1
Universal requirement
All state licensing boards require certified English translations of foreign credentials. No self-translation.
Government agency requirements
Professional License Translation Requirements
State licensing boards require certified translations for foreign professional credentials. Medical: ECFMG. Nursing: CGFNS. Engineering: NCEES. Each has specific translation and evaluation requirements. A certified translation is the starting point for all licensing pathways.
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Requirements coverage
Covers all three major professions: medical, nursing, engineering
Submission guidance
Explains ECFMG, CGFNS, and NCEES pathways
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This page explains licensing board translation requirements. Verify with your specific state board.
On this page
State Licensing Boards document workflow
State Licensing Board Translation Requirements: The Foundation
Across all professional licensing pathways — medical, nursing, engineering — state boards require certified English translations of foreign educational credentials. This typically includes academic transcripts, diplomas, degree certificates, and supplemental professional certificates or training records.
The U.S. has no federal translator licensing or certification requirement. Any competent professional translator can provide a certified translation with a signed certification statement. However, some boards give preference to ATA-certified translators, and some accept ATA-certified translations without additional notarization. For maximum acceptance, a certified translation with a signed Certificate of Accuracy meets all state board standards.
The translation is the input to a two-step process. Step one: the evaluation body (ECFMG, CGFNS, NCEES, or a NACES member) uses the translation to assess your foreign credentials against U.S. standards. Step two: the state licensing board reviews the evaluation report and any additional state-specific documents. The translation is the foundation for both steps.
2
Profession-specific evaluation
Medical → ECFMG. Nursing → CGFNS. Engineering → NCEES. Each has its own evaluation process and requirements.
3
State-level variation
Individual state boards may have additional requirements beyond the federal evaluation bodies.
Your licensing board translation should include:
- Complete, word-for-word translation of all academic transcripts
- Diploma and degree certificate translation
- Professional certificates or training records (if applicable)
- All course titles, credit hours, grades, and degree details
- Original grading scales preserved — evaluation body handles conversion
- Institutional details: name, accreditation, location
- Signed Certificate of Accuracy from a professional translator
School-by-school requirements
Translation and Evaluation Requirements by Profession
Each profession has a distinct credential evaluation pathway. The translation requirements are similar — certified, complete, word-for-word — but the evaluation process, the evaluation body, and the accepted evaluators differ significantly.
For medical professionals, ECFMG certification is the gateway to U.S. medical residency. International medical graduates (IMGs) must have their medical school credentials verified and translated. Some states are creating alternative licensing pathways for IMGs, but certified translation of credentials remains a universal requirement.
For nursing, CGFNS provides credential evaluation services accepted by most state boards. Some state boards approve additional evaluators. California's Board of Registered Nursing has its own "Certified English Translation" form that it requires foreign-educated nurses to provide to their translator.
Professional licensing — evaluation pathway by profession
Each profession has a different primary evaluation body and state board process.
1Medicine (IMGs)
- Primary evaluation body
- ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates)
- Translation and evaluation details
- Medical school transcripts and diploma must be translated. ECFMG verifies credentials for residency eligibility. Some states creating alternative IMG pathways.
2Nursing
- Primary evaluation body
- CGFNS (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools)
- Translation and evaluation details
- Nursing program records translated. CGFNS evaluates for board approval. California BRN has its own translation form. TOEFL/IELTS may be required.
3Engineering
- Primary evaluation body
- NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying)
- Translation and evaluation details
- Engineering degree transcripts translated. NCEES evaluates non-ABET degrees. State boards may approve specific evaluation companies (Florida, Texas).
4Pharmacy
- Primary evaluation body
- FPGEC (Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee)
- Translation and evaluation details
- Pharmacy degree transcripts translated. FPGEC administers equivalency exam and credential review.
5Dentistry
- Primary evaluation body
- State dental boards + credential evaluation
- Translation and evaluation details
- Dental school transcripts translated. Most state boards accept NACES-member evaluations.
