NACES is a consortium of credential evaluation agencies, not an evaluator. All NACES members accept certified translations that are complete, word-for-word, and accompanied by a Certificate of Accuracy. You submit to a specific member agency, not to NACES directly.
Reviewed by Elena Sokolova
Senior Academic Credential Translation Strategist
“The most expensive mistake in credential evaluation is choosing the wrong NACES member. The second most expensive is preparing a translation that only works for one evaluator when you need to submit to another. One certified translation eliminates both problems.”
NACES member agencies share a baseline translation standard for non-English academic documents. Across all current members, translations must be complete, accurate, and word-for-word. That means every element on the original document — course titles, grades, institutional names, seals, stamps, signatures, and notes — must appear in the English version exactly as issued. Summary translations, partial renderings, and paraphrased academic text do not meet the NACES standard.
Beyond completeness, NACES member agencies generally expect the translated document to mirror the original layout. Transcript tables should remain as tables, column order should be preserved, and grading legends should be carried forward. The grading scale itself must not be converted into U.S. equivalents inside the translation — the evaluator provides that conversion in the evaluation report. This rule is consistent across WES, ECE, and all other NACES members.
Most NACES member agencies also require or strongly prefer a signed certification statement. This is sometimes called a Certificate of Accuracy: a formal statement from the translator or translation provider attesting that the translation is complete and accurate. USCIS, universities, and licensing boards typically require this as well, so including it from the start means the same translation works for the evaluation and for every other institution that needs the translated record.
NACES shared standard
All NACES member agencies expect translations that are complete, accurate, and word-for-word, with all visible elements of the original document translated.
Certificate of Accuracy
Most NACES members require or strongly prefer a signed certification statement from the translator attesting to the completeness and accuracy of the translation.
NACES is not an evaluator
NACES sets standards for credential evaluation agencies but does not perform evaluations or accept document submissions directly. You submit to a specific member agency.
NACES currently has approximately 18 member agencies across the United States. Each member follows NACES quality standards for credential evaluation and translation acceptance. However, member agencies differ in pricing, processing time, submission process, and country-specific requirements. Choosing the right one depends on what your receiving institution accepts.
The most widely recognized NACES members are WES (World Education Services) and ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators). If your school or employer does not specify a particular evaluator, these two are generally the safest choices because of their broad institutional acceptance. However, some schools and licensing boards specifically require or prefer a different NACES member, so always verify before ordering an evaluation.
The critical point for translation is that a properly formatted certified translation works across all NACES member agencies. You do not need separate translations for different evaluators. If you switch from one NACES member to another, or need evaluations from two members simultaneously, the same translation satisfies both.
This table compares the most commonly used NACES member agencies to help you choose. Always verify with your receiving institution before ordering.
| Agency | Submission method | Key differentiator |
|---|---|---|
| WES | Online portal with country sender routes | Most widely recognized. Requires professional translator. Country intermediaries like DigiLocker (India) and CDGDC (China) determine sender routing. |
| ECE | Mail to Milwaukee or email PDF to ecemail@ece.org | Offers $85 Translation Waiver option. Allows self-prepared translations. No country intermediaries required. |
| SpanTran | Online application with mail or electronic document submission | Strong country-specific expertise. Offers in-house translation services for an additional fee. |
| IERF | Mail or electronic submission | Commonly used for California universities and licensing boards. Strong in Asia-Pacific credentials. |
Not all schools accept all NACES members. Some institutions accept only WES or only ECE. Check before ordering.
Because NACES is a consortium and not an evaluator, there is no single submission process. Instead, you choose a member agency and follow their specific process. The most important step happens before you order the evaluation: confirming which agency your receiving institution accepts.
Contact your school, employer, or licensing board and ask specifically which credential evaluator they accept. Some institutions accept any NACES member. Others accept only WES, only ECE, or a specific list. Do not assume. This one step prevents the most expensive mistake: paying for an evaluation from the wrong agency.
Have your academic documents translated into English before you create the evaluation account. This avoids the delay of the evaluator waiting for your translation while the application clock is running. One certified translation works for any NACES member you choose.
Follow that agency's application process. WES uses an online portal. ECE requires a mailed Document Matching Form. SpanTran has an online application. Each agency has its own account system and workflow.
