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International Consultants of Delaware Frequently Asked Questions
Who is ICD? The International Consultants of Delaware (ICD), a division of CGFNS International, is recognized nationally, as well as globally, as an expert in the field of international education. Established in 1977, ICD is a credentialing agency which evaluates international educational documents and provides their U.S. equivalents. These equivalents are used to assist individuals in obtaining additional education, employment and immigration visas for any career field, as well as licensing and certification for health care professionals. Why do I need ICD’s services? ICD was created to evaluate foreign educational credentials for such purposes as further education, immigration and employment. ICD’s range of experience includes evaluations of credentials representing a wide array of professions and majors from over 70 countries around the world, incorporating elementary, secondary and tertiary levels of education. Who uses ICD? ICD’s services are utilized by individual foreign applicants as well as immigration attorneys, governmental agencies, colleges and universities, professional licensing boards and private organizations. Is ICD a member of NACES? Yes. ICD is a charter member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). This is the only organization which serves the purpose of maintaining standards of foreign credential evaluations. Members voluntarily agree to uphold the standards of the profession. What specific services does ICD provide? ICD provides three types of reporting from which to choose: General Statement Evaluation, Course-by-Course Evaluation and Physical Therapy Evaluation. These evaluation equivalence reports are used to support individuals in obtaining further education, employment and immigration visas, and in the case of health care professionals, licensing and certification as well. How are evaluations prepared? All evaluations include the names of the foreign universities/institutions attended, names of the academic qualifications and dates earned. The foreign academic credentials are compared to those of the United States, and U.S. equivalencies are provided. To determine the U.S. academic placement recommendations, ICD refers to reference texts such as those published by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) and the National Association for Foreign Student Affairs (NAFSA) which describe the educational systems of countries around the world. In following these texts, ICD applies standards which are used by the mainstream of higher educational institutions in the United States and approved by the National Council on the Evaluation of Foreign Educational Credentials. Also, ICD conducts its own research on educational systems around the world and maintains thousands of files of sample foreign documents as key reference sources. Who is eligible for ICD’s services? ICD’s various credentials evaluation services will benefit candidates applying for employment, admission to academic programs, further education, certification or licensure in the United States, or to support an immigration application to the United States. ICD does credentials evaluations for the following areas:
What are the requirements for an ICD evaluation?
Does ICD accept faxes of documentation? No. ICD does not accept documentation sent by fax. All documents must be mailed. What is the difference between ORIGINAL and OFFICIAL documents? ORIGINAL documents are those from the educational institution with the proper seal/stamp, sent in an official envelope to the applicant. How long does ICD keep my documents? All documents and a copy of the evaluation are retained in your file for at least three years. What should I do if I need extra copies of my evaluation? If you need duplicate copies, please send the request in writing, including the address where you wish to have the evaluation sent. A reasonable fee is charged for this service. How long does an evaluation take? Evaluation times vary according to the amount of time it takes to receive all the documentation from source agencies. Once all documents are received, an evaluation typically takes about eight to ten weeks. If ICD completes a physical therapy evaluation for me, does this mean I will be licensed? No. ICD completes physical therapy evaluations according to the forms and requirements supplied by the various state boards. When the state board receives a completed evaluation, they decide if an applicant meets their requirements for licensure based on the information included in the evaluation. If I am licensed as a physical therapist in one state, does this mean that I will be licensed in other states? No. Each State Board of Physical Therapy has its own requirements for licensure. Licensure in one state does not guarantee that you will be licensed in another. Will the U.S. college I plan to attend transfer all the academic credits that are listed on the evaluation? No. Each college and university in the United States has different requirements for obtaining a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Some of the coursework which you may wish to transfer may not transfer to a degree program at a particular university or college. Who do I contact if I have questions about my application? For more information about ICD’s services or for specific questions about an application, contact the ICD office at the following address: International Consultants of Delaware, 3600 Market Street, Suite 450 Philadelphia, PA 19104-2651 USA, or call the office between the hours of 12:30pm to 3:30pm U.S. Eastern Time, Monday to Friday at (215) 222-8454 ext. 510. |
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