6Accounting (CPA)
- Primary evaluation body
- State boards of accountancy + NACES evaluators
- Translation and evaluation details
- Accounting degree transcripts translated. State boards specify approved evaluators (WES, ECE, etc.).
| Profession | Primary evaluation body | Translation and evaluation details |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine (IMGs) | ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) | Medical school transcripts and diploma must be translated. ECFMG verifies credentials for residency eligibility. Some states creating alternative IMG pathways. |
| Nursing | CGFNS (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools) | Nursing program records translated. CGFNS evaluates for board approval. California BRN has its own translation form. TOEFL/IELTS may be required. |
| Engineering | NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying) | Engineering degree transcripts translated. NCEES evaluates non-ABET degrees. State boards may approve specific evaluation companies (Florida, Texas). |
| Pharmacy | FPGEC (Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee) | Pharmacy degree transcripts translated. FPGEC administers equivalency exam and credential review. |
| Dentistry | State dental boards + credential evaluation | Dental school transcripts translated. Most state boards accept NACES-member evaluations. |
| Accounting (CPA) | State boards of accountancy + NACES evaluators | Accounting degree transcripts translated. State boards specify approved evaluators (WES, ECE, etc.). |
A certified translation from a professional translator works for all evaluation bodies and state boards. The same translation can be used across multiple states if applying in more than one.
What a complete translation includes
- Word-for-word translation — no summaries or paraphrasing
- Original document layout preserved where possible
- All institutional markings, seals, and stamps translated or described
- Original grading scale preserved (no conversion)
- Signed Certificate of Accuracy with translator credentials
How to Submit Your Translation for Professional Licensing
The process involves two stages: credential evaluation by a profession-specific body, then state board application. Translation is required at stage one.
- Step 1
Identify your profession's evaluation body
Medical: ECFMG. Nursing: CGFNS. Engineering: NCEES or state-board-approved evaluator. Check your specific state board's website for approved credential evaluation services.
- Step 2
Get certified English translations of all credentials
Translate your complete academic record: transcripts, diplomas, degree certificates, and any professional training records. Each document must be word-for-word with a signed Certificate of Accuracy.
- Step 3
Submit to the evaluation body
Send your certified translations to the appropriate evaluation body. Some bodies accept direct uploads; others require translations to be sent as part of a sealed institutional package. Check your evaluation body's submission process.
- Step 4
Receive and review the evaluation report
The evaluation body issues a report assessing your credentials against U.S. standards. This report, along with your application materials, is submitted to the state board.
- Step 5
Apply to your state licensing board
Submit the evaluation report, certified translations, and any state-specific forms to your state board. Some states have additional requirements: California BRN has its own translation form, Texas requires board-approved evaluators.
Planning timeline
- 01
01
Our certified translation
about 24 hours for standard academic records
- 02
02
ECFMG credential verification
several weeks to months
- 03
03
CGFNS credential evaluation
4–8 weeks
- 04
04
NCEES credential evaluation
4–8 weeks
- 05
05
State board processing
varies widely by state and profession
Avoid These Errors
Why Licensing Boards Flag Translated Documents — and How to Avoid It
Licensing board rejections can delay your career by months. Most issues are preventable with proper translation.
1Incomplete transcript translation
What happens
Evaluation body cannot determine course equivalency.
Why it happens
Translator omits courses, credit hours, or supplemental pages. Medical and engineering transcripts are often multi-page with dense tabular data.
Safer approach
We translate every page, every course, every grade — including supplemental sheets, back pages, and institutional notes.
2Grade conversion in translation
What happens
Evaluation body cannot determine the original grading system.
Why it happens
Translator converts foreign grades to U.S. GPA. This is the evaluation body's job, not the translator's.
Safer approach
We preserve original grading scales exactly. ECFMG, CGFNS, and NCEES have their own conversion methodologies.
3Self-translation rejected by state board
What happens
Board returns the application as incomplete.
Why it happens
Applicant translates their own transcript to save money. No state board accepts self-translation.
Safer approach
Every translation is performed by a professional translator with a signed Certificate of Accuracy.
4Wrong translation form (California BRN)
What happens
California Board of Registered Nursing returns the translation.
Why it happens
California BRN has its own "Certified English Translation" form that must be completed by the translator.
Safer approach
We are familiar with state-specific form requirements and complete them when applicable.
Real casework
Translation cases accepted by State Licensing Boards
Anonymized translations we've delivered into State Licensing Boards packages. Each case shows the source-document issue and how it was handled.
RecentJul 2026embedded-non-textPeruWhen a Peruvian Medical Degree Carries Its Registration on the Back
A Peruvian Diploma de Título Profesional (Médico Cirujano) from Universidad Peruana Los Andes carried its legal weight on the reverse. The back held the university registration entry, the General Secretary's authentication, and a Regional Health Directorate registration stamp. We translated both sides into English and rendered every seal, stamp, and signature line, so nothing on the back was dropped. The certified Spanish-to-English translation was delivered for the client's USCIS filing.