Send the original-language academic records and the certified English translation to the evaluator. Some agencies accept electronic submission, others require mail, and some require documents to come directly from the issuing institution. Follow the specific agency instructions.
Processing times vary by agency: WES typically takes 2–4 weeks after document receipt, ECE about 5 business days, and others vary. Rush options are available at most agencies for an additional fee. The evaluation report is then sent to your designated receiving institutions.
If your receiving institution says they accept "a NACES evaluation" without naming a specific agency, start by comparing WES and ECE. WES has the broadest name recognition. ECE is typically faster and offers a Translation Waiver if you only need the evaluation and not a translated copy.
Most problems with NACES-related evaluations are not about the NACES standard itself. They come from choosing the wrong member agency, submitting incomplete documents, or preparing a translation that meets one evaluator's rules but not the specific requirements of the agency you chose.
What happens
The receiving institution rejects the evaluation report, and you need to order a new evaluation from an accepted agency.
Why it happens
Applicants assume all NACES members are interchangeable. Some schools and employers accept only specific agencies.
How we prevent it
We recommend confirming the accepted evaluator with your receiving institution before ordering. Our requirements checker can help identify which evaluator your institution typically accepts.
What happens
The receiving institution rejects the evaluation because it does not come from a NACES-recognized agency.
Why it happens
Applicants use a cheaper or faster service without checking whether it holds NACES membership.
How we prevent it
We link to the current NACES member list so you can verify before ordering. If your institution requires a NACES evaluation, only a current NACES member agency will satisfy the requirement.
What happens
The evaluator sends back the file and requests a professional certified translation before processing.
Why it happens
ECE allows self-prepared translations, but WES requires professional translator handling. Applicants prepare a self-translation and then switch to WES.
How we prevent it
A professional certified translation with a Certificate of Accuracy meets the requirements of every NACES member, including the stricter ones like WES.
What happens
The evaluator cannot process the evaluation because the file has only part of the completed credential record.
Why it happens
Applicants submit a diploma without transcripts, or transcripts without the final degree certificate.
How we prevent it
We review the expected document set for the evaluation type and translate the complete academic record, not just the pages the applicant thinks are most important.
Anonymized translations we've delivered into NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) packages. Each case shows the source-document issue and how it was handled.
A Chinese BA graduate submitted her transcript with a CHSI bilingual verification report listing all 74 courses in English. The CHSI report is a credential check, not a certified translation, so the US graduate school still required a certified Chinese transcript translation. We produced the certified version and used the CHSI English course names as the authoritative reference. The translation was delivered for the Master's program application.
A Lebanese school report card from Collège de La Sagesse (Baabda) listed disciplines in two scripts on the same grade table: Arabic-script entries for Arabic Language, Civic Education, History, and Geography (taught under the Lebanese national curriculum), alongside French-script entries for French, English, Mathematics, the sciences, and Physical Education (taught under the French curriculum). Each subject had its own coefficient and grade. We translated every discipline into English, kept the Arabic original in brackets after each Arabic-script subject name, and preserved the French grade-level designations as credentials of the French educational system.
“I appreciate you! Everything came back accurate and the filing went through with no questions.”
Karina R.
Spanish → English · Mexican Acta de Divorcio
→ USCIS — Marriage-Based Filing
“My mom was listed as "Hogar" on her acta and I had no idea how that was supposed to translate. The team explained why "Home" would be wrong and showed me the note they were going to add. The agency accepted it without asking a single question.”
A.V.
Spanish → English · Mexican Acta de Nacimiento
→ US Agency — Accepted
“I was worried no one would be able to read this — even I couldn't make out what the doctor wrote. They took the time to actually verify the diagnoses with a medical specialist. The translation came back with everything clearly explained.”
D.K.
Ukrainian → English · Medical Consultation Report
→ USCIS — Medical Records
“By the way I am very happy with CertTranslate.”
Jacques L.
French → English · Quebec Copy of Act of Birth
→ U.S. Immigration Filing
“Thank you, it is correct. Appreciate the quick turnaround.”
J.G.
German → English · Marriage Record (Familienbuch)
→ USCIS — I-130 Filing
“I submitted my certified translation of a birth certificate and marriage certificate for my green card petition, and USCIS approved it on the very first try. My immigration lawyer said it was one of the cleanest certified translations he'd ever seen.”
