coursework?

In most cases, a transcript (or set of mark sheets), listing course titles and grades, is sufficient.

Exceptions:
  • If you are applying for board licensure you may need to submit a syllabus (detailed course descriptions) from the year of your graduation. Click here for specific instructions on submitting board licensure evaluations.
  • Students applying to The University of Texas Pan-American through either the Department of Admissions and New Student Services or the Office of International Admissions and Services are required to provide syllabi/course descriptions for any postsecondary credits being submitted for evaluation.

What is a transcript?

A transcript is a document issued by secondary schools, colleges, and universities listing the name of the school, student's name, years of attendance, courses studied, and credits and grades received. The transcript may also list degrees completed. Often a transcript has a legend on the back that explains the grading scale and abbreviations.

What grading scale does FCSA use?

FCSA converts all international grading systems to the 4 point scale commonly used in the US (A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=O)

What is a semester hour?

In the US, 15 classroom hours generally translates to one semester hour. A year of full time study in the US generally results in 30-36 semester hours of credit. Therefore, one year of full time study at an international school would be assessed as 30-36 hours of transfer credit.

Do you do translations?

No, we do not perform language translations. Furthermore, any documents submitted to FCSA in a language other than English or Spanish must be accompanied by a certified English translation. If your documents are in Spanish, translations are still required, but do not need to be certified (in other words, you may do the translation yourself or have it performed by a friend).

When translations are required, FCSA recommends the services of InLingua.

What should I do if I have courses in progress?

When you complete the courses, send us an updated transcript. If you wish to add this information within the first six months after your initial evaluation, a $50 re-evaluation fee will be charged for the update. If six months has passed since your initial evaluation, you will be charged the full evaluation fee.

Does FCSA verify documents for authenticity?

FCSA always reserves the right to verify documents for authenticity.

If falsified documents are submitted to FCSA, there will be no refund of payments or return of documents, and the forgery will be reported to the designated recipients of the report as well as academic institutions, evaluation services, and government agencies.


Evaluations

What information is in a General Statement of Equivalency?

  • Institutions attended (non-US only).
  • Dates of attendance.
  • Credentials earned and date awarded.
  • United States equivalence.

What information is in the Detailed Evaluation of Coursework?

  • Institutions attended (non-US only).
  • Dates of attendance.
  • Credentials earned and date awarded.
  • United States equivalence.
  • Courses taken.
  • Equivalent semester hours and US grade equivalence.
  • Overall equivalent US grade point average (US GPA).
  • Upper division and graduate GPA can be specified.

What is an ABET Evaluation?

The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) is an organization that evaluates higher educational programs in the fields of applied science, computing, engineering, and technology. In the interests of promoting quantifiable standards, ABET has compiled sets of profiles for various engineering specialties. These profiles specify how many credit hours of study a candidate must have completed in each of several predefined academic categories in order to meet the minimum standards for their respective disciplines. In other words, to qualify as a civil engineer (versus, say, a mechanical or computer engineer) one must have completed x hours of coursework in mathematics, y hours of coursework in engineering design, and z hours of coursework in humanities. Candidates in need of an ABET Evaluation must also request a Detailed Evaluation of Coursework.

What if I have questions about my evaluation after it is prepared?

We will be happy to answer any questions you might have about your evaluation. For general questions, you may contact us by email, fax, phone or mail. Questions about the specific content of you evaluation, however, must be presented in writing, and may be sent to us by regular mail, by email or by fax.

What if I don't list all my education and decide at a later date that I want it added to my report?

If you wish to add information within the first two years after your initial evaluation, a $50 re-evaluation fee will be charged for the update. If two years have passed since your initial evaluation, you will be charged the evaluation fee.

Can FCSA send my evaluation directly to a school or employer?

Yes. In section 1 of the application, you are asked to fill in the address or addresses where you would like your evaluations to be mailed.

Can I get copies of my evaluation after the initial mailing?

FCSA keeps your records on file in our office for exactly two (2) years from the date at the top of your evaluation. For example, if your evaluation date was January 1, 2005, your evaluation will be on file at FCSA until January 1, 2007. Until that time, FCSA guarantees that additional copies of your evaluation will be available for purchase. After that date, however, copies may not be available and you may need to reapply and resubmit the entire application package, including the full fee. Copies, if available, cost $25 each. Please click on FCSA Request for Additional Evaluation Copies to see our download instructions for the application.

How long will FCSA keep my incomplete application?

If you submit an application and do not complete it, FCSA will keep your documents on file for 2 years from the date of application. After 2 years, you will need to submit a new application.

General Questions

Costs

Documentation