What is a Credential Evaluation?
A credential evaluation is a professional “translation + conversion + verification” service for education earned outside the United States.
It is a formal report, produced by a certified agency, that translates your foreign school documents (diplomas, transcripts, mark sheets) into a standardized U.S. format.
This report provides U.S. decision-makers with authoritative answers to four key questions:
Academic Equivalency: What is this program in U.S. terms? (e.g., Is it a high school or college-level program? Is it a 3-year or 4-year degree?)
Legitimacy: Is the institution accredited and recognized within its home educational system?
Quantitative Conversion: What are the equivalent U.S. grades, GPA, and credit hours?
Degree Comparability: What U.S. degree level does this credential equal? (e.g., “Equivalent to a U.S. High School Diploma” or “Bachelor’s Degree”)
The Main Types of Evaluations
1. Document-by-Document: Confirms the general credential level. This is the most basic option.
2. Course-by-Course: Breaks down the transcript by specific subjects, credit hours, and calculates a U.S. GPA.
This is the industry standard for university admissions, transfer credit assessment, and athletic eligibility.
Why It Matters (The "Risk Reduction" Factor)
You generally need an evaluation when a U.S. institution must make a fair "apples-to-apples" comparison using documents they cannot interpret directly.
Without a proper evaluation, you risk significant complications:
Processing Delays: Admissions or eligibility centers may pause your file due to ambiguity.
Incorrect Placement: You may be placed in the wrong academic level or denied transfer credits.
Timeline Failures: You may be forced to correct documentation late in the process, jeopardizing visa approval or season start dates.
In short, a credential evaluation is the administrative tool that allows international education to "fit" seamlessly into U.S. systems, eliminating guesswork.
Why Do Coaches Care?
Coaches do not just recruit talent; **they recruit certainty.**
A credential evaluation provides the assurance a coach needs to offer a scholarship or roster spot. It answers the critical questions that determine if a recruit is viable:
1. Admissibility: Can the university accept you based on your GPA and school legitimacy?
2. Eligibility: Can the governing body (NAIA/NJCAA) clear you to compete?
3. Reliability: Does the recruit present "clean" paperwork, or are there hidden academic risks?
If these answers are unclear, coaches may hesitate to move forward, viewing the recruit as "high-risk paperwork," regardless of their athletic ability.
The Two "Gates" of Recruitment
International recruits must clear two distinct administrative hurdles.
It is vital not to confuse them:
1. The Admissions Gate
Who Decides: The University or College Admissions Office.
The Goal: To determine if you meet the academic standards to attend the school.
The Requirement: Many U.S. universities, particularly for transfer students, require a Course-by-Course evaluation to assess transfer credits and GPA.
2. The Athletic Eligibility Gate
Who Decides: The governing body of the sport (NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA).
The Goal: To determine if you satisfy the amateurism and academic rules required to compete.
The Requirement: This varies strictly by division (detailed below).
Division-Specific Requirements
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) Requirement:
International students are required to purchase an evaluation from InCred.
Key Detail: InCred is the official credential evaluation partner for the NAIA. An InCred evaluation is typically required to receive an eligibility decision.
NCAA (Division I & II) Requirement:
The NCAA Eligibility Center generally conducts its own internal reviews.
Key Detail: The NCAA typically does not require an external evaluation (such as WES) for eligibility. Instead, your high school must submit certified academic documents and official translations directly to the Eligibility Center.
Note: While the NCAA may not require an external evaluation, the university admissions office may still request one.
NJCAA (Junior College) Requirement:
Policies vary by athletic conference and individual college.
Key Detail: Many Junior Colleges utilize InCred to determine eligibility, but this is not universal. Always verify requirements with the specific Junior College coach or compliance officer.
Strategic Checklist for International Recruits
1. Identify Your Target Division: Specific requirements differ between NCAA D1, NAIA, and JuCo.
2. Verify the "Admissions Gate": Consult the international admissions guidelines of your target universities. Do they require a specific evaluation agency (e.g., WES, ECE)?
3. Verify the "Eligibility Gate":
NAIA: Begin your InCred evaluation immediately.
NCAA: Register with the Eligibility Center and confirm your school sends certified translations.
4. Communicate Proactively: Inform coaches, "I have my credential evaluation in process." This signals that you are an organized, serious, and academically viable recruit.