If you are a Nigerian graduate planning to study, work, get licensed, or immigrate to the United States or Canada, you may be asked to prove what your Nigerian qualification is equivalent to in the destination country.
This is where a WES evaluation can become important.
World Education Services (WES) evaluates academic credentials earned outside the United States and Canada and produces a report that helps schools, employers, professional licensing bodies, and immigration authorities understand your educational qualifications.
For Nigerians, the process usually involves creating a WES account, selecting the correct evaluation and purpose, entering your academic credentials, paying the required fees, and arranging for your official academic documents to be sent to WES by the appropriate institution or authorized source.
However, there is one important rule to remember: WES requirements depend on your country of education, institution, destination country, and purpose of evaluation. The document list displayed in your WES account should therefore be treated as the final checklist for your application.
What Is a WES Evaluation?
A WES credential evaluation is a report that compares education completed outside the United States or Canada with educational standards in the destination country.
In simple terms, imagine that you earned a Nigerian university degree and an organization in Canada or the United States wants to understand what that qualification represents in its own educational system.
WES reviews your academic credentials and prepares an evaluation report explaining the comparable level of your education.
The report can be useful for purposes such as:
- University or college admission
- Employment applications
- Professional licensing
- Immigration
- Further education
- Academic or professional credential verification
WES offers different evaluation products, so you should not automatically order the same report another applicant ordered. The correct report depends on what the organization receiving your evaluation requires.
Do Nigerians Need WES Evaluation?
Not every Nigerian needs a WES evaluation.
Whether you need one depends on the organization or program you are applying to.
For example, a university may require a credential evaluation before considering an international qualification. An employer may request one to understand your educational background. A professional licensing body may have its own evaluation requirements.
For Canadian immigration, the situation is more specific. An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) may be required for certain immigration programs, and WES is one of the organizations designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to provide ECAs.
Therefore, do not order a WES report simply because another Nigerian applicant did.
First confirm what the school, employer, licensing organization, or immigration program requires.
That single step can help you avoid paying for the wrong evaluation.
WES Evaluation vs. WES ECA: What Is the Difference?
This is one of the most important distinctions to understand.
A regular WES credential evaluation may be used for education, employment, or professional purposes, depending on the report type and the recipient’s requirements.
A WES ECA for IRCC is specifically designed for Canadian immigration purposes.
If you are applying through an immigration program that requires an ECA, you should select the Canadian immigration/ECA pathway in your WES application rather than ordering a general evaluation.
WES’s current instructions for an IRCC ECA include selecting Canada as the destination, choosing Immigration as the application type, selecting the ECA package, entering your credentials, reviewing the application, and paying before submitting the application.
Do not assume that every WES evaluation can automatically be used for immigration. Always check the exact requirement of the program you are applying to.
How to Apply for WES Evaluation as a Nigerian
The process can look complicated when you first see it, but it becomes easier when broken into individual steps.
Step 1: Confirm Why You Need the Evaluation
Before opening a WES application, determine your purpose.
Are you applying for:
- Canadian immigration?
- A university?
- A college?
- Employment?
- Professional licensing?
- Another educational or professional purpose?
Your answer can affect the type of WES report you need.
If an organization has specifically told you which WES report to order, follow its instructions.
Step 2: Create Your WES Account
Go to the official WES website and create an account.
Use an email address that you expect to keep access to for a long time. WES recommends using an email address you will have long-term access to because you may need to return to your account later.
Enter your personal information carefully.
Your name should match your official academic records as closely as required by the application. Pay particular attention to spelling, dates, and other identifying information.
A small mistake in an application can create unnecessary delays.
Step 3: Select the Correct Country and Evaluation
When completing your application, WES will ask questions about your destination and the purpose of your evaluation.
For Canadian immigration, WES’s current process asks applicants to select Canada and then choose the immigration/ECA pathway.
For other purposes, the appropriate evaluation may be different.
