Have you ever hesitated when selecting "Highest degree" on a job application after completing your bachelor's or master's degree in Korea? I wasn't sure if my Korean diploma would be accepted here at first.

To put it simply, many U.S. employers or schools do not directly assess foreign degrees. Instead, they require a credential evaluation report.

This report is a document prepared by a third party that explains what your Korean degree corresponds to according to U.S. standards. The most frequently mentioned organization for this is WES (World Education Services).

WES is a member of NACES, the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services in the U.S. It has been a member since NACES was established in 1987, making it a well-known name in this field.

So, what type of report should you apply for? There are two main types: Document-by-Document and Course-by-Course.

Document-by-Document provides information on the degree name, admission requirements, duration of study, and U.S. equivalency. It does not include individual course grades.

Course-by-Course adds a list of courses taken, U.S. credit and grade conversions for each course, and even a GPA on a 4.0 scale. This is primarily used for graduate school admissions, transfers, or licensing exams.

According to WES's official guidance, Document-by-Document is recommended for employment purposes. However, it comes with the condition that you should first check if this is sufficient for the company you are applying to.

You should also be aware of the costs involved. WES increased its evaluation prices by 3% starting January 1, 2026.

As of the currently published prices, Document-by-Document costs $118 for the Basic option and $171 for the ICAP option. Course-by-Course ICAP is $239.

Shipping fees are additional. Standard shipping is $14, and international express shipping is $86. The final amount may change on the payment screen, so be sure to check.

Honestly, I was a bit surprised when I first saw the price for Course-by-Course. However, considering future graduate school or licensing needs, getting it done properly all at once might actually save money.

ICAP is an option where WES keeps verified transcripts and sends them along with the report to other institutions later. If you are applying to multiple places, this can be quite convenient.

Now, let's move on to the documents. The key point is that the official transcript must be sent directly from the school to WES, not by you.

Many Korean universities issue English transcripts directly, so there is usually no need for a translation. However, since this can vary by school, it's best to check the Required Documents tool on the WES website by entering your country and degree.

If a translation is necessary, you will need to prepare it yourself. WES does not provide translation services.

You can upload copies or translations of your graduation certificate to My Account. Some instructions suggest completing the upload before the official documents from the school arrive, so don't miss that step.

WES may also verify the authenticity of the documents with the school. In this case, the evaluation will pause until the school responds, so contacting your school's academic office in advance can save time.

The processing time is about 7 business days after all documents and payments are confirmed, according to WES guidelines. However, WES has stated that delays may occur due to system transitions, so if you have a deadline, allow at least a month or two of buffer time.

One important pitfall to note is that not all institutions accept WES evaluations.

A notable example is the Texas nursing license. The Texas Board of Nursing has its own list of approved evaluation agencies, which includes CGFNS, ERES, and JS&A, but does not list WES.

Some Texas state agencies also specify that they only recognize evaluations from NACES or AICE member organizations. Ultimately, the criteria depend on the requirements of the institution to which you are submitting documents.

So, the order I always recommend is as follows: first, check the required agency and type of report for your application.

Next, find out how to obtain and send the English documents from your school. Finally, apply to WES and make the payment.

If you reverse this order, you may end up spending both time and money twice. I've seen several cases where people received reports only to find they had to apply again because the institutions were different.

Personally, I think this credential evaluation system is quite reasonable. It provides a way to show what you actually learned rather than just the name of the school.

The education you gained in Korea is definitely competitive in the U.S. However, you need to take care of the paperwork to prove it.

If I were in your position, I would start lightly with Document-by-Document if my only goal was employment, but if there was even a slight chance of pursuing graduate school or licensing, I would choose Course-by-Course ICAP from the beginning. Prices change frequently, so be sure to check wes.org right before applying.