- Expert Advice
Strengthen Your Resume: Why Credential Evaluation is a Smart Choice Over a GED for Green Card Holders and Asylum Seekers

As a green card holder or asylum seeker in the United States, establishing your qualifications and enhancing your resume is key to accessing better job opportunities and advancing your career. While many might consider obtaining a GED (General Educational Development) as a way to demonstrate their education level, an alternative option—credential evaluation—can be a more effective and tailored solution for individuals with foreign education or professional experience. Here's why:
1. Recognition of Your International Education
If you completed your education outside the United States, credential evaluation allows you to have your foreign degrees and academic achievements assessed and translated into the U.S. education system. This can help employers better understand the level of education you've attained, making it easier for them to appreciate your qualifications. It also provides a detailed report that shows how your foreign credentials compare to U.S. standards, boosting your credibility without the need to go back and earn a GED.
2. Showcase Your Full Skill Set and Experience
For those with professional experience or higher education from abroad, a credential evaluation highlights not just your academic achievements. This comprehensive approach can provide a more accurate picture of your capabilities, giving you a competitive edge over other job candidates who might only have a GED. If you've been working in a skilled trade these too can be evaluated and recognized in the context of U.S. qualifications.
3. Faster Path to Employment
Getting a GED requires time, effort, and financial investment, especially if you're already highly qualified in a field. By opting for a credential evaluation instead, you can bypass the need for additional schooling or testing. This faster path to showing your qualifications can help you secure employment sooner and start building your career in the U.S.
4. More Credibility with Employers
A credential evaluation is often seen as more formal and robust than a GED, as it provides an official assessment from a recognized agency. Employers are more likely to value a detailed evaluation of your international education than a high school equivalency test. This can be especially important in fields that require higher education or specialized knowledge, such as healthcare, engineering, or business.
5. Open Doors for Further Education or Licensing
If you’re considering further education or licensure in the U.S., credential evaluations can play a critical role. For example, many professional licensing boards and universities require a credential evaluation to determine eligibility for further studies or licensing exams. This can give you more flexibility in your career path, whether you want to continue your education or pursue professional certifications.
Want to Strengthen Your Resume with Credential Evaluation?
For green card holders or asylum seekers, a credential evaluation can be a game changer in strengthening your resume and advancing your career in the United States. It provides a more accurate and comprehensive picture of your qualifications, saves time compared to getting a GED, and can open doors to better job opportunities and higher education. If you’ve got international education, consider this route as a way to better present yourself in the competitive U.S. job market. For more information, contact us at Foundation for International Services.