By Ruben Sevumyants, founder of Pomogu
Many newcomers arrive with a degree, years of experience and sometimes a professional license from home. Here is how recognition of foreign education works in the U.S., what licensing boards in the three states ask for, which documents you show on your first day at work and where to get free help, based on what federal and state agencies publish.
This is general information, not legal advice. Pomogu is not a law firm and not a credential evaluation service.
Who decides. The U.S. Department of Education says it does not evaluate foreign degrees. Recognition depends on your goal: a college decides for admission, an employer decides for a job, and a state licensing board decides for a licensed profession.
Credential evaluations. In most cases, these bodies ask for a credential evaluation, a report comparing your education to U.S. degrees. Private, non-governmental organizations prepare them for a fee.
No federal regulation. The Department says there is no federal regulation of evaluation services, and it does not endorse any service or association of services.
Ask first, then order. Use the service your employer, college or board recommends. Results can differ between services, costs depend on how complex your case is, and most services have their own appeal process.
There is no single official list for every purpose, but many state agencies point to two associations of evaluators: the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) and the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE).
New York teachers: the state's Office of Teaching Initiatives publishes its own list of accepted services, all members of NACES or AICE.
New Jersey teachers: the Department of Education asks for an evaluation from an agency recognized by associations such as NACES or AICE. Others may be accepted after review.
Pennsylvania teachers: evaluations must come from an AICE or NACES member, or an agency another state's education department approved for teacher certification. The state says it does not recommend any particular service.
Licensing boards for nurses, engineers and other professions often have their own rules, sometimes naming one specific service. Always check the board's page before you pay for an evaluation.
English is required. Evaluation services generally need English translations of non-English documents, according to the Department of Education. Ask the evaluator what it accepts. Pennsylvania, for example, requires the teacher evaluation report itself to include an English translation.
New York licenses. The Office of the Professions wants a properly qualified translator, such as an official translation bureau or a U.S. college instructor who teaches the language. Each translation must include a copy of the original and a notarized Affidavit of Accuracy stating that the whole document was translated, with nothing added or left out.
Sent directly. Boards often want transcripts and verifications sent straight from your school or the evaluator, not handed in by you. In New York, documents must arrive in a sealed official envelope or through a secure electronic channel.
Start early: New York warns that verifying documents directly with the source can delay a license. Keep copies of every request you send.
In the U.S., regulated professions are licensed by each state, not nationally. A license from another country doesn't simply transfer; the state board reviews your education and experience.
New York: the State Education Department's Office of the Professions (op.nysed.gov) oversees more than 50 professions, including nursing and engineering. Teachers are certified separately by the Office of Teaching Initiatives.
New Jersey: the Division of Consumer Affairs oversees dozens of professional and occupational licensing boards, including nursing and engineering. Teachers are certified by the Department of Education.
Pennsylvania: the Department of State's Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA) supports 29 licensing boards. You apply online through the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS). Teachers are certified by the Department of Education.
CareerOneStop's License Finder lets you search which occupations need a license in your state and which agency issues it.
Nurses
New York: your foreign nursing education is verified either by your school, using the state's Form 2F, or through the verification service the state names on its page. The state says using that service is optional but often makes the process easier. You take the NCLEX exam after the state reviews your file.
New Jersey: the Board of Nursing asks foreign graduates for a credentials review by the agency it names and a passing English proficiency test score from the past two years.
Pennsylvania: your education must be evaluated by a board-approved evaluator, which sends the report directly to the board, and found equivalent to Pennsylvania's program. Applicants also complete three hours of approved training on recognizing and reporting child abuse.
Engineers
New York: licensing combines education, experience and two NCEES exams (FE and PE). Required experience includes at least two years on projects using codes and practices common in the U.S. Experience can't be confirmed by you; supervisors must verify it.
New Jersey: a foreign engineering degree not accredited by ABET needs a detailed course-by-course evaluation, and your school must send an official transcript directly.
