Institution Frequently Asked Questions

ECE’s order processing time is an average of 3-5 business days from the date we receive all required information. Processing time can vary and does not include delivery time, weekends, or holidays. 

If you have a deadline, ECE offers a 5 Business Day Rush Service ($80) and delivery options. More information is available on the Services and Fees page of this website.

Yes. Our Institution Support team provides expert guidance on ECE’s products and services. They are here to answer the full spectrum of questions about documentation requirements, report ordering, report delivery, and everything in between. You can reach them at: institutionsupport@ece.org. 

The applicant can order and pay for their own report, or institutions and organizations can order and pay for reports through ECE® Dispatch. Dispatch is our free, web-based system where you can order and receive completed ECE® reports. If you’re not interested in ordering reports, you can still sign up to receive your completed reports electronically. There is no cost to add additional users. 
 

Our Institution Support team will set up your Dispatch account and answer any questions you have about using this service. Feel free to contact them with any questions you might have about Dispatch: institutionsupport@ece.org. 

You can view how to set up your Slate integration HERE. If you don’t have Slate, but want to inquire about other possible integration options, please reach out to our Institution Support team: institutionsupport@ece.org. 

If you are ordering, paying, and submitting documents for a report on behalf of one or more individuals, we recommend you create an ECE® Dispatch account.

If you are paying for another individual's report, but the individual will place the order and submit his or her own documents, you should follow the steps under the Credential Evaluations section.

If you are helping an individual gather information and/or helping an individual with the process of ordering an evaluation report, but the individual will place the order, pay, and submit his or her own documents, follow the steps under the Credential Evaluations section.

See our Ordering Options page for more information.

The first step is to create an account to order the report. The individual ordering the report will need to know which report type your institution/organization will accept. Our ordering system will guide them through the process. Finally, the individual ordering the report will need to send in their documents according to our Documentation Requirements.

If at any time the individual has questions or needs help, our Customer Care Specialists are available via Live Chat Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Central Time.

Only the person who ordered the report can order copies. If your institution/organization orders the report, the individual will not be able to order a copy. 

Our Documentation Requirements vary by country.  See the Documentation Requirements page for details.

You can refer students to the Credential Evaluations section of our website, where they can find information about our reports and order online.

If you would like to add a referral link or logo to your website, please click HERE or you can contact us via email at: clientsolutions@ece.org.

Document authenticity is a top priority at ECE. 

ECE uses multiple methods to authenticate educational documents submitted for evaluation including online databases, internet authentication services, and official institutions and agencies that send authenticated official documents directly to us by mail.
 
ECE continually researches authentication methods and resources. Our documentation requirements are regularly updated so our customers understand our evaluation process and have a clear understanding of our requirements.

Please see our country-specific Documentation Requirements for more details.
 

In some cases, ECE may need to contact the issuing institution for verification.

If necessary, we will obtain authorization from the individual prior to contacting the international institution to request verification. 

The evaluation report process will be on hold while we await a verification response. We will continue the evaluation process after we receive verification of document authenticity from the issuing institution.

You should review the Documentation Requirements by country to determine if original documents are required in addition to a verification or authentication service. In general, it is not necessary to provide original documents for information contained in a verification or authentication response. However, in some cases the verified information does not cover the complete set of documents. For example, if we can verify graduation online through the school, but not the content or grades of the subjects studied, then an original grade report would be required along with a simple photocopy of the degree.

The National Center for Education Statistics defines a bachelor’s degree as “A degree granted for the successful completion of a baccalaureate program of studies, usually requiring at least 4 years (or equivalent) of full-time college-level study.” (https://nces.ed.gov/programs/raceindicators/glossary.asp)  To learn more about our stance on 3-year degrees, check out this article.

ECE has partnered with NYU to handle credential evaluations for admitted undergraduate students from outside the United States. You can find additional information about this process here: https://www.ece.org/ECE/Credential-Evaluations/US-Institutions/School-and-Organization-Specific-Applications/NYU. 
 

ECE has a brand-new product called the Agent Use report.  For more information on this product, and to see all the ways an Agent can be involved in the credential evaluation process, please go here: https://www.ece.org/ECE/Institutions-and-Agencies/Ordering-Options-for-Agents.