Handled by Natalia Vega, Senior Certified Translation ReviewerUSCISRead case →
RecentJul 2026credential-evaluationPeruWhen a Peruvian Transcript Lists Grades as Words, Not Numbers
A Peruvian Certificado de Estudios from Universidad Peruana Los Andes recorded every grade as a Spanish word — ONCE, DOCE, DIECIOCHO — on Peru's 0-to-20 vigesimal scale, with a Convalidado (validated-credit) column across two numbered sheets. We rendered each grade as the English word plus its numeral, explained the scale and the 11/20 pass mark, and kept both sheets complete. The certified Spanish-to-English translation was delivered for the client's USCIS filing.
Handled by Natalia Vega, Senior Certified Translation ReviewerUSCISRead case →
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Transparent Pricing
Translation Cost for Professional Licensing
Professional credential translation typically covers multiple documents: transcript, diploma, and possibly training certificates.
Our certified translation
$24.95/page
True flat rate — no word-count multipliers, no per-page surprises.
Typical for this case
$49.90–$249.50
Transcript: 2–8 pages. Diploma: 1–2 pages. Combined: 3–10 pages.
- Signed and stamped Certificate of Accuracy
- Prepared for State Licensing Boards translation requirements
- Exact structure preserved — word-for-word translation
- Free translation-related revisions
Start at $24.95/page
Pay only after you review the quote
Potential additional costs
These external-provider requirements are included only to help you plan the State Licensing Boards workflow.
ECFMG credential verification: fees vary (check ecfmg.org)
CGFNS credential evaluation: approximately $350–$500 depending on program
NCEES credential evaluation: approximately $525
NACES-member evaluators: typically $100–$285 depending on service level
Typical end-to-end scenarios
- Translation only (for state boards that evaluate internally): $74.85 to $249.50
- Translation + evaluation (typical): $424.85 to $774.50
- One certified translation works for the evaluation body AND the state board
- • Professional credential translation is a career investment.
- • Evaluation body fees are separate from translation fees.
- • Review current translation pricing at /pricing.
Common Questions About Professional License Translation
Do state licensing boards accept certified translation?
Yes. All state licensing boards require certified English translations of foreign credentials. The translation must be performed by a professional translator with a signed Certificate of Accuracy.
What evaluation body do I need for my profession?
Medical: ECFMG. Nursing: CGFNS. Engineering: NCEES or state-board-approved evaluator. Pharmacy: FPGEC. Dentistry: typically NACES-member evaluators. Accounting: state-board-specified evaluators (often WES or ECE).
Is a certified translation enough for professional licensing?
A certified translation is required but usually not sufficient on its own. Most professions also require credential evaluation by a recognized body. The translation is the input to the evaluation process. Some state boards that evaluate internally may accept translation alone.
Can I use the same translation for multiple state boards?
Yes. A certified translation works for every state board and every evaluation body. If you are applying for licensure in multiple states, you do not need separate translations.
How long does professional credential translation take?
About 24 hours for most academic transcripts and diplomas. Medical school transcripts with many pages may take slightly longer. We recommend starting the translation before anything else — the evaluation body cannot begin without it.
Does California BRN have special translation requirements?
Yes. California's Board of Registered Nursing has its own "Certified English Translation" form that the translator must complete for foreign-educated nursing applicants. We are familiar with this form and include it when applicable.
Sources & review methodology
3 official sources · reviewed March 14, 2026View sources
Requirements were checked against the official guidance linked below. Confirm the current instructions for your program before submitting.
| Official source | What we verified | Official guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Official sourceEducational Commission for Foreign Medical GraduatesECFMG — certification requirements for international medical graduates | What we verified
| Open source |
| Official sourceCommission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing SchoolsCGFNS — credential evaluation for foreign-educated nurses | What we verified
| Open source |
| Official sourceNational Council of Examiners for Engineering and SurveyingNCEES — credentials evaluation for engineering licensure | What we verified
| Open source |
State Licensing Boards application translation
Ready to start your professional licensing?
Certified translation of your professional credentials in 24 hours. Accepted by ECFMG, CGFNS, NCEES, and state licensing boards nationwide.
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Certified translation
$24.95/ page
Signed and stamped Certificate of Accuracy with secure digital delivery.
- Prepared for State Licensing Boards applications
- Exact structure and word-for-word translation
- Free translation-related revisions
We are not affiliated with any state licensing board, ECFMG, CGFNS, or NCEES.