Your Philippine teaching degree is valuable — but a US state licensing board doesn't know that until it's been evaluated. A credential evaluation translates your BSEd, BEEd, or any Philippine teaching degree into US equivalency terms that a state Department of Education can act on. Without it, your application goes nowhere.
The good news: the process is more straightforward for Filipinos than for most other nationalities. Philippine universities know the process and are experienced at sending the required documents. Here's the complete guide.
What Is a Credential Evaluation?
A credential evaluation is an official review of your foreign academic degrees by a US-based agency. The agency compares your Philippine qualifications against US education standards and issues a report stating, for example, that your BSEd is equivalent to a US Bachelor of Science in Education.
For teacher licensing in the US, you need a NACES-member evaluation service. NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) is an association of 19 agencies with enforced standards. Only evaluations from NACES members are accepted by most state Departments of Education.
Two Types of Evaluations — Know the Difference
- 📄 Document-by-Document: Confirms your degree is equivalent to a US degree. Faster and cheaper. Used for general employment and some licensing situations.
- 📊 Course-by-Course: Lists every subject you studied, with US credit equivalents and GPA conversion. Required for teacher licensing in most states. This is the one you almost certainly need.
WES vs ECE — Which Should You Use?
WES — World Education Services
- Most widely accepted by US state DOEs
- Specific Philippines evaluation guide on their website
- Processing: ~7 business days after documents received
- Total timeline (incl. document collection): 4–7 weeks
- Prices increased 3% from January 1, 2026
ECE — Educational Credential Evaluators
- Also widely accepted — check your target state's approved list
- Processing: ~5 business days after documents received
- Slightly faster processing than WES
- Total timeline (incl. document collection): 4–7 weeks
- Florida DOE has its own approved agency list — verify first
⚠️ Always Check Your State's Approved Agency List First
Florida, for example, maintains its own list of approved credential evaluation agencies that may differ from the NACES list. Before paying for an evaluation, confirm that WES or ECE is accepted by the specific state you're targeting. Check your state DOE website under "Foreign-Trained Teacher Certification."
Get the Full USA Application Kit
Includes the approved credential evaluation agencies for Texas, Florida, Nevada, and Maryland — so you choose the right service for your state and don't pay twice.
Step-by-Step: How to Get Your Credentials Evaluated
Create Your WES or ECE Account and Start Your Application
Go to wes.org or ece.org. Create an account and begin your online application. You will receive a unique reference number. Write this down — you will share it with your university registrar.
🌐 wes.org · ece.orgPay the Evaluation Fee
Pay online by credit or debit card. WES Course-by-Course: ~$186. ECE Course-by-Course: ~$199. Rush processing is available for an additional fee if you are on a tight timeline. Keep your payment receipt.
💳 International cards acceptedContact Your University Registrar
This is where most of the timeline is spent. Contact the registrar of your Philippine university and request: (1) an official Transcript of Records (TOR) and (2) a certified copy of your diploma — both sealed in an official envelope with the registrar's signature across the seal, addressed to WES or ECE directly. Most Philippine universities are experienced with this and offer a specific "for immigration purposes" TOR.
📬 Documents must be sent directly from registrar — not through youWait for Document Receipt Confirmation
WES and ECE will notify you by email when your documents arrive and are matched to your application. This is usually the longest step — 2–4 weeks depending on your university and postal service. DHL or LBC courier is strongly recommended over regular mail for reliability and tracking.
⏱ 2–4 weeks for document transitEvaluation Processing
Once all documents are received, WES processes your evaluation in approximately 7 business days; ECE in approximately 5 business days. You will receive your evaluation report as a PDF via email and, if requested, physical copies mailed to you and directly to your state licensing board or J-1 sponsor.
✅ 5–7 business days processingFull Cost Breakdown
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| WES Course-by-Course Evaluation | ~$186 USD | +3% from Jan 2026 |
| Additional report copies (to state board) | $30–$45 each | Optional but often needed |
| Rush processing (if needed) | +$100–$150 | Reduces to 1–2 business days |
| University TOR + Diploma fee | ₱300–₱1,500 | Varies by university |
| DHL/courier from PH to WES | ₱1,500–₱2,500 | Strongly recommended over mail |
| Estimated Total | ~$220–$350 USD | Plus courier and uni fees |
3 Mistakes Filipino Teachers Make
1. Sending documents themselves instead of through the registrar
WES and ECE require documents to come directly from the issuing institution. If you mail your own TOR — even in a sealed envelope — it will be rejected. Your university registrar must address the envelope to WES and mail it directly.
2. Ordering document-by-document instead of course-by-course
The document-by-document report is cheaper but almost never accepted for teacher licensing. Always order the Course-by-Course evaluation unless your specific state licensing board explicitly states otherwise.
3. Not checking their target state's approved evaluator list
Spending $186 on a WES evaluation and then discovering your target state only accepts a different agency is an expensive mistake. Spend 10 minutes on your state DOE website before you pay.
Credentials Evaluated — Now What?
Once your credentials are evaluated, you're ready for state licensing, the Praxis exam, and your job applications. The USA Application Kit walks you through every step that follows.
Sources & References
Fees and timelines verified from official NACES member websites as of June 2026. Always confirm current pricing directly with your chosen service before applying.
- NACES — What is a NACES Evaluation?
https://naces.org/what-is-an-naces-evaluation/ - NACES — Member List
https://naces.org/members/ - WES — International Credential Evaluations and Fees
https://www.wes.org/evaluations-and-fees/ - WES — Get Your Philippines Degree Evaluated
https://www.wes.org/resource-library/blog/credential-advice/get-your-philippines-degree-evaluated/ - ECE — Evaluation Services and Fees
https://www.ece.org/ECE/Credential-Evaluations/US-Institutions/Services-and-Fees - Florida DOE — Approved Credential Evaluation Agencies
https://www.fldoe.org/teaching/certification/foreign-trained-grads/ - NACES — Essential Documents Required for International Credential Evaluation
https://naces.org/essential-documents-required-for-international-credential-evaluation/