CREDENTIAL EVALUATION NAVIGATION SUPPORT

ReEstablish Richmond partners with VCU Global Education Office through World Education Services (WES Gateway) and also works directly with Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) to help newcomers obtain academic credential evaluation reports.

The program requirements will determine which pathway (WES or ECE) a client is eligible to pursue. Both programs deliver the same result: documents that acknowledge the academic credentials you achieved before coming to the U.S. including:

  • High school diplomas

  • University degrees (Associate's, Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD)

  • University transcripts

 Credential Evaluation in Partnership with VCU Through WES Gateway (WES)

This service is free of charge for newcomers’ individuals educated in:

STEP 1: Submit Your Request

After ReEstablish Richmond receives your request for credential evaluation navigation support, a staff member will contact you to complete an intake, if you need one. Sheeba Adli, our Client Engagement Coordinator will contact you to complete a credential evaluation assessment. We will then schedule a Zoom meeting with our WES referral partner, Rachel Aziz at VCU, who will assist you with your application submission and fee waiver for your evaluation.

STEP 2: Client’s Role: Submit Documents

Send scanned copies of your documents to the ReEstablish Richmond staff member via email:

  • Academic Transcripts

  • Degree Certificates

  • Licenses (if applicable)

Note:  If any of your documents require translation, WES will assist. However, you must give permission for the translation by signing a separate consent form, which Sheeba and Rachel will share with you.

STEP 3: Set Up an Account with WES Gateway

After submitting your documents, you will receive an email from WES with your account information and a temporary password. You’ll need to reset your password to access your account. From there, you can track the progress of your evaluation.

STEP 4: Submit Your Application and Evaluation Fee Waiver

During the Zoom meeting with Rachel Aziz, your application will be submitted to WES, and we’ll help you process the fee waiver for the evaluation.

STEP 5: Receive Your Evaluation

Once your documents are processed, you will receive your credential evaluation report within 2-3 weeks.

  • Both hard copy and electronic copy of the report will be provided.

  • You can also request to have an official report sent directly to your college or university.

Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)

Unlike the World Education Services (WES) Gateway program, Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) does not restrict its services to specific countries. ECE’s services are open to anyone facing logistical or financial barriers to obtaining an evaluation, making it a more accessible option for many individuals worldwide.

STEP 1: Submit Your Request

After ReEstablish Richmond receives your request for credential evaluation, a staff member will contact you to complete an intake and credential evaluation assessment.

  • If you are eligible for WES, we will proceed with the WES process.

  • If you are not eligible for WES, Sheeba, our Client Engagement Coordinator, will request a coupon from ECE for your credential evaluation.

STEP 2: Client’s Role: Send Scanned Copies of Your Documents

Once ReEstablish Richmond receives the coupon from ECE (usually within 1-2 weeks), Sheeba will share a PDF document with step-by-step instructions on how to create your ECE account and submit your documents for evaluation.

Send scanned copies of your documents to the ReEstablish Richmond staff member via email:

  • Academic Transcripts

  • Degree Certificates

  • Licenses (if applicable)

Note: If any of your documents require translation, ECE will assist. However, you must give permission for the translation by signing a separate consent form, which ECE will provide to you.

STEP 3: Set Up an Account with ECE

After receiving the PDF instructions from Sheeba, follow the step-by-step guide to create your ECE account.

  • If you don’t have access to a computer, our staff member can assist you at a public library. Note: The coupons will not work on ReEstablish Richmond computers.

STEP 4: Submit Your Application and Evaluation Fee Waiver

  • The coupon will waive the fee for your application, and you can request unlimited copies of your evaluation report.

  • If you need additional copies after your initial request, you will need to pay for them out of pocket.

STEP 5: Receive Your Evaluation

Once your documents are processed, you will receive your credential evaluation report within 3-4 weeks.

  • Both hard copy (in the mail) and electronic copy (to your email) of the report will be provided.