WES Translation Requirements: A Complete Guide

Planning to study or work in the U.S. or Canada? You may be required to submit your academic credentials for evaluation by World Education Services (WES). Many international students and professionals face challenges when it comes to translating their documents for WES, as the process involves specific requirements and steps to ensure accuracy and consistency.

In this article, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about WES translation requirements. From understanding the importance of credential evaluations to the specific translation rules for documents, we’ll guide you through the process step-by-step. Whether you’re preparing to submit your international transcripts for WES evaluation or are concerned about costs and certification, we’ve got you covered.

What is World Education Services?

World Education Services, or WES, is a non-profit organization recognized as one of the leading foreign credential evaluation agencies. They specialize in helping international students and professionals get their academic accomplishments recognized in the United States and Canada. You can find more information about WES on their website.

What is WES Credential Evaluation?

A WES credential evaluation is basically a detailed report. This report compares your foreign academic credentials from another country to U.S. or Canadian standards. It makes it easier for people here to understand your educational level.

You might need this evaluation for several reasons. Maybe you are applying to university, seeking professional licensure, or looking for a job. The report gives these organizations a trusted benchmark for your academic equivalency.

WES Translation Evaluation Explained

If your academic documents are not originally in English, you will hit another step: translation. World Education Services needs to understand your documents to evaluate them accurately. This means you need to give them English translations along with your original language documents.

WES does not just accept any translation, though. They have specific requirements for how documents must be translated, often demanding certified document translation. This part of the process often causes confusion, so paying close attention here is important for your academic transcript translation.

Common Documents WES Asks For

While requirements vary slightly by country and the type of report needed, World Education Services typically asks for certain translated academic documents. Be prepared to gather these items. Always double-check the specific WES required documents list provided for your situation after you receive your reference number.

Here are some commonly required documents:

• School transcripts
• Degree certificates
• Diplomas
• Foreign documents

Sometimes mark sheets, statements of marks, or other specific records might be needed depending on your country’s education system and WES’s document requirements by country. They provide detailed requirements by country on their website. Checking that resource carefully is essential for a smooth process.

Does WES Translate Documents Directly?

This is a common question, and the answer is no. World Education Services does not provide translation services itself. You are responsible for getting your documents translated before submitting them as part of your WES application.

This means finding a qualified translator or using professional translation services that meet WES’s standards. It is an extra step you need to manage and budget for.

WES Translation Requirements You Must Know

World Education Services is quite specific about the translations it accepts. Understanding these translation certification requirements is vital to avoid problems with your application. Just getting a friend who speaks English to translate will not usually work.

These are the WES requirements for translating foreign language documents:

• Translations need to be complete, with nothing omitted, added, or summarized
• They must be word-for-word translations without interpreting or explaining terminology
• Translations should be in the same format as the original document.
• They must be typed, not handwritten
• Translations need to be a high-qualilty PDF or JPEG up to 10 MB
• They have to be done by a professional translator

The translation can also be done by a university if offered as an official service, or by a professional translation agency. Translations done by yourself, family members, or friends will not be accepted in most cases.

With this in mind, certified translations are a good option for making sure your translated documents are accepted.

What Exactly is a Certified Translation?

The term certified translation can sound official, but what does it mean for WES? It does not necessarily mean the translator has a specific government license (though some translators do). In the context of WES and many US/Canadian processes, it refers to a specific assurance about the translation itself.

A certified translation is typically one that includes a signed statement from the translator or translation company. This statement, often called a Certificate of Accuracy or Translator’s Declaration, attests that the translation is complete and accurate to the best of the translator’s knowledge and ability. It confirms the translator’s competency to translate between the specific languages.

You can find more information about certified translation in this article.

How to Get Your Translated Documents Certified for WES

Getting a translation certified for World Education Services usually involves using professional translation services. Most reputable agencies understand the requirements for credential evaluations and immigration processes. They routinely provide the necessary certification statement that meets translation certification requirements.

When you hire a translator or agency, tell them your translated documents require certification for submission to WES (or WES Canada). They should know what this involves. Proper translation agency selection is important.

Special Translation Rules for WES Canada

If you are applying for evaluation through Canada for immigration or study there, pay close attention. WES Canada has its own specific translation requirements that support the immigration assessment report process. They may differ slightly from the US rules.

For example, WES Canada often explicitly states that translations must be done by a certified translator. In the Canadian context, this usually means the translator needs official recognition from a provincial or territorial professional translation association (like CTTIC affiliates) or has similar verifiable credentials.

Translated documents must be submitted in Either French or English for Canada.

Translating International Transcripts for WES: Step-by-Step

Okay, let’s break down the practical steps for getting your transcripts translated for WES. It might feel like a lot, but taking it one step at a time makes the academic transcript translation manageable.

1. Confirm exactly which documents need to be translated.
2. Find a qualified translation provider.
3. Provide clear, high-quality copies of your original language documents to the translator.
4. Once the translation is done, review it carefully alongside the original document copy.
5. Ensure the necessary Certificate of Accuracy is included and properly signed and dated.
6. Submit the translations according to their instructions.

Remember, the official original transcript often still needs to be sent directly from your school as part of the academic credential verification process.

What About WES Translation Costs?

Translation is an added expense in the World Education Services credential evaluation journey. The cost can vary quite a bit. Factors influencing the price include the language pair (common languages like Spanish or French might cost less than rarer languages), the number of pages, the density and complexity of the documents (e.g., transcripts vs. diplomas), and the required turnaround time.

Translation agencies often charge per word or per page for academic transcript translation. Academic transcripts can sometimes be dense with text, so the cost can add up. Expect to pay anywhere from $25 to $75 or more per page for certified document translation from reputable professional translation services, depending on the provider and language specifics.

LinguaOne provides WES translation services in multiple languages for $24.99 per page with express delivery available.

Final Thoughts

We hope this article has provided you with a clear understanding of the WES translation requirements and the steps you need to take to ensure your documents are properly translated for credential evaluation.

Remember, it’s crucial to follow all of WES’s specific translation guidelines and use professional translators to avoid delays or complications in the evaluation process.