Do not select an evaluation merely because it appears cheaper or because someone you know used it. Your recipient’s requirements should guide your choice.
Step 4: Add Your Nigerian Credentials
Next, enter information about the academic qualifications you want WES to evaluate.
This may include a university degree, diploma, or another recognized qualification, depending on the requirements shown in your WES application.
If you attended more than one institution or completed multiple programs, WES may allow you to add multiple credentials.
Enter the names of your qualifications and institutions accurately.
For example, avoid casually shortening the name of your university if the official name on your documents is different.
Step 5: Check Your Required Documents
This is where Nigerian applicants should pay close attention.
There is no single document checklist that applies identically to every Nigerian applicant.
WES explains that document requirements vary according to the country or territory where you studied. The required-document list shown in your WES account is based on the information you provide during your application.
Depending on your specific case, WES may require academic records such as transcripts and, where indicated, degree certificates or translations.
Do not send documents simply because another applicant was asked to send them.
Instead, check your personal WES document requirements.
WES also maintains information for institutions in Nigeria, including document-submission information for institutions such as the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University, and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology.
This is useful because the way your institution sends records may differ from the process used by another Nigerian university.
Step 6: Request Your Official Academic Records
After completing the application, you need to arrange for the required official academic documents to reach WES.
This is a critical part of the process.
WES states that official academic documents generally need to be sent by the issuing institution or another authorized source specified in the instructions.
In other words, simply uploading a photograph of your university transcript may not satisfy the requirement for an official academic record.
The exact submission method depends on your institution and the instructions attached to your WES application.
Some institutions can submit records electronically through approved arrangements, while others may use postal delivery or another accepted method. WES advises applicants to check the current requirements for their institution.
Step 7: Pay the WES Fees
After reviewing your application, WES directs applicants to its secure payment process.
The total amount you pay can depend on the evaluation, delivery options, recipients, and other services selected.
Because fees and service options can change, it is better to check the current amount displayed during your WES application rather than relying on an old blog post or social media comment.
This is particularly important because online discussions about WES fees can become outdated quickly.
Step 8: Save Your WES Reference Number
After submitting your application, you receive a WES reference number.
Keep it somewhere safe.
You may need the number when communicating with your university or WES and when following up on your application.
WES specifically advises applicants to keep the reference number because it helps match documents to the correct evaluation.
If your university requires your WES reference number before sending your transcript, provide the correct number according to the university’s procedure.
How Nigerian Universities Send Transcripts to WES
One of the biggest concerns for Nigerian applicants is transcript submission.
The important point is that you should follow the document instructions for your particular university and WES application.
WES accepts documents through approved electronic arrangements with some institutions and also accepts documents through postal delivery where applicable.
Some Nigerian institutions have dedicated online transcript systems or instructions for WES-related requests. WES’s institution information page currently includes document-submission links for several Nigerian universities.
Before paying for a courier service or sending anything yourself, check:
- Your WES required-document list
- Your university’s transcript procedure
- Whether your university has an approved electronic submission method
- Whether WES requires a particular delivery format
- Whether your WES reference number must be included
Following the correct process is usually more important than simply sending documents as quickly as possible.
How Long Does WES Evaluation Take?
WES processing time begins only after the required documents have been received and accepted for processing.
According to WES’s current processing information, document verification typically takes around two weeks, followed by evaluation processing that can vary according to the report type and complexity. Some evaluations may take approximately one week after document acceptance, while more complex cases can take longer.
These are estimates, not guarantees.
Your overall timeline can be longer because you also have to account for:
- Requesting transcripts from your university
- University processing time
- Delivery time
- Document verification
- Requests for additional information
- Public holidays or institutional delays
- Complex credential reviews
This means a Nigerian applicant should start the process early, especially if a university admission, immigration application, or professional deadline is approaching.
