Foreign Degrees In The USA: What You Need To Know
No matter what country your degree comes from, you worked hard and possibly spent a lot of money to obtain it. If you have a degree and have moved to or are considering immigrating to the U.S., you may be wondering if a foreign degree is valid in the U.S.
We’ll explain which international degrees are recognized in the U.S. and how foreign degree accreditation works.
International degrees recognized in the U.S.
The recognition of foreign degrees in the USA is not overseen by a single authority, i.e., at the federal level. Recognizing foreign degrees and qualifications is done at the state level, and each state has different requirements and processes. So if you want to work in the field you have a degree in, it’s important to research the requirements for states you’re considering moving to.
Foreign degree accreditation in the USA
Many U.S. employers will accept an international degree, although you may need to take additional steps as an international applicant that your domestic counterparts aren’t subject to.
There are, however, three instances that require an evaluation of foreign degrees and qualifications; studying, certified professions, and practicing a profession that requires licensing.
Studying
If you have not completed your undergraduate and graduate degree before coming to the U.S. and want to continue your education, you don’t want to lose credit for the coursework you have completed. That means you want any earned credits to transfer to your new college or university, so you don’t have to repeat (and pay for) classes you’ve completed at home. Which credits transfer is up to your new school, so it’s important to speak with someone in the admissions office.
Certified professions
Certifications recognize that you have the skills and education that match the standardized criteria for specific professional associations, companies, or independent organizations. Certifications usually require educational and testing components and may have to be renewed from time to time.
Careers requiring certification in the U.S. include:
Project management
Business analyst
Supply chain logistics
Skilled trades like HVAC, mechanics, plumbers, welders, carpenters
Accounting
Computer networking
Health care positions like licensed practical nursing, dental assistant, surgical tech, paramedic
You can hire services to evaluate your credentials, including the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) and the Association of Internation Credentials Evaluators (AICE).
Licensed Professionals
Certain professions require practitioners to be licensed; again, these licenses are at the state level. To obtain a license, you must demonstrate that you meet the state’s standards for that profession. You may also be required to have a degree, but not all licensed careers require them. Some licensed professions include:
Doctors
Nurses
Therapists
Counselors
Teachers
Lawyers
Electricians
Land surveyors
Cosmetologists
Building contractors
The best course of action is to find the state regulator for the profession you want to practice. They will have the information on how to validate your license to work in that state. In many cases, you will be required to do a residency of at least one year.
Continuing your career
Starting over in a new country is stressful enough; you don’t want to have to start over in your career or find a new one in addition. If you wish to continue your career in the U.S., be sure to understand the requirements in the state you plan to move to.
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