A WES or ECE evaluation is a document you submit to a third party (employer HR, a licensing board, a university admissions office) when they explicitly request it. It is not a resume credential. Writing “WES evaluated” or “equals US Bachelor’s” on your resume wastes space and can make you look like you are over-explaining. The only thing employers see on your resume is the degree name you list and the institution where you earned it. If the degree is from a recognized overseas university, list it exactly as it would be understood in the US context—and move on.
Before (what not to do):
After (what to write):
The US reader sees “M.S. in Computer Science” and understands the level. Adding the country (“India”) gives context. That is all you need.
You need a formal evaluation in three scenarios:
If you are applying for a professional license (engineering, nursing, accounting, architecture) in the US, the state board will almost always require an evaluation from a NACES-member service like WES or ECE. You submit that directly to the board.
Some large US companies (especially in healthcare, finance, and defense) require a background check that includes verification of foreign degrees. They will ask you to provide an evaluation—often at your own cost—after the offer is extended. Do not order one proactively for a resume push.
If you are applying for a graduate degree in the US, the university’s admissions office will specify which evaluation service they accept (often WES, ECE, or SpanTran). Again, this is a submission to the school, not something you advertise on a resume.
Keep each degree entry simple. Follow this exact structure:
Examples:
ATS systems parse the “degree” field from the education section. Most systems expect a format like “Bachelor of Science in X” or “Master of Arts in Y.” By writing that directly, you match the recruiter’s filter. Adding the country after the institution helps a human recruiter quickly assess credibility without triggering any ATS confusion. Do not write “BS equivalent” or “Masters (outside US)”—those phrases are non-standard and can skip the ATS filter entirely.
Do not do it. If you list “WES evaluated” as part of your degree line, you are telling the recruiter you are unsure of your own credentials. Recruiters want confidence. If they later need proof, they will ask for the evaluation. Putting it on the resume early can also signal that the degree is from a lesser-known institution—even if that is not your intent.
That is different. If an online application system (e.g., Workday, Taleo) has a field that says “Credential Evaluation Number,” enter the number from your report. If the same system has a check box like “I have a foreign degree evaluation,” check it. But none of that goes on the static resume PDF you upload.
If you are asked to provide an evaluation after an offer, attach the PDF to the background check portal or email it to HR. You may need to include the reference number in an email subject line. That is the only time the evaluation details appear in your professional file—never on the resume itself.
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No. A WES report is a document you submit to HR or a licensing board, and it has no impact on resume screening. Recruiters never see it unless you attach it—which you should not.
Do not. Write “Bachelor of Arts in History – University of Delhi, India” without the WES line. The recruiter will assume it is a four-year program. If they need verification, they will ask.
Only if you are applying to a licensing board or a graduate program that explicitly requires it. For job applications, wait until an employer asks. An evaluation costs $150–$250 and expires after a few years, so there is no benefit to ordering early.
Still no evaluation needed on the resume. Translate the degree name into US English (e.g., “Licenciatura en Ingeniería” becomes “Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering”). Include the original institution name and country.
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