Common WES Mistakes Nigerian Applicants Should Avoid
1. Choosing the Wrong Evaluation
A WES report for employment is not necessarily the same thing as an ECA for Canadian immigration.
Always confirm the required report before paying.
2. Sending Unofficial Documents
WES generally requires official academic documents to be submitted according to its approved procedures. Sending an ordinary personal copy when an official institutional submission is required can create delays.
3. Ignoring the WES Document Checklist
Do not rely entirely on a friend, agent, Facebook group, or WhatsApp message.
Your WES account provides the requirements relevant to your application.
4. Entering Incorrect Information
Names, dates, institutions, qualifications, and other application details should be entered carefully.
WES notes that inaccurate application information can delay report production.
5. Waiting Until the Last Minute
University transcript requests can take time.
If your application has a deadline, start the credential evaluation process early enough to allow for university processing and WES verification.
6. Assuming Every Nigerian University Uses the Same Procedure
They do not necessarily use the same transcript-request process.
Always check your institution’s current instructions.
Does WES Evaluation Expire?
WES states that its credential evaluation reports do not expire. Applicants can return to their WES accounts to order additional copies when needed.
However, there is an important practical point.
Even if a WES report itself does not expire, the organization receiving the report may have its own rules.
For example, an immigration authority, university, licensing organization, or employer may specify how recent an evaluation must be or whether a particular type of report is acceptable.
Therefore, always check the current requirements of the organization requesting your evaluation.
What Happens After WES Receives Your Documents?
Once WES receives your documents, the records go through its review and verification process.
WES explains that documents are reviewed and verified before the evaluation proceeds. In some cases, electronic documents can streamline the document-receipt stage.
If WES needs additional information, it may contact you or update your application with further instructions.
Once the required documents have been accepted and the evaluation is completed, WES produces the report and delivers it according to the options selected in your application.
For Canadian immigration ECA applications, WES states that the completed report is transmitted electronically to IRCC and a copy is also made available through the applicant’s account.
Frequently Asked Questions About WES Evaluation for Nigerians
How much does WES evaluation cost for Nigerians?
There is no single permanent price for every Nigerian applicant. The cost depends on the evaluation type, destination, delivery options, recipients, and other services.
Check the current WES fees shown during your application before making payment.
Can I send my Nigerian transcript myself?
That depends on the document instructions attached to your WES application and your institution’s approved submission method.
WES generally requires official academic documents to be sent through the appropriate issuing institution or authorized channel.
Does WES accept Nigerian university transcripts?
Yes, WES evaluates international academic credentials, including credentials earned in Nigeria, provided the documents meet its requirements and can be appropriately verified.
WES maintains institution-specific information for a number of Nigerian universities.
Do I need WES for Canadian immigration?
Not necessarily for every immigration pathway, but an ECA is required for certain Canadian immigration programs. WES is one of the organizations designated by IRCC to provide ECAs.
Check the requirements of the specific immigration program before starting.
Can WES evaluate more than one degree?
WES allows applicants who have studied at multiple institutions or completed multiple programs to add credentials during the application process, subject to the applicable requirements.
Can I upload my degree certificate?
WES explains that degree certificates and translations are not required for every applicant. If they are listed in your WES account, you should follow the instructions provided there.
Can I use one WES report for different purposes?
Possibly, but you should not assume that every organization will accept the same report.
A school, employer, licensing body, and immigration authority can have different requirements. Confirm with the organization receiving the report before relying on an existing evaluation.
Final Checklist for Nigerians Applying for WES
Before submitting your WES application, make sure you have:
- Confirmed why you need the evaluation
- Confirmed the exact report required
- Created your WES account
- Entered your personal information correctly
- Added the correct Nigerian qualifications
- Reviewed your personalized document requirements
- Checked your university’s transcript procedure
- Arranged official document submission
- Paid the applicable WES fees
- Saved your WES reference number
- Monitored your WES account for updates
- Allowed enough time for university processing and WES verification