Maria L.
Spanish → English · Birth + Marriage Certificate
→ USCIS — Green Card Approved
Translation cost is separate from the evaluation fee, and evaluation fees vary significantly across NACES member agencies. The translation cost stays the same regardless of which NACES member you choose, because the same certified translation works for all of them.
Our certified translation
True flat rate — no word-count multipliers, no per-page surprises.
Typical for this case
$49.90–$99.80
Most academic document sets for evaluation: 2 to 4 pages
Pay only after you review the quote
Beyond translation
Fees NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) charges directly, outside our translation rate.
These fees go directly to NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) — we don't collect or mark them up.
Typical end-to-end scenarios
NACES is a consortium of credential evaluation agencies, not an evaluator itself, so you do not submit translations to NACES directly. However, all NACES member agencies accept professional certified translations that are complete, word-for-word, and include a signed Certificate of Accuracy. Some members like ECE also accept self-prepared translations, while others like WES require professional translator handling. A certified translation from a professional provider satisfies the translation requirement at every current NACES member.
NACES is the umbrella association that sets quality standards for credential evaluation agencies. WES is one of approximately 18 member agencies within NACES. Other members include ECE, SpanTran, IERF, and more. Saying you need a "NACES evaluation" means you need an evaluation from any NACES member agency. Saying you need a "WES evaluation" means you need an evaluation specifically from World Education Services. Some institutions accept any NACES member, while others require a specific one.
The best NACES member depends on your receiving institution. Many schools and employers specify which evaluator they accept, so always check before ordering. If no specific agency is required and your institution accepts "any NACES member," WES and ECE are the most widely recognized options. WES has the broadest name recognition and online submission. ECE is typically faster and offers a Translation Waiver option. SpanTran has strong country-specific expertise. For California-focused submissions, IERF is commonly accepted.
NACES members share baseline standards: translations must be complete, accurate, and word-for-word, with all visible elements translated and the original document structure preserved. Individual agencies add specific requirements on top of this baseline. WES requires professional translator handling and uses country-specific sender routes. ECE allows self-prepared translations and offers a Translation Waiver. SpanTran offers in-house translation services. A properly formatted certified translation with a Certificate of Accuracy meets or exceeds the translation standard at every current NACES member.
Yes. One certified translation works across all NACES member agencies because they share baseline translation standards. If you need evaluations from both WES and ECE, or if you switch from one NACES member to another, the same translated document satisfies both. This is one of the strongest practical reasons to invest in a professional certified translation rather than a self-prepared version that may not meet the stricter requirements of some members.
Many U.S. universities require international applicants to submit a credential evaluation from a NACES member agency as part of the admissions process. Some universities specify a particular agency, while others accept any NACES member. Graduate programs typically require a Course-by-Course evaluation, while undergraduate admissions may accept a General or Document-by-Document report. Always verify the specific requirement with your admissions office before ordering.
Processing times vary by member agency. WES standard processing takes approximately 2–4 weeks after all documents are received. ECE typically completes evaluations within 5 business days. SpanTran usually takes 10–15 business days. Most agencies offer rush service for an additional fee. On our side, certified translation is typically completed within 24 hours for standard academic records, so the translation step itself should not be the bottleneck.
NACES and AICE (Association of International Credential Evaluators) are both consortiums of credential evaluation agencies, but they are separate organizations with different member lists. Some schools accept evaluations from either consortium, while others specify one or the other. If your institution requires a NACES evaluation specifically, only a current NACES member agency will satisfy the requirement. Check the current member list at naces.org to confirm.
WES translation requirements
WES-specific translation formatting, country intermediaries, and portal submission guide.
ECE translation requirements
ECE-specific Translation Waiver option, self-prepared translation rules, and submission steps.
SpanTran translation requirements
SpanTran country-specific evaluation and in-house translation services.
One certified translation works for WES, ECE, SpanTran, and every other NACES member agency. Complete word-for-word rendering, preserved document layout, and a Certificate of Accuracy included.
We are not affiliated with NACES or any NACES member agency. We provide certified translation that meets the shared translation standards of NACES member agencies.