Pennsylvania: a foreign degree must be substantially equivalent to an ABET-accredited program to sit for the Fundamentals of Engineering exam.
Teachers
New York: your evaluation report must match the name in your TEACH account and list courses, credits, grades and GPA. Citizenship or lawful immigration status is required only for Permanent and Professional certificates.
New Jersey: request a two-part, course-by-course evaluation showing bachelor's degree equivalency, semester hours and GPA.
Pennsylvania: non-citizens submit a copy of a green card or an Employment Authorization Document. Non-citizens educated only in a non-English-speaking country also need an Advanced Mid score on the ACTFL English oral proficiency interview.
New York asks license applicants for a Social Security number; if you don't have one, it assigns a random identifier instead.
Every new employee fills out Form I-9, which confirms identity and permission to work.
Timing. You complete Section 1 no later than your first day of work. Your employer checks your documents within three business days after you start.
Your choice of documents. Show either one List A document, or one List B document plus one List C document. Your employer must let you choose and may not demand a specific document, such as a green card.
List A examples: U.S. passport, Permanent Resident Card, Employment Authorization Document with a photo, or a foreign passport with Form I-94 showing permission to work.
List B examples: a state driver's license or ID card.
List C examples: an unrestricted Social Security card.
Originals. Documents must be original and unexpired. Copies are generally not accepted, except a certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate.
Help with the form. A translator or preparer may help you fill out Section 1; you still sign it yourself. Giving your Social Security number is optional unless your employer uses E-Verify.
Your employer may not refuse a valid document because it expires in the future, or reject your ID and Social Security card because you have limited English.
American Job Centers: about 2,300 centers nationwide offer free job search help and training referrals. Find yours with CareerOneStop's American Job Center Finder.
New York: the Department of Labor's Career Centers offer free career counseling, résumé and interview help and job fairs, in person and online. Book appointments through the Workforce Scheduler.
New Jersey: One-Stop Career Centers offer career counseling, job search help, résumé and interview help, Jersey Job Club workshops and training assistance. Walk-ins are welcome for career services.
Pennsylvania: PA CareerLink offers free job matching, résumé workshops, mock interviews, training help and career fairs.
New York: the State Education Department funds adult English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs. Its online directory lists programs by region, including New York City.
New Jersey: many One-Stop Career Centers list ESL classes among their services.
Pennsylvania: state-funded adult education programs include English language classes, including distance learning. Use the Department of Education's "Find an Adult Education Program" page.
Good English also matters for licensing: some boards require test scores, as New Jersey nursing and Pennsylvania teaching do.
U.S. Department of Education, foreign qualifications: ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications
New York Office of the Professions: op.nysed.gov
New York licensing rules and translations: op.nysed.gov/about/general-information-policies
New York teachers, foreign credentials: highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/evalforeigncred.html
New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs: njconsumeraffairs.gov
New Jersey teacher certification FAQ: nj.gov/education/certification/faq
Pennsylvania BPOA: pa.gov/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa
Pennsylvania teachers educated abroad: pa.gov/agencies/education/programs-and-services/educators/certification/certification-staffing/staffing-guidelines/cspg-5-evaluation-of-credentials-for-individuals-prepared-outside-of-the-united-states
Form I-9 documents: uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents
Your I-9 rights: uscis.gov/i-9-central/employee-rights-and-resources/employee-rights
American Job Center Finder: careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/AmericanJobCenters/find-american-job-centers.aspx
New York Career Centers: dol.ny.gov/career-centers
New Jersey One-Stop Career Centers: nj.gov/labor/career-services/contact-us/one-stops
PA CareerLink: pa.gov/services/dli/find-jobs-with-pa-careerlink-
New York adult education: acces.nysed.gov/aepp/find-adult-education-program
Pennsylvania adult education: pa.gov/agencies/education/programs-and-services/instruction/adult-basic-and-family-literacy-education/programs-and-services
Ruben Sevumyants, Pomogu — pomogusa.com