Internationally Educated Nurses

If you completed your nursing education outside the United States, you have already invested significant time and effort in building your professional qualifications. When you pursue opportunities in the U.S., one of your next steps may be helping an organization understand how your international education compares with U.S. educational standards.

That is where a credential evaluation can help.

At Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), we evaluate education completed around the world and provide clear, accurate information about how those qualifications compare with U.S. education. For internationally educated nurses, an evaluation may be part of the process for professional licensure, employment, academic admission, or immigration.

Here is what to know before getting started.

Why Internationally Educated Nurses May Need a Credential Evaluation

Educational systems vary widely between countries. Degree names, program structures, academic records, and grading systems may not have a direct U.S. equivalent.

A credential evaluation helps U.S. organizations understand education completed in another country. It provides an expert assessment of international academic qualifications in relation to U.S. educational standards.

For nurses educated outside the U.S., an evaluation may be requested by a licensing authority, university, employer, or government-related organization.

ECE’s role is to evaluate educational qualifications fairly, accurately, and consistently. The organization receiving the evaluation makes its own decision based on its requirements.

What Is a Nursing Credential Evaluation Report?

A nursing credential evaluation report helps communicate your international education to the organization reviewing your qualifications.

Depending on the recipient’s requirements, the report may provide information about the academic credentials you earned and how your education compares with U.S. standards.

It is important to remember that an ECE® evaluation does not determine whether you qualify for a nursing license, university admission, employment, or an immigration outcome. Those decisions are made by the appropriate licensing authority, institution, employer, or government agency.

Before ordering, always confirm which ECE® report your intended recipient requires.

How Do I Know Which Nursing Report I Need?

Start With Your Nursing Licensure Requirements

If you are wondering which nursing report to choose, start by reviewing the requirements of the nursing regulatory body where you plan to become licensed.

The report you need may depend on whether you are applying for initial RN licensure or seeking licensure by endorsement in another state. Some applicants may also need an English Language Proficiency (ELP) Report, depending on the requirements of the nursing regulatory body.

Requirements can vary by state, so check the specific requirements for your nursing licensure application before ordering your report.

Check Documentation Requirements Before You Begin

Once you know which report you need, review the current documentation requirements carefully.

Before starting your application, check:

• Which educational records are required
• How documents need to be submitted
• What recipient information you need
• Whether your personal and educational information is entered accurately

Having the right information ready can make the process easier to navigate.

What Does ECE Evaluate?

ECE compares education completed outside the United States with U.S. educational standards.

Our focus is your educational qualifications. We apply our evaluation standards impartially and consistently so organizations can better understand academic credentials earned in another educational system.

We do not determine professional eligibility. A credential evaluation is not a nursing license, admission decision, job offer, or immigration decision.
Instead, it provides information that the appropriate organization can use as part of its own review process.

What Happens After My Evaluation Is Complete?

Once your evaluation is complete, the report can support your next step with the organization that requested it.

What happens after that depends on your goal. A licensing authority may have additional requirements. A university will follow its admissions process. An employer will follow its hiring procedures. Immigration-related processes have separate requirements as well.

Completing an ECE® evaluation does not itself grant a nursing license, employment, academic admission, U.S. citizenship, or another immigration outcome.

Continue following the requirements and instructions provided by the organization handling your application.

Common Questions from Internationally Educated Nurses

Can I use the same evaluation for every licensing application?

Not necessarily. Requirements may vary by recipient.

Before reusing an existing evaluation or ordering a new one, check with each organization to confirm which report it accepts.

How should I prepare before ordering an evaluation?

Start by confirming the report required by your intended recipient. Then review the document requirements, verify the recipient information, and make sure your personal and educational details are accurate.

A little preparation can help prevent unnecessary confusion later.

How long will my evaluation take?

Our timeline starts after we receive all required documents. This is important – sometimes it can take a lot of back and forth with the institutions where you earned your education, so we encourage you to start early.  

How much does a nursing evaluation cost?

Check ECE’s current pricing information before ordering.

Knowing the report you need, the documentation requirements, and the current cost in advance can help you understand what to expect before beginning the process.

A Clearer Path Starts With the Right Information

Moving your education across borders can involve several organizations and requirements. Starting with accurate information can make the process much clearer. 

First, identify the organization that will receive your evaluation. Confirm what it requires. Then review ECE’s current nursing evaluation options and document requirements before placing your order.

For more than four decades, ECE has worked to ensure educational qualifications are fairly and accurately recognized across borders. We bring that same commitment to every evaluation we complete.

Your nursing education represents years of work. Our role is to help make those qualifications understandable wherever your next opportunity may lead. 

Visit ECE.org to explore report options, review documentation requirements, and begin the credential evaluation process.