Credential Evaluation or GED: What Green Card Holders and Asylum Seekers Should Know

If you are a green card holder or asylum seeker with education from another country, choosing a Credential Evaluation or GED can affect how clearly employers or schools understand your background. A GED establishes U.S. high school equivalency after you pass a series of tests. A credential evaluation reviews education you already completed abroad and explains how it compares with U.S. education.

Understanding that difference can save you from spending time on a credential that does not match your goal.

Credential Evaluation or GED: What Does Each One Show?

A GED is a high school equivalency credential. The official GED test covers math, science, social studies, and reasoning through language arts. To earn the credential, you must pass all four subject tests.

A credential evaluation serves a different purpose. An evaluation reviews academic credentials earned outside the United States and determines their U.S. educational equivalent.

For example, a person may have completed secondary school in another country. Someone else may hold a university degree. A credential evaluation can help a U.S. employer or educational institution understand what that education represents within the American system.

That distinction becomes especially important when you have already completed years of education abroad.

Do I Need a GED If I Graduated From High School in Another Country?

Possibly not.

If you completed secondary school outside the United States, an evaluation may show that your education is equivalent to graduating from a U.S. high school. FIS accepts secondary education for credential evaluation.

The organization requesting proof of your education makes the final decision about what it will accept. An employer may ask for proof of high school completion. A college may have its own admissions requirements.

Before deciding between a Credential Evaluation or GED, ask the employer, school, licensing organization, or other recipient exactly what documentation it needs.

That one question can prevent unnecessary testing or help you identify the correct evaluation from the beginning.

What If I Have a College Degree From Another Country?

This is where a credential evaluation can become especially valuable.

Imagine that you earned a bachelor's degree before coming to the United States. A prospective employer sees the university and degree name on your resume but does not know how the program compares with U.S. education.

A GED would establish high school equivalency. It would not explain your university education.

A credential evaluation can assess the academic program and report the corresponding U.S. educational equivalent. FIS's Document-by-Document evaluation also includes information about the institution's recognition, the program's length, dates of study, and entrance requirements.

Instead of leaving an employer to interpret an unfamiliar credential, you can provide an evaluation written in terms that are easier to understand in the United States.

Can a Credential Evaluation Help With Employment in the U.S.?

It can help when an employer needs to understand education earned in another country.

Some jobs require a specific level of education. An employer reviewing international credentials may need more information before determining whether an applicant meets that requirement.

A credential evaluation provides an independent assessment of the academic record. FIS reports are routinely used by employers and other U.S. organizations that need to understand foreign education. FIS has provided foreign credential evaluations since 1978 and is a founding member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, or NACES.

An evaluation does not guarantee that an employer will accept a credential or offer a job. Each organization sets its own requirements.

For green card holders and asylum seekers rebuilding their careers in the United States, the practical value lies in clarity. Your education can be easier for someone unfamiliar with your country's school system to evaluate.

Which Type of Credential Evaluation Do I Need?

FIS offers two primary academic evaluation options: Document-by-Document and Course-by-Course.

A Document-by-Document evaluation identifies the U.S. equivalent of each foreign academic program being evaluated. It includes information about the institution and program. This type of report may meet the needs of an employer or another organization primarily interested in the level of education completed.

A Course-by-Course evaluation provides more detail. FIS evaluates the individual courses and reports their equivalent U.S. credit hours and grades.

The recipient should tell you which report it requires. Checking first can help you choose the right service and avoid paying for an evaluation you do not need.

What Documents Do I Need for a Credential Evaluation?

Document requirements depend partly on the country and education being evaluated.

FIS generally asks applicants to submit relevant academic records, such as diplomas, transcripts, or mark sheets. If required documents were issued in another language, FIS requires English translations. FIS can also provide certified translation as a separate service.

Some countries have additional document requirements. FIS may also contact an institution or agency when verification is necessary.

Having your records ready can make the process easier, particularly when you need an evaluation for a job application or school deadline.

Can FIS Evaluate My Work Experience?

Standard academic credential evaluations focus on formal education.

FIS states that its Document-by-Document evaluations do not include credentials equivalent to professional or vocational training.

FIS does offer separate Expert Opinion services for certain purposes, including some immigration matters. Those reports are different from a standard academic credential evaluation. Anyone who needs professional experience considered should confirm which service fits the specific requirement before ordering.

This distinction matters when choosing a Credential Evaluation or GED because neither option serves as a general evaluation of everything you have learned through employment.

Does a Credential Evaluation Affect My Green Card or Asylum Case?

A credential evaluation explains your education. It does not change your immigration status or grant employment authorization.

Green card holders and people seeking asylum may use educational evaluations as they pursue employment or education, but immigration and work authorization requirements remain separate.

For asylum seekers in particular, eligibility to work depends on immigration circumstances and USCIS requirements. USCIS has specific rules for employment authorization based on a pending asylum application.

If you have questions about your right to work, rely on USCIS or qualified immigration counsel rather than a credential evaluation report.

How Do I Choose Between a Credential Evaluation or GED?

Start with the education you have already completed and the requirement you need to meet.

If you earned a secondary-school credential abroad, find out whether the receiving organization will accept an evaluation showing its U.S. equivalent.

If you completed university education, a credential evaluation can show the level of that education in U.S. terms. This allows your academic history to reflect more than high school equivalency.

A GED may be appropriate when you need a recognized high school equivalency credential and do not already have education that meets the applicable requirement. GED eligibility and testing rules can vary by location, so check the official GED requirements for your location before registering.

Choosing a Credential Evaluation or GED becomes much easier once you know what the employer or institution expects.

Make the Education You Already Earned Easier to Understand

Starting a career or continuing your education in the United States can involve learning how a new system views qualifications you earned elsewhere. You may already have years of education behind you. The next step is finding the right way to document it.

For many green card holders and asylum seekers with foreign academic credentials, an evaluation can translate that education into familiar U.S. terms. A GED serves people who need to establish high school equivalency through testing.

When deciding between a Credential Evaluation or GED, begin with your existing education and the requirements of the organization receiving your documents.

Foundation for International Services has evaluated foreign academic credentials since 1978. FIS offers Document-by-Document and Course-by-Course evaluations along with certified translation services for applicants whose required academic records are not in English.

If you need help determining which credential evaluation fits your purpose, contact FIS before ordering and confirm the requirements with the organization that will receive your report.

Get Credit for Your International Education in the US Without a GED

FIS serves people in the U.S., Canada, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Poland, Austria, Bangladesh, Beijing, Bellevue, Bolivia, Bosnia, Boston, Brazil, Brussels, California, Camas, Cambodia, Canada, Caribbean, Century City, Chicago, China, Australia, Central America, Central Asia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dallas-Fort Worth, Dominican Republic, Dubai,, Edmonds, Egypt, Houston, Kazakhstan, Kent, Kenya, Laos, Latin America, Los Angeles, London, Louisiana, Lynnwood, Madrid, Melanesia, Mexico, Seattle, Seoul, Silicon Valley, South America, Spain, Spokane, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tacoma, Taipei, Tel Aviv, Texas, Thailand, Tokyo, Tulsa, Turkey, UAE, Uruguay, U.S. Military, United States, Vancouver, Venezuela, & Washington DC

Posted on September 3, 2026 | Published by Ignite Local | Related Local Business