If you studied outside the United States, you might wonder what happens when a company runs international degree verification. Employers want to be sure your foreign education is real, equivalent to their requirements, and properly documented, but the process is not always clear from the candidate side.
In this guide, you will see how foreign education verification usually works, who does it, what documents matter most, and what you can do before you apply so your international degree does not slow down your job search.
If you are also asking whether your credential will even be recognized, it helps to read are foreign diplomas accepted in the USA alongside this article.
Why employers verify international degrees
Employers verify international degrees for the same reasons they verify U.S. degrees, plus a few more:
- Confirm honesty: they want to make sure your resume matches reality.
- Meet job requirements: many roles require a certain level of education.
- Manage risk: fake schools and diploma mills exist in every region.
- Understand level: they need to know what your foreign degree equals in U.S. terms.
With international degrees, the last point is especially important. A four year program in one country might not map neatly to a U.S. bachelor’s degree. That is why credential evaluations and detailed documents play a large role in foreign education verification.
For a broader look at how often employers check education in general, you can review do employers verify degrees.
Who handles international degree verification
In most cases, international degree verification is not done by the hiring manager directly. It usually involves:
- Background screening companies: they specialize in global checks and have systems to contact schools and ministries of education.
- Credential evaluation services: they analyze your foreign education and state what it equals in the U.S. system.
- Internal HR teams: sometimes verify education for smaller employers, especially when they hire only occasionally from specific countries.
For regulated professions, state boards or licensing bodies may also verify your international degree or require a specific kind of evaluation before you can sit for exams or obtain a license.
What documents employers and evaluators look for
International degree verification almost always centers around a few key documents:
- Diplomas or degree certificates: prove that you completed a program and were awarded a specific credential.
- Transcripts or mark sheets: show courses, credits, grades, and dates.
- Translations: if your documents are not in English, certified translations are often required.
- Credential evaluation reports: explain how your foreign education compares to U.S. degrees.
A good starting point is making sure you understand what a transcript actually looks like and what information it usually contains. If you are not familiar with that, you can read what does a transcript look like to see how course lists, grades, and credits are normally presented.
How international degree verification works in practice
While each case is a little different, most foreign education verification flows through a similar series of steps.
Step 1: Employer collects your details
During the application or background check phase, you provide:
- Full legal name
- Former names used at school, if any
- School name and location
- Degree or diploma title
- Field of study
- Dates of attendance and graduation
For international degrees, it helps to write the school’s official English name and the city and country clearly, not just a local nickname.
Step 2: Background screening company or HR sends a verification request
The employer or a screening company then:
- Contacts the school directly, or
- Uses a trusted verification network, or
- Asks you to obtain a credential evaluation report
Some schools respond directly to verifiers. Others route all external requests through government agencies or specific third party services.
Step 3: School or evaluation service checks your records
Depending on the method, one of the following happens:
- The school confirms your enrollment and degree: they respond with degree title, dates, and graduation status.
- A credential evaluation service reviews your documents: they examine your diploma, transcripts, and grading system, then produce a report.
- In some cases: the verifier cross checks your information with national databases or ministry of education records if those exist.
The result is usually a short statement for the employer that says whether your degree is real and what level it matches in the U.S. system.
Step 4: Employer compares results to job requirements
Once verification is complete, the employer looks at:
- Whether the degree is legitimate.
- Whether the level meets the requirement, such as bachelor’s or master’s.
- Whether your field of study is relevant enough for the role.
If everything lines up, they move on. If there are gaps or questions, they may ask you for more documents or clarification.
Role of credential evaluations in foreign education verification
For many jobs and almost all academic or licensed paths, a credential evaluation is the most important piece in international degree verification.
A typical evaluation report explains:
- The institution: whether your school is recognized in its home country.
- The credential: the level and type of diploma or degree.
- U.S. equivalency: for example, “equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.”
- Sometimes course by course details: useful when schools or licensing boards need to see exact subjects.
Employers like these reports because they translate an unfamiliar education system into language they can understand. When you present your international degree alongside a recognized evaluation, you make the verification process faster and easier.
If your situation is unusual and you need more tailored documentation or layouts for your personal records, you can explore a custom order so your documents present your education clearly while still being honest and accurate.
Common problems with international degree verification
Verification does not always go smoothly. Some common issues include:
- Name mismatches: your current name does not match the name on your foreign diploma.
- Incomplete records: missing transcripts, no proof of graduation, or schools that cannot find old files.
- School recognition: the institution is not fully recognized in its own country or is considered a diploma mill.
- Translation errors: poor translations that mislabel degrees or course titles.
- Different degree structures: shorter programs may evaluate as less than a full U.S. bachelor’s or master’s.
These problems do not automatically disqualify you, but they can delay hiring or lead an employer to treat your education as something lower than you expected.
How to prepare your international degree for verification
You can do a lot to make foreign education verification smoother before employers even ask.
Practical steps:
- Collect complete documents: gather diplomas, degree certificates, and full transcripts, not just partial records.
- Get certified translations: use professional translators for non English documents so there is no confusion about titles or subjects.
- Choose a trusted evaluation service: especially one that employers, colleges, and licensing boards recognize.
- Use consistent wording: describe your degree on your resume the same way the evaluation describes it.
- Be ready to explain: have a short, clear way to describe your education path, including country, school, and degree level.
If you want to understand how employers think about the value and verification of foreign diplomas themselves, the article are foreign diplomas accepted in the USA is a good companion to this one.
Using personal copies and custom documents
Even when employers verify your international degree directly, it is smart to keep your own records well organized and presentable.
Well prepared personal documents help you:
- Fill out applications accurately without guessing at dates.
- Answer interview questions confidently about your education.
- Share your background with mentors, career coaches, or immigration lawyers.
If you need a polished, English language version of your diploma for display or a clear layout of your education that matches U.S. expectations, you can use the diploma maker or request a more tailored custom order. These tools are best for personal records and presentation. For official hiring and licensing decisions, employers will still rely on evaluations, transcripts, and direct confirmation from your schools.
Key takeaways
If you are worried about international degree verification, keep these points in mind:
- Employers do accept foreign education, but they need clear proof and context.
- Foreign education verification usually involves background screening companies, schools, and often credential evaluation services.
- Diplomas, transcripts, translations, and evaluation reports are the core documents used in verification.
- Problems typically come from missing records, unrecognized schools, or mismatched information, not from the fact that your degree is foreign.
- Preparing your documents in advance and using a credential evaluation can turn a confusing international record into something employers can understand and trust.
With the right preparation, your foreign education can be verified smoothly and become a strong part of your story in the U.S. job market.