IERF Evaluation Report Received, Waiting on AACRAO

After completing a B, M, and professional D from regionally accredited brick/mortar schools here in the US (which is where I live), I completed a research M, then a research PhD from a fully accredited South African institution. Curious as to their equivalence to the same degrees in the USA, I submitted the required documentation to IERF and AACRAO for credential evaluation. AACRAO hasn't completed their evaluation, but here is the response from IERF.

Research M: These studies are considered equivalent in level and purpose to the M awarded by institutions in the United States.

Research PhD: These studies are considered equivalent in level and purpose, and with sufficient depth, to the PhD awarded by institutions in the United States.

Equivalency Summary: It is the judgment of the International Education Research Foundation, Inc. that **** **** has the U. S. equivalent of the M and PhD.

The evaluation report listed all previous academic studies, title of the PhD dissertation, evaluator's name and signature, official IERF stamp, and a statement on the back noting that all foreign credentials are evaluated in terms of educational programs offered by regionally accredited institutions in the United States.

After reading through several posts regarding foreign credential evaluation, the above are some of the questions that arose. It took IERF about seven weeks to complete the evaluation.

 

I seen IERF reports they always state equivalency to US Regionally Accredited degree.
I just looked at one for a friend who evaluated his Russian Veterinary degree,

Always states Regionally Accredited.

Why your evaluation omitted the RA?

Usually if the degree is from substandard unrecognized school evaluated by IERF and it states in report that the degree equivalent to US University that is NOT Regionally Accredited.

 

In this case the school isn't a "substandard unrecognized school," but an institution that has the highest level of accreditation offered by CHE and SAQA, the same level of accreditation as all the major universities in South Africa. I posted only a few excerpts from the IERF report, but it clearly states equivalence to regionally accredited institutions in the United States.

 

OK great, good education.

One more question
Why second evaluation from AACRAO?
They cost hundreds of $$$

 

After reading the posts on DI regarding credential evaluators, some pro and some con, I decided to get two different evaluations. The general evaluation (which is what I needed) was $85 via IERF and $75 via AACRAO.

 

Please share with us the results once you get them.

I had all my foreign credentials evaluated by WES.
The area I was mostly concerned is that I had to mail the original documents.

Some NACEs agencies work with copies and reserve the right to ask for originals.
Not the case with WES.

Did you had to submit originals?

 

IERF requested original documents. I sent them original transcripts, but the diplomas had been framed at a frame shop. An adhesive of some type was applied to the back of the diploma and then placed on a piece of foam board, then framed. I couldn't remove the diploma without damaging/destroying it. When I shared this with IERF, they allowed me to take photos of the two diplomas and submit them. The original transcripts were returned with the evaluation.

 

I suspect it has been widely assumed that degrees from South African universities were on par with those issued by RA schools in the U.S. It's nice to see some evidence supporting that assumption, of course.

 

Which one of these services is the most reliable? IERF, AACRAO, WES?? Is anyone service used more by RA US Universities/colleges?

 

I think at one time ECE and WES were almost on all universities list.
But lists and universities requirements different. Some simply state any NACES member service others list specific once..
Some work with one service for some countries and another service for other countries etc.

 

I received the AACRAO evaluation just today, which reinforces the IERF evaluation. Below is the assessment of AACRAO's two-page evaluation:

Research M: The master's degree from ***** ****** represents attainment of a level of education comparable to a master's degree in **** from a regionally accredited university in the United States.

Research PhD: This degree represents attainment of a level of education comparable to a doctor of philosophy degree in **** from a regionally accredited university in the United States.

In summation, both IERF and AACRAO validated my M and PhD from a fully accredited South African institution as equivalent to the same degrees earned at regionally accredited institutions in the USA.

 

This is very good to have, when you apply for employment with government etc.

One thing it doesn't state is the ranking of the university issuing the degree. Or the tier of the university.

You see we know that school name can make a difference.
Top tier university Ph. D maybe highly desirable when you are applying for University faculty teaching job.

Also professional Accreditation may be of importance when one applies for License.
The fact that the degree is Regionally Accredited or equivalent to it is excellent but may not be sufficient if its in one of fields like Engineering, Medicine, Social Work, Psychology to name a few.
For Social Work for example if one whats to apply for License as LSW - Licensed Social Worker the degree has to be accredited by the Professional/Specialty accrediting Agency for Social Work Education.
This agency has a service that evaluates foreign Social Work degrees to establish if the person can take the LSW examination after fulfilling the required supervised hours etc.

If your University in Africa considered one of the good reputation and standing its good to state that on the resume.


You SA university maybe ranked 2nd or third best in SA. if that's the case its good to mention.

 

In my particular field, the criterion for acceptance/legitimacy/utility is regional accreditation (or the foreign equivalent). Knowing that to be the case, I verified the South African school's accreditation before enrolling in the M or D. That is, I confirmed that the school did indeed have the highest level of accreditation offered by South Africa (via CHE and SAQA) and that this level of accreditation was understood as being on par with US regional accreditation. Without this confirmation I would never have enrolled in the degree programs. Submitting my credentials for evaluation via IERF and AACRAO was really a personal matter, I didn't need it for employment. After reading many of the posts on this and other academic discussion boards regarding foreign credential evaluation, and since the cost was minimal ($85 IERF / $75 AACRAO), I decided to get the two evaluations and keep the official documentation with my academic transcripts. I'm glad I did, as this confirms officially what I already knew; however, if the need ever arises in the future for confirmation of equivalence, I now have official documentation.

 

AACRAO vs IERF

Which one of these services is the most reliable? IERF or AACRAO??
or just are the same?

 

They are both reputable evaluators. I really don't know which one would be considered the most reliable. I used both.