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Credential evaluatorWorld Education Services
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WES — World Education Services

The go-to credential evaluator for study and immigration — but usually not for nursing licensure.

WES is widely used by Canadian and US universities, by IRCC for Express Entry education points, and by many employers. Most nursing regulators still require CGFNS (USA) or NNAS (Canada) for licensure — do not pay for WES expecting it to unlock your nursing license.

Cost range
USD 160 – 240
Timeline
2 – 6 weeks
Common uses
Study / Immigration / Employment
Destinations
2 countries
Check if I need this Build my pathwayTalk to an advisor

Requirements change. Always confirm with World Education Services (www.wes.org) and your destination regulator or school before you pay any fee.

Read this first

  • WES is not automatically accepted for nursing licensure — US state boards and Canadian provincial regulators usually require CGFNS or NNAS instead.
  • Do not submit documents until you have confirmed which evaluator your destination requires.
Quick facts

The must-know WES facts on one screen.

What it is
Credential evaluator
Provider
World Education Services
Common destinations
United States, Canada
Common uses
study, immigration, employment
Typically requested by
Universities, IRCC (Canadian Express Entry), Employers, Some state boards
Estimated cost
USD 160 – 240
Estimated timeline
2 – 6 weeks
Official source
www.wes.org
Sent directly by school / council?
Yes — usually
Open WES official site
Who needs this
  • Nurses applying to a Canadian or US university programme where WES is listed as the accepted evaluator.
  • Nurses claiming Express Entry education points via IRCC (Canada) — WES is one of IRCC's designated organisations.
  • Nurses applying for non-licence jobs that accept WES as education proof.
  • Candidates stacking a Canadian school admission before licensure steps.
Who usually does NOT need this
  • Nurses targeting US RN licensure — most state boards want CGFNS, not WES.
  • Nurses targeting Canadian RN registration — NNAS is the standard gateway.
  • Candidates already holding a CGFNS or NNAS report and no separate school or immigration need.
  • Candidates whose employer accepts a direct transcript.
Pathways

Where WES fits in the nurse pathway.

United States
State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) + CGFNS
See United States pathway →
Canada
Provincial regulators + NNAS
See Canada pathway →
Documents usually required

Have these ready before you open the WES application.

  • Academic transcripts
    Sealed, sent directly from your nursing school to WES.
  • Degree / diploma certificate
    Certified copy or original, as WES specifies.
  • Government-issued ID + WES profile details
  • English translation (if original is in French)
    WES-approved translator.
Step-by-step

How the WES process actually works.

  1. 1

    Create a WES account + pick the right report

    Course-by-course for most purposes. Document-by-document is cheaper but usually not enough for university admission.

  2. 2

    Pay the evaluation fee

    WES holds your application open until all documents arrive.

  3. 3

    Request documents sent directly from your school

    WES rejects candidate-submitted transcripts. Your registrar must courier sealed envelopes to WES.

  4. 4

    Wait for evaluation

    Usually 2 – 4 weeks after all documents arrive. Busy periods (January, September) run longer.

  5. 5

    WES issues + transmits your report

    You download a copy; WES sends electronic copies to the institutions you chose.

Need help completing "WES application"?

WES forms, document uploads, and fee payments are the trip-up for many candidates. An advisor can walk you through each screen — you stay logged in, you pay World Education Services directly.

Book a call
Before you pay

African-nurse checklist for WES.

  • Confirmed the target institution accepts WES
    Do this before paying anything.
  • Passport name matches the name on your transcripts
  • Registrar contact details + direct email
    Not a generic info@ inbox.
  • Budget for courier fees from African registrar to WES (USD 50 – 150)
  • Certified English translation if your programme language is French
  • Payment method that works in USD / CAD
  • WES receiver addresses confirmed with the institution
Cost planning

What WES really costs — itemised.

  • WES ICAP Course-by-Course (USA)
    USD 205 + shipping
  • WES Document-by-Document
    USD 103
  • WES Canada Course-by-Course
    CAD 230 (~USD 170)
  • Additional recipient fee
    USD 30 per copy
  • Courier / DHL from African registrar
    USD 50 – 150
  • Translation (French → English)
    USD 40 – 150
  • Total planning range
    Estimated only — confirm on wes.org.
    USD 200 – 500

Fees change often. Always confirm directly with World Education Services before paying.

Typical timeline

Plan 2 – 6 weeks end-to-end.

  1. 1

    Prepare documents

    Registrar, transcripts, translations: 1 – 2 weeks.

  2. 2

    Create WES account + pay

    Same day.

  3. 3

    Transcripts arrive at WES

    1 – 3 weeks (international courier from Africa).

  4. 4

    Evaluation

    2 – 4 weeks after all documents received.

  5. 5

    Report delivered

    Electronic copy immediate; paper copy 1 – 2 weeks.

Avoid these

Mistakes that delay WES most often.

  • Paying for WES when the nursing board actually requires CGFNS or NNAS.
  • Assuming WES = nursing licence. It is an education evaluation only.
  • Submitting transcripts yourself. WES rejects candidate-mailed documents.
  • Booking Document-by-Document when Course-by-Course is what the institution needs.
  • Letting the report expire before the school / IRCC decision (WES evaluations age out with the requester).
After WES

What happens once WES is complete.

1

Electronic report delivered to selected recipients

Your school or IRCC receives an electronic verified copy. Keep your applicant PDF for records.

2

Submit supporting documents to the institution

WES is one input — universities and IRCC need additional forms (SOP, financial evidence, visa forms).

3

If you still need licensure, start CGFNS / NNAS separately

WES does not count for nursing registration in most US states or Canadian provinces.

Frequently asked

WES questions nurses ask before they pay.

Is WES accepted for US nursing licensure?⌄

Usually not. Most US state boards require CGFNS for credential evaluation. Check your specific state board — a few accept WES, but do not assume it.

Is WES accepted for Canadian nursing registration?⌄

Not as the licensure path. Canadian nursing regulators use NNAS. WES is accepted by IRCC for immigration points and by many Canadian schools.

Can I use a WES report for Express Entry points?⌄

Yes — WES is one of IRCC's designated organisations. Order the Canada ECA (Educational Credential Assessment).

How long is a WES report valid?⌄

Indefinitely for personal reference. Institutions set their own freshness rules — some want a report no older than 5 years.

Can I switch from WES to CGFNS later?⌄

Yes, but it is a separate application and separate fee. Do not start WES first if CGFNS is what your board actually needs.

Does WES accept African nursing credentials?⌄

Yes — WES evaluates accredited programmes from every African country. Translation is required for non-English documents.

What if my school refuses to send transcripts?⌄

Document your requests in writing. WES has an alternative submission route for candidates whose school is non-responsive — contact their support before paying.

Official WES source

World Education Services — www.wes.org

Requirements + fees change. Always verify live pricing and acceptance before you pay.

Pathway provides guidance only. We are not an immigration lawyer, a nursing regulator, or a visa agent. Outcomes depend on regulators and authorities, not on us.

Before you pay for credential verification

  • Confirm which credential service your nursing pathway requires.
  • Do not assume WES, CGFNS, NNAS, and DataFlow are interchangeable.
  • You pay the official credential body directly.
  • We guide you and help you avoid choosing the wrong service.
Check my credential route MyNursePathway.com helps you choose the right credential service. We do not collect credential fees and do not control your account.
Payment assistance

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African cards get declined on regulator and exam-provider portals every day. We coach you through fixing it on the official site — we never take your money, never use your card.

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Related credential checks

Other credential services that may apply to you.

Academic transcript verification

Almost every credential service — WES, CGFNS, NNAS, DataFlow, ECE, ICES, IQAS, CES — requires transcripts mailed *directly* from your nursing school in a sealed envelope. Getting them right is usually the slowest step.

Open guide →
Nursing licence good-standing verification

A nursing council certificate of good standing confirms that your African nursing licence is active and not under investigation. Every UK / USA / Canadian / Australian / Gulf regulator requires it — usually sent directly from your current nursing council, not by you.

Open guide →

Don't pay for WES before you confirm you need it.

Build your free pathway in 2 minutes and see whether WES is on it — before you open an account.

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Guidance only. Credential, nursing registration, and immigration requirements may change — always confirm